Megan Blandford Brown is the Learning Service Coordinator at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School. She is a proud alumna of both Mary Queen and Lexington Catholic High School. Megan earned her M.S. in Communicative Disorders through the University of Louisville. She has over 19 years of experience in working with children, ages 6 months to 18 years with a variety of speech/language delays/disorders in individual, group and classroom settings. She and her husband, Robert Brown have 3 children and are members of Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Church as well. She feels blessed to be part of the team at Mary Queen where all types of learners can receive a Catholic education.
Shaelyn Jump - Music Teacher -
Please welcome, Ms. Shaelyn Jump. Ms. Jump joins us this year as our new Music Teacher. She is a recent graduate from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor of music in music education with a focus in voice. Ms. Jump is a Lexington naitive and graduated from Tates Creek High School, J. Hayes Middle School and Stonewall Elementary. Music is a passion for Ms. Jump and she was an intern for Amy Black (Seaton's music teacher) with the Lexington Singers Children's Choir. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends, her dog and two cats, Pumpkin and Boo. Her passions are music, art, teaching, coffee and her pets.
Bethany Valentine - Art Teacher-
Bethany Valentine is our new art teacher. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, 2023, with a Degree in Art Education, secondary major in art studio, and minor in art history. She plans to attain a master's degree in the future. Mrs. Valentine married her husband, Caleb in December 2022 and they have been building their life here in Lexington. This is her first year teaching solo in the classroom but has taught for years while doing her undergrade at the elementary and middle school levels as well as teaching summer art camp for four years. Mrs. Valentine became an art teacher because she is passionate about the arts and thinks children are naturally brilliant artists, she loves seeing them explore and develop their creative potential. In her free time, she enjoys painting, baking and walking at the Arboretum. She is excited to immerse herself into our MQHRS community and we are excited to have her!
Carly Poste - Elementary Spanish Classroom Assistant -
Ms. Poste is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada and came to Kentucky to attend Midway University and played tennis for the schools' team. Ms. Poste graduated last May with a degree in Teacher Education P-5/5-9. Ms. Poste is currently working on attaining her Master's Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis through Campbellsville University. In her free time she works as a dog sitter and also enjoys teaching tennis! Ms. Poste loves to travel and spend time with family and friends.
Christine Hayes - Technology/Media Specialist -
Christine M. Hayes is the Technology/Media Specialist at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School. This is her eighth year teaching at MQHR and her 15th year teaching in the Diocese of Lexington. She is an alumna of Mary Queen and Lexington Catholic. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Kentucky and her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from The University of the Cumberlands. She is married to her husband Rick, and has a 2nd grader here at Mary Queen. Together they have a turtle named Crush. She is also the Wolf Cub Scout den leader at Mary Queen. Mrs. Hayes loves technology, playing board games, and watching Sharks Hockey.
Jimmie Newsome - Technology -
Bio to come.
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Christie Burnette - Physical Education Teacher -
Christie Burnette, or Coach B to her students, is the PE and Middle school Health Teacher and most recently has joined the counseling department at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School. She is in her 15th year of teaching here at Mary Queen. Coach B was a 2004 graduate of Lexington Catholic, received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky in Kinesiology and Health Promotion, her Master's degree from Georgetown College in Teacher Leadership and ESL and her Rank 1 in School counseling at Campbellsville University. She is originally from New Jersey, where the rest of her family resides but has settled in Kentucky with her husband Stephen and her two kids, Holden and Kenzie.
Maggie Ringe - Middle School Spanish Teacher -
This is Ms. Ringe's tenth year of teaching at Mary Queen, although the school has long been a part of her life. She is an alumna of MQHR, graduating in 1999. Ms. Ringe has taught Latin and Spanish at Carter G. Woodson and completed her student teaching at Lexington Catholic and the Spanish immersion program at Bryan Station Middle. She has also taught for Berlitz and KET. She holds an MA in Teaching World Languages (UK), an MA in History (Notre Dame), a BA in Spanish (UK) and a BA in Classics and Linguistics (UK). She found her love of languages in her Spanish here at Mary Queen in the eighth grade and hopes to spread that love to her students.
Allison Weitkamp - Band Teacher -
Mrs. Allison Emanuel Weitkamp is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education (2000), double Master’s degree in Music Education and Instrumental Conducting (2003), and a Rank 1 in Music Education (2004). She is in her 22nd year of teaching in the Diocese of Lexington, where her duties include 5th-12th grade band at Lexington Catholic High School, Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary, and Saints Peter and Paul Regional Catholