Welcome New Faculty
We are thrilled to welcome our newest members of Team SBA! Please join us in a warm welcome for these excited and experienced educators joining our SBA Faculty.
Amy Bass- JK3
Ms. Bass comes to us with over 15 years experience in early childhood education at Woodmont Christian, Julia Green Elementary and Overbrook School. She graduated from the University of Alabama in Education. Expect to see a strong balance of creativity and structure in her classroom as she incorporates art and creative exploration into lesson plans. She values a collaborative partnership between school and family as each work together to set foundational skills and expectations for young students. Amy has three grown children and loves to spend her time exercising and cheering on the Alabama Tide and the Tennessee Titans. (“Roll Tide!” she says!) You can reach Ms. Bass via email at abass@stbernard.org.
Michael Catlin- 5th/6th Level Math and Science
Michael joins the SBA Faculty with 23 years of experience in education, primarily in public schools in Memphis. Michael has coached many sports in his time as a teacher. He spent 10 years coaching bowling teams, leading his players to 51 championships and 13 athletic collegiate scholarships. Michael is engaged to be married to his own high school sweetheart (after 30 years apart and reconnecting five years ago.) His son is 23 and just graduated summa cum laude in Accounting at the University of Memphis. You can reach Mr. Catlin via email at mcatlin@stbernard.org.
Grace Chamness- Kindergarten
Grace Chamness brings to SBA her detailed training in Montessori method! Grace graduated from MTSU with a with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Social Welfare and is a Certified Positive Discipline Early Childhood Educator. She became certified in Montessori for ages 2.5-6 in 2019. She has spent the past seven year teaching at a small montessori school in West Meade, stepping into a lead teacher position in 2021. Grace is a native Nashvillian and lives here today with her husband and two pups. She loves yoga and barre, cooking, true crime documentaries and going to concerts. You can reach Mrs. Chamness at gchamness@stbernard.org.
Kelly Doyle- Interim 2nd Level
Kelly Doyle returns to campus this year in an interim 2nd level teaching position through Mrs. Hess’s maternity leave. Kelly is familiar to SBA, where she previously worked in our preschool program and where she was a parent of her four children at SBA. (Fun fact: her daughter’s name is McAuley Cathryn, named for Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy.) Kelly holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and has over 32 years of experience in the classroom and in administrative capacities. Many of you will know Kelly from her experience as the Director of the Cathedral Day School here in Nashville. Kelly loves travel and cheering on her children from the sidelines (and her role as “chauffeur” to her four children.) You can reach Mrs. Doyle at kdoyle@stbernard.org.
Mary Fahey- Kindergarten
Ms. Fahey graduated from the University of Denton in 2017 with her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She comes to us from Chicago, where she had seven years of teaching experience in Catholic, charter and private schools. Mary is one of five siblings, who are her favorite people to spend time with. She loves trying new restaurants, exercising outdoors, and reading through her book clubs. You can reach Ms. Fahey via email at mfahey@stbernard.org.
Samantha Grover- Floater
Samantha is a recent graduate from the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga where she enjoyed her student teaching in physical education at Thrasher Elementary and Boyd Buchanan School. Samantha is a Nashville native and graduate of Christ the King School and Father Ryan High School where she had a robust athletic career in many sports. Ms. Grover will serve SBA this year in an academic floater role, helping with substitutions, extra faculty coverage, student assistance and administrative assistance. We are so grateful to have this help on campus! Ms. Grover enjoys painting, disc golf, camping, xbox, and cheering on the Tennessee Titans. You can reach Ms. Grover at sgorver@stbernard.org.
Olivia Park- Spanish
Olive Park joins us at SBA to teach Upper School Spanish. She has many years of experience teaching Spanish on both the Junior High and High School levels. Mrs. Park recently relocated to Nashville to be closer to her grandchild and to join our team at SBA. Mrs. Park and her husband have four grown children and one very special grandchild. You can reach Mrs. Park at opark@stbernard.org.
Laurel Parrott- JK3
Laurel Parrott joins SBA upon the launch of our JK3 program this academic year! We are so excited to bring in her experience to this new program. Laurel graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and from Treveca Nazarene University with a Masters in Teaching. Her recent professional years have included experience in private tutoring and two years at a private elementary school in Franklin. In her personal time, Laurel enjoys reading, game nights with friends, cooking and caring for her two rescue pups. Ms. Parrott will be assisted by our beloved Ms. Ashley Chatman in the JK3 classroom, forming a dynamic duo for our youngest Bears. Ms. Parrott can be reached a lparrott@stbernard.org.
Teryn Terenzi- 4th Level
Teryn recently graduated summa cum laude from the University of Dayton with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with a focus in Dyslexia. Teryn was recognized as a Leader in Service Scholar through the university, where she practiced strong work ethic, leadership, communication and collaboration. In her student teaching she designed and implemented day-to-day instruction and differentiated instruction and curriculum. Her teaching and observing experiences ranged from preschool to Fouth Grade. We welcome Teryn to both SBA and Nashville! You can reach Teryn at tterenzi@stbernard.org.