Our Faculty
Gabriela Bohnett
Spanish 1 and Advanced Spanish
Gabriela Bohnett is a native Spanish speaker from Venezuela who has lived in the United States for almost three decades. Her main work vocation is music education and performance, with degrees from the Vicente Emilio Sojo Music Conservatory and advanced studies in the United States, but for the last couple of years, she has found immense joy in teaching middle school and high school students to learn Spanish.
As a mother of three musicians who were homeschooled for several years, Gabriela has always been deeply committed to education. Her love for God and the Catholic Church is central to her life, and she is passionate about guiding her students towards an understanding of the true, the good, and the beautiful.
Shelly D'Antoni
Algebra 2, Geometry and Robotics
Shelly D'Antoni studied music education at Southeastern Louisiana University and is a CRLA-certified master tutor with a focus on math. She has taught a range of math subjects in public & private high schools, as well as college, and has a background working with students with learning differences. Shelly was also the learning coordinator for the TANF program at Baton Rouge Community College, and later for a private school in Sterling. After stepping away from teaching to homeschool her children, she returned to the classroom to teach St. John Bosco School students.
In addition to teaching and tutoring math, Shelly has coached high school robotics and is excited to bring robotics classes to SJBS. Outside of SJBS, Shelly enjoys teaching wood & metalworking, and volunteering as an assistant scoutmaster and merit badge counselor for her son's Scouting America troop.
Jacquelyn Dupuy
Chaos to Control
Jacquelyn Dupuy just entered her 21st year as an educator! After earning her BS in Elementary Education from Franciscan University, she went on to earn her Master's in Reading from the University of Virginia, and is a Reading Specialist. She has taught in both public and private schools, and all grades K-12, save for PreK, 1st, 2nd, and 4th; unless you count the decade+ she spent homeschooling her own children, in which case, all grades have been covered. When her children were entering their tween years, Mrs. Dupuy acquired an LLC and started her own business as a professional organizer and interior decorator, both topics of which she covers extensively in her Chaos to Control course at St. John Bosco.
Erika Field
Spanish 1
I am delighted to join St. John Bosco School as the Spanish 1 teacher, bringing a diverse background and a deep passion for global understanding.
Raised in St. Thomas, USVI, I was exposed to the Spanish language and cultural diversity from a young age. This foundation, combined with an interest in international relations, led me to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies with a minor in Spanish. I furthered my academic career with a Master of Arts in International Security Studies and later discovered my true calling in education, earning a Master of Education in Montessori Education from Loyola University Maryland.
My extensive teaching experience includes lead guide roles at various Montessori schools, such as Siena Academy and Lovettsville Montessori School. During this time, I also embraced the Catholic Faith, becoming initiated into the Church at age 30, which has profoundly shaped my educational philosophy and worldview.
My time in the classroom has reinforced my belief in education's power to promote peace and a deepening of faith. I am thrilled to foster a love for the Spanish language and integrate the Truths of the Catholic Faith with my students at St. John Bosco School.
John Harrison
Salvation History, American History, Historical Literature, Economics and Advanced Literature
John Harrison is a graduate of the Catholic University of America with a BA in philosophy. He is currently pursuing an MA in theology at Christendom College. He has taught at Saint John Bosco since 2022. He got married in 2024, and he and his wife had their first child, Margaret, in August of 2025
Danielle Jones
Dean of Administration
Danielle grew up in Kansas City, MO, and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a BA in English. After college, she gained experience in operations management while working as a Cruise Director for a small cruise line, a Transportation Manager for a DC special events company, the Travel Program Manager for a wildlife non-profit organization, and the Director for Operations for a short-term storage company. These positions have prepared and complemented her experience in her “real” job as wife and mother, especially juggling deadlines and carpools, managing family outings and field trips, while tracking budgets and expenses. Her background brings a variety of experience to St. John Bosco as she manages the business operations side of our unique hybrid program. She and her husband have four adult children and attend Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Sterling, VA.
Matthew Klima
Middle School History
Matthew Klima joined St. John Bosco this year with a background in homeschooling, hybrid schools, and secondary education. He is a homeschool dad living in Ashburn with two children and a beautiful wife. After earning a double major in Anthropology and History, Mr. Klima went on to earn his Master of Education at George Mason University and complete his student teaching at Robinson Secondary School. Mr. Klima then entered the corporate world and joined Facebook’s infrastructure team, serving as an analyst and regional manager. He returned to the world of education in 2021 when he decided to help defend homeschool freedom by working at the Homeschool Legal Defense Association as an Operations Manager. Feeling a strong desire to teach while also continuing to support the homeschooling movement, Mr. Klima helped start Holy Infant of Prague Paideia, a hybrid school in Orange, VA. During this time, he also taught at Our Lady of Hope Catholic School in Sterling, VA. All these experiences inspired Mr. Klima to pursue further education at Liberty University. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate on hiatus and is finalizing a dissertation on hybrid homeschools.
Katherine Kirkland
Nutritional Science, Earth Science, Apologetics, Geography and Middle School Life Science
Katie graduated from West Virginia University and then went on to work in Information Technology for over 15 years, mostly in eLearning. Over the years, she discovered a great love for teaching and decided to change career tracks, completing an AMI Diploma in Montessori Education at the Southwest Institute for Montessori Studies in Arizona. She also holds certifications in ITIL, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and a Master Catechist Certification from Christendom College. She is a convert who entered the Catholic Church in 2017 at St John the Apostle in Leesburg, and is most passionate about her faith. She is extremely excited and deeply honored to be teaching at the St John Bosco School.
Nadya Klimenko
Introduction to Psychology
Nadya Klimenko has always had a heart for learning and a spirit of adventure. She delights in
exploring God’s creation through travel, hiking, nature walks, and observing the majesty of the
ocean. Her passions include teaching, poetry, horses, music, dance, and sharing the beauty of
God’s Word with others. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from George Mason University and earned her master’s and doctorate in Clinical Psychology, specializing in Neuropsychology. Her clinical experience includes work at the Children’s National Hospital in the Department of Pervasive Developmental Disorders, private practice, a forensic psychiatric hospital, and teaching in graduate school psychology. She has a special interest in the dynamics of learning, human development, and how psychology interconnects with our Christian faith.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Nadya’s greatest vocation has been raising her
children, guiding their education through homeschooling. Her life and work are dedicated to nurturing minds, hearts, and souls in alignment with God’s calling. Nadya lives in Ashburn, VA, with her husband, two children, and a fluffy, mischievous pup named Daisy. She and her family are parishioners at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Ashburn, VA, where they also sing in the church choir.
Michelle Lucus
Prealgebra and Algebra 1
Michelle Lucus is a Northern Virginia native. She graduated with a BA in English from George Mason University and an MA in Special Education from George Washington University. Her experience includes teaching elementary through high school students in a variety of subjects for over 20 years in both public school and private school settings. She has a passion for good literature, studying the Bible, and challenging herself to learn new things. After her call to homeschool, she honed her abilities in teaching high school math to her own children and through homeschool co-ops. In taking on this challenge, Michelle learned that she can do hard things through Christ, who strengthens her and seeks to instill this belief in her students. All to the glory of God!
Susan Lindner
Chemistry and Latin
A mother of five, Mrs. Lindner has homeschooled since 1993. She has taught high school and middle school Chemistry and Biology to the homeschool community since 2006. She is a graduate of Georgetown University, and a member of St. Mark Church in Vienna.
Jill Matz
Literary Studies, World Literature, British Literature and Catholic Doctrine
Mrs. Matz graduated summa cum laude from the University of New Hampshire in 1981 with a BA in English Literature. She went on to teach two semesters of Freshman composition and complete six courses toward the MA in English. At UNH she met her future husband, who introduced her to the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith. She homeschooled her seven children for more than fifteen years, using Mother of Divine Grace for most subjects. The Matzes have lived in Virginia since 2004.
Bridget Matz
Middle School English, Latin 1, Writing
Miss Matz grew up in Virginia as a Catholic homeschool student and the youngest of seven children. An enthusiastic reader from childhood, she graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University with a BA in English and went on to gain a master’s degree in English at the Catholic University of America. She also worked at the writing center there, helping college freshmen and graduate students to improve their writing skills. She is now working at St. John Bosco along with her mother, Jill Matz, introducing students to good literature in the Catholic tradition and helping them learn to write and think clearly as they grow. She lives in Ashburn, Virginia, with her parents, and sings in the schola at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in Leesburg.
Chris Melnick
Apologetics
Chris Melnick is a native Washingtonian and a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Chris makes his living in the real estate industry as founder and owner of Double Eagle Title, but his passion is teaching young people about Jesus Christ and His Church. Chris is a proud graduate of Bishop O’Connell High School and currently serves on O’Connell’s Board of Advisors. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in English from George Mason University and a master’s degree in theology from Christendom College. Chris lives in Potomac Falls, VA, with his wife, Paola. He is a parishioner of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, where he serves on the Pastoral Council, teaches OCIA, serves as Extraordinary Minister and Usher, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Bridget O’Donnell
Middle School Religion. and Government
Miss Bridget O’Donnell or “Miss B” as she prefers is a graduate from Christendom College. She started out teaching at a Montessori school and has taught religion at St. Thomas À Becket parish for over six years. After leaving Montessori, Miss B worked as a governess for a political family. As a governess she took on responsibilities of private tutor, caregiver and personal assistant. Miss B is very excited to be a part of the St. John Bosco School community.
Tony Somma
Dean of Student Life and Athletic Director
Tony's family relocated to the NoVa area from Long Island, NY during his youth. He grew up in a faith-filled Catholic family in Dale City, VA and then attended West Virginia University where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration as an Accounting major. He spent about 20 years in the accounting world in the communications and healthcare industries before realizing he was being called to something more. In 2019, Tony was recruited into the world of hybrid Catholic education as an administrator where he discovered he had an important role to play helping to foster Catholic youth into a life of Faith as they transition to adulthood. Tony resides in Sterling, VA and is a member of Our Lady of Hope parish, where he is active in many ministries. Having previously served as an assistant catechist for 6th/7th grade RE students, he is currently a volunteer adult leader for their HS youth group, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and a member of the parish's Knights of Columbus council. Tony is thrilled to have been part of the SJBS community since its charter school year and looks forward to helping nurture its growth and impact on our students & families!
Kelly Sonnhalter
Head of School
Physics, Biology, Physical Science, Precalculus
Kelly Sonnhalter is a home schooling mom, who has a passion for all things SCIENCE! Kelly has been home schooling her children, for the past five years and believes that learning is most vibrant when it is hands on. Her passion for science began in college; where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University, and then went on to earn a Masters Degree in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. After finishing college, Kelly worked as a research associate for the pharmaceutical and oil and gas industries. Kelly uses her academic and professional experience to bring real life applications into her science curriculum. Kelly lives in Ashburn, Virginia with her husband Kevin and their three children, Jacob, Jenna and Heidi. Kelly and her family are parishoners of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Herndon, Virginia.
Adam Stanislawski
Physical Education, Leadership
Adam Stanislawski is a homeschooling Dad! He earned a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University and a Master of Education from the University of Virginia. For 10 years, Adam taught kindergarten through 12th grade students in adapted physical education for Loudoun County Public Schools. He also spent 3 years at Saint John Paul the Great High School teaching special education and health, physical education, and driver's education. In 2020, he embarked on the adventures of homeschooling as the primary educator. Married to his college sweetheart, Rita, in 2007, they have three young children and are parishioners at St. Timothy parish in Chantilly.
Isabella Tyson
Auxiliary Faculty Member
Isabella Tyson was a teacher and parent at Saint John Bosco School in its earliest years of development. Isabella served on the faculty as both a teacher and assistant administrator. While she is now teaching full time for Saint Timothy Catholic School, her roots in Saint John Bosco are strong and she continues to serve us in an advisory capacity.
Dr. Katie Vizenor
World History, Independent Study Advisor
Katie Vizenor always wanted to know a bit about everything. That was why pursuing a PhD in Anthropology at SUNY-Buffalo made sense. Her undergraduate and early graduate studies were in archaeology. She switched to medical anthropology for her dissertation. Katie also holds an MLS from the University of Maryland-College Park specializing in public health information. She worked for many years in research management jobs at academic and non-profit organizations. This included work at Johns Hopkins and The American Foundation for the Blind. The pandemic helped her make the move to homeschooling. Katie lives in Reston with her husband, daughter, a giant mastiff and two cats. Katie and her family are parishioners of Saint John Neumann in Reston.