Carol Chanen
Mrs. Chanen teaches Algebra 2, Honors Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, and Honors Pre-Calculus for grades 10-12. She has taught for 40 years and has spent the last 30 years at Saint Joe. Her Bachelor’s Degree is in Math from Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT and her Master’s of Education- concentration in Math, is from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA. Her previous experience was spent in various teaching positions, including Bellfontaine Seminary, Berkshire Community College, and Pittsfield High School. She also served on the committee that started Project Connect at Berkshire Community College..
Mrs. Chanen is from Pittsfield, MA. She enjoys going to the Clark Museum and loves to travel. She loves Saint Joe because “it is home.”
Peter Ellsworth
Mr. Ellsworth is the Athletic Director for Saint Joe. He is from Pittsfield, MA. He spent 26 years working at General Electric and 12 years at Lockheed Martin supervising employees. He started working at St. Joe in 2008. His favorite Berkshire activity is taking long walks to view the mountains and watching the seasons change. He loves golf, basketball, movies and going to see live theater. He most admires John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. He loves the school spirit, intimacy, and togetherness of St. Joe. He says the size is just right, “not too large, not too small.”
Carrie Ely
Ms. Ely teaches French and Spanish for grades 8-12. She is the Chair of World Languages. This is her second year teaching at St. Joe. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from St. Michael’s College in Burlington, VT. Her previous professional experience was working in the hospitality industry.
Ms. Ely is from Williamstown, MA. Her favorite Berkshire activity is spending time with her family. She likes film, theater, poetry, creative writing, swimming and traveling. She admires her children for being honest, kind, and sincere and never passing judgment on anyone. She loves St. Joe because it is so unique. “All the faculty and students know each other and care about each other. It’s such a positive and safe learning environment. We can all just be who we are.”
Tammi Dunham
Ms. Dunham is a Counselor in the Guidance Department. She has been with St. Joe for 8 years. She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA and a Master's degree from University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA.
Ms. Dunham is from Adams, MA. Her favorite Berkshire activity is going to the Berkshire Museum to see the Festival of Trees. She enjoys running, photography, astrology, spending time with her family and walking her dog. She most admires Mrs. Quinn because she is everybody's cheerleader; always encouraging and supporting students and faculty. She most loves St. Joe because of the sense of community, the energy, friendship and support that the faculty bring to each other and the students. "Knowing all the students and watching them grow through high school and achieve their goals is so rewarding."
Anne Gilbert
Mrs. Gilbert teaches 10th grade religion. She has been teaching for 26 years, the last 21 years at St. Joe. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Social Work from Trinity College in Burlington, VT. Her previous professional experience was teaching at Notre Dame in Ogdensburg, NY, Notre Dame in Pittsfield, MA and Berkshire Country Day School in Lenox, MA.
Mrs. Gilbert is from Pittsfield, MA. She used to run her own business selling collectible stamps. She most loves St. Joe because of the sense of community.
Heidi Hamilton
Ms. Hamilton teaches Math and Business for grades 11 and 12. She has been teaching for 11 years, all at St. Joe. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Math from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA. Her previous experience was working as a full time substitute at Taconic High School.
Ms. Hamilton is from Pittsfield, MA. Her favorite Berkshire activity is working for the Junior Ranger Program at the State Forest and going to the Barrington Stage Company. She loves to write and currently has a book of short stories published. She most admires her father for all he’s done and still does for her and her 6 brothers and sisters and grandchildren. She most loves St. Joe because of the family community and working with Mrs. Quinn.
Karen Hnatonko
Mrs. Hnatonko teaches math for grades 8-12. She has been teaching for 20 years, and has spent the last 4 years at St. Joe. She has a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Math with a Minor in Physics from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA and holds a Graduate Certificate in Middle School Math.
Mrs. Hnatonko is from North Adams, MA. Her favorite Berkshire activity is walking on the Ashwillticook Rail Trail. She loves camping and sewing. She most admires her grandmother, Yvonne Degere, who truly lived by the adage: If you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. She most loves St. Joe because of the feeling of community.
