Faculty & Staff

Christine has served families in Catholic education for over 16 years. Most recently, she worked at Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Florida Atlantic University and her Masters in Educational Leadership and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction also from Florida Atlantic University. Research interests include teacher leadership and professional learning. In addition to teaching mathematics at the secondary and college levels, Dr. Higgins has taught in the Department of Educational Research at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Higgins is excited to be at St. Catherine Catholic School, as she spent many summers on Lake Jackson while visiting her grandparents in Sebring. Family and an opportunity to continue working in Catholic education brought Christine and her husband, Jay, back to the area. During her free time, she enjoys gardening, outdoor activities, and spending time with family. 

Mr. Cullipher spent much of his career in the entertainment lighting industry. Moving to New York City in the early ‘90’s, Mr. Cullipher was the lighting systems integrator for the launch of the new cable television network, MSNBC. In the late ‘90’s, he relocated to Florida to serve as the lighting systems integrator for the construction of Universal’s CityWalk. Wanting to spend more time with his family, Mr. Cullipher retired from the lighting industry in 2014 and relocated to Sebring. Having always enjoyed working with children, he began tutoring in the public schools a few hours per week. This led to becoming a substitute teacher, then an instructional paraprofessional, and finally a teacher. Since moving to Sebring, Steve has earned an Associate in Arts Degree, Summa Cum Laude; a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Supervision and Management; and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership. Mr. Cullipher is an active member of St. Catherine Parish.

Mrs. Sara Delapaz has been our preschool director for the past 10 years. She graduated from Sebring High and went on to receive her AA Degree in Elementary Education at South Florida State College and her BS in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Mrs. Sara has three beautiful children that attend our school. She has been in the field of education for 13 years and is looking forward to another great year.

Mrs. Margarita Mendez started working at St. Catherine Catholic School in 2011 as a Teacher Assistant. She had a wonderful experience working with PreK 4 students. In 2015, she was promoted as a Registration and Tuition Specialist, and this position gave her a great opportunity to meet current and new families. She enjoys helping them in how to apply for all benefits that they can receive for their children to have a better opportunity to study in a private school like St. Catherine Catholic School.   

“Faith in action is Love—And Love in action is service”.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Here at St. Catherine Catholic School it is Ms. Alexa’s responsibility as the Lead Resource Coordinator to ensure that each student with a disability which can affect their education abilities have the proper accommodations that are formatted to their needs. She is originally from New Jersey; She has been living in Florida since 2008. She is married and have three adult children. She also has two dogs and two cats, one being handicapped, so every day is a challenge for her. She is currently attending South Florida State College and is pursuing her Bachelors’ in Supervising and Management. She has her AA in Early Childhood Education also her 45 hours with DCF and her staff credentials for preschool.

Ms. Mayra has been working for Saint Catherine Catholic School for 7 years. She started working as teacher assistant in the Elementary school for three years and eventually had the opportunity to become a teacher for the preschool. Ms. Mayra is on her fourth year working as a prek-4 teacher and hopes to be there for many more.  

Mrs. Moye got her BA in Education in 1975 from New Jersey and is certified in New Jersey and Florida. She has been the St. Catherine’s Kindergarten Teacher since 2010. Her favorite subject is teaching Religion as Kindergarteners light up when they learn about Jesus! Mrs. Moye loves all of her St. Catherine family!

Prior to joining St. Catherine Catholic School in 2020, Mrs. Kreulen taught Kindergarten and preschool, as well as being a preschool director for 7 years. Mrs. Kreulen is married with two daughters who are actively engaged in sports and cheer. In her free time, Mrs. Kreulen enjoys scrapbooking, crafts, games, air boating, and deep-sea fishing. She and her family enjoy the wonders of God’s creations, especially the outdoors.

Mrs. Brenda Berryman is the 2nd grade teacher at St. Catherine Catholic School. This is her 12th year teaching at St. Catherine’s Catholic School and is a member of the St. Catherine Parish. Mrs. Berryman graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Early in her career she worked doing field research for the University of Florida as a Wildlife Biologist. She also did work for the US Fish and Wildlife and USDA. Once she decided to start a family with her husband, she left her career to be a stay-at-home mom for a couple of years. She then went back to school and attained a professional teacher certificate in middle grades science. When St. Catherine Catholic School first opened, she knew she wanted to be a part of the school. She started out in PreK-3 as an assistant and went back to school to study early childhood and became the PreK-3 teacher at St. Catherine School for 10 years. She then attained a professional teacher certificate in Pre-K through 3rd grade and ages 0-4. She really enjoys teaching and helping children love learning so they can reach their highest potential academically and spiritually.  

Mrs. Shipman is originally from Texas but has lived across the U.S. She is a military spouse and a veteran. She is licensed and credentialed to teach in three states: Missouri, California, and Florida. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education. She has taught in public and private school settings as a self-contained classroom teacher and as a science teacher. She finds it a blessing to share, teach, and celebrate her faith in the Catholic school. Mrs. Shipman’s early teaching experiences included working at a public school at the elementary level in the state of Missouri, a K-6 STEAM teacher at a Steam Academy, and teaching at Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth at La Jolla Country Day Private School as a summer science instructor for three years, all in San Diego, CA. Her final position in San Diego was as a second-grade teacher at a Catholic School where she prepared second grade students for their First Holy Communion.