Justin Maaia
Mr. Maaia teaches World Religions, Social Justice, and Hebrew Scriptures for grades 9-12. He has taught at St. Joe for 4 years. He has his Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from Boston University in Boston, MA. His previous professional experience was working for the Banking Industry and working as a Saxophonist.
Mr. Maaia is from Pittsfield, MA. He enjoys sitting on the lawn at Tanglewood and writing, listening to and playing music, and doing all types of activities with his wife and kids. He most admires his wife because of her ability to practice “Zen in the midst of madness.” He loves St. Joe because it offers him the freedom to think and act creatively, “which is what makes true education possible.”
Lillian Quinn
Mrs. Quinn is the Academic Dean of St. Joe. She has a Bachelor’s in English, a Master’s in Education, and a Doctorate in Reading and Writing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is a certified Reading Specialist and taught for 38 years, 35 at St. Joe before moving to her current position.
Mrs. Quinn is from Pittsfield, MA. She enjoys reading, golf, writing and singing oldies but goodies. She directs the Berkshire Hillsmen. She most admires Mother Theresa because of her humility, faith and hard work. What she loves most about St. Joe is “the journey of faith” through prayer, liturgies, and retreats. She also loves the community environment, knowing every student, the wonderful faculty and staff, and the teachers’ commitment to academic excellence.
Leslie Gordon Roberts
Mr. Roberts teaches U.S. History, 20th Century History and American Government for grade 8, and grades 10-12. He has been teaching for 9 years and has spent the last 8 at St. Joe. He has a Bachelor‘s Degree in History from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. His previous professional experience was Captain of Artillery for the U.S. Army and Massachusetts Army National Guard. He served from 1996-1997 in Bosnia and 2005-2006 in Afghanistan.
Mr. Roberts is from Pittsfield, MA. He loves to ski at Bosquet, hike Greylock, and visit the Bennington and Saratoga Battlefield. He enjoys soccer, hockey and music. He most admires George Marshall for pursuing war and peace with equal enthusiasm. He most loves the community at St. Joe.
Michael Sheehan
Mr. Sheehan teaches Social Studies, Ancient and Medieval History, and Modern European History for grades 8-12. He has been teaching for 5 years, the last 3 at St. Joe. He obtained his Bachelor Degree in History from Siena College in Loudonville, NY, and his Master’s of Education in Secondary Education from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. His previous professional experience was working for St. Mark School as a Social Studies and Religion teacher.
Mr. Sheehan is from Pittsfield, MA. He loves to read and go hiking and fishing. His favorite Berkshire County activity is hiking the Pittsfield State Forest. He most admires Abraham Lincoln for his ability and strength in guiding America through its darkest hour. He loves the closeness of the school community and the ability to “actually teach content and not a standardized test.”
Halley Zanconato
Ms. Sutherland teaches 11th grade British Literature. This is her first year teaching at St. Joe. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. Her previous professional experience includes working for Upward Bound, a college preparation program for low-income and first-generation students and tutoring for America Reads/America Counts.
Ms. Sutherland is from Saratoga Springs, New York. Her favorite Berkshire activity is having coffee and chocolate at Chocolate Springs in Lenox, MA. She likes creative writing, cooking and enjoying a cup of coffee wandering through Barnes and Noble. She admires her parents for their strong Catholic faith, and the many sacrifices they’ve made so she could attend Catholic school from grades K-12. She loves St. Joe because of the students’ creativity, open-mindedness, insight and humor. “It’s the reason I go home smiling!”
Leslie Walton
Ms. Walton is the Director of the Guidance Department. She has been in the Guidance Department for 20 years and previously in the Physical Education department at St. Joe. She has a Bachelor's degree in Education from Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, MA and Master of Education degree from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA. She also carries a Certification in Guidance and Guidance Administration.
Ms. Walton enjoys kayaking, reading ,golf and mahjong. She collects gurgle jugs and autographs. She was most influenced by Mrs. Johnson who was her first grade teacher at Hopkinton Elementary School. She most loves St. Joe because of the great feeling of community.