Ms. Filice has been a part of the St. Catherine school family since 2017. She has taught fourth grade here at school for the past three years and previously taught Preschool through Kindergarten. She is a graduate from the Ohio State University and an avid Buckeye football watcher on game days. She enjoys spending her free time with her family, her dog Foxi and watching the Buckeyes on game day Saturdays.

Mr. Barock is joined St. Catherine School for the 2020-21 school year after teaching in public schools for several years. Mr. Barock is originally from Washington, D.C. and is a proud graduate of Liberty University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Mr. Barock has a passion for helping young people acquire the knowledge and tools needed to foster their relationship with God and their fellow man. In his free time, Mr. Barock enjoys reading, cooking, playing sports, and spending time with friends and family.

Elvie T. Buenaventura

Math Teacher 6th-8th

Social Studies Teacher 6th and 7th  

Masters Degree - Mathematics 

Mrs. Blake is our 7th grade homeroom teacher and the middle school English language arts teacher. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University in Ottawa Canada. Mrs. Blake has been teaching for eight years; most recently as an English as a Second Language Instructor at South Florida State College. She has a son who is in the PK3 class at St. Catherine, and they are both enjoying being a part of the St. Catherine’s community.   

Ms. Gouge is our 8th grade homeroom teacher and teaches middle school science for grades 6-8, Social Studies: American History for 8th Grade, and S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, & Math) integration for K-5. Ms. Gouge attended Warner University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry & Biblical Studies, and a Master of Science Degree in Management. She has been in the education field for 10 years with a background in Exceptional Student Education. Ms. Gouge has two sons, who also attend(ed) St. Catherine's and she is proud to be a part of the St. Catherine's School & Parish.

Robert Gillmore is originally from Grand Rapids Michigan. He moved, with his family, in 1970 to Largo Florida. Mr. Gillmore graduated from Largo High School in 1980 after playing Trombone in the Largo High School Band of Gold. He attended Jacksonville University from 1980 till 1984 graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance, studying with Mary Lou Wesley Krosnick. Mr. Gillmore attended the University of South Florida in Tampa from 1984 till 1988 earning a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance, studying piano with Robert Helps and Organ and Composition with Hilton Kean Jones. While at USF he played piano and contributed a composition to the University’s Jazz Ensemble’ album, The Sands of Time. He also played piano for the Album, The Music of Jim Lewis. Mr.Gillmore taught at USF’s Community Music Division. In 1992 Mr. Gillmore became Director of Music at St. Catherine Church, where he worked until 2020. He also was a member of the Choral Ensemble Orlando XIII which performed throughout the state and at the Spoleto Festival in South Carolina. He sang on the group’s album, Orlando XIII Live. Mr. Gillmore taught Music History at South Florida State College and has taught music at St. Catherine Catholic School since its inception.

Ms. Rebecca Lazo joined our family of educators at St. Catherine Catholic School in 2017. She has served as the Coordinator of Religious Education for St. Catherine’s Catholic School and St. Catherine’s Parish. Ms. Lazo also served as a volunteer Catechist for St. Catherine’s Religious Education Program for several years before becoming the Coordinator of Religious Education. When Ms. Lazo first came to St. Catherine Catholic School, the school served students up to Sixth Grade. Our school now educates students up to Eighth Grade, and we are proud to have two graduating classes of Eighth Graders that have moved on towards High School. This school year, Ms. Lazo decided to pass on the responsibilities of Coordinator of Religious Education in order to dedicate all her time and energy to the students at our school. This school year, Ms. Lazo will be teaching Religion to the First, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Graders, and she will also be preparing the Second Graders for their First Holy Communion. Ms. Lazo is also a proud mother of a beautiful daughter who is in high school.

Mary Alexander is the Art and Computer Teacher for St. Catherine’s Catholic School. Mrs. Alexander has been a resident of Highlands County for over 20 years.  She is a wife, and a mom of two wonderful daughters, 32 and 16 (who has disabilities).  She and her family enjoy gardening, board games, swimming, music, learning about Essential Oils, studying God’s word, camping, their 10-year-old Dachshund, Abby, and absolutely anything to do with the Arts.  Mrs. Alexander loves to go to the theater, museums, Botanical Gardens, and capturing those moments with photography.

Mrs. Alexander has two master’s degrees and one bachelor’s degree.  Most recently, she graduated with her second Masters in December of 2018, from the University of Florida with a Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Arts in Medicine.

Mary says, “I am excited to work with your students and help them find their own creative spark and learn new ways to engage the arts and technology in a healthy way.”

Mrs. Ramos is a graduate of Eastern University with a degree in social work. She recently relocated from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she was a supervisor for an alternative school. Mrs. Ramos has experience in working in early childhood development as a life skills teacher. She was born in the U.S. and raised in Puerto Rico and is fluent in both Spanish and English. In her free time, she like to run, cook, and travel.

Mrs. Mauricia Gomez will be serving as a Pre-K teacher Assistant. This will be her second year working with the students. She has previously worked as the Bookkeeper Assistant for our Church and School. She is very excited to work with the little ones. 

Mrs. Domisiw was born and raised in Manila, Philippines where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing. Early in her career, Mrs. Domisiw worked for a telecommunication company for four years.  Upon moving to Florida in 2001, She worked in a doctor’s office.  She is thankful and blessed to be working at St. Catherine’s School as a Kindergarten Teacher’s Assistant and as an Afterschool Assistant. She is blessed with two beautiful children. She is blessed with wonderful family and friends. For her, life is a challenge, but it is a blessing. Mrs. Domisiw believes in serving God by serving others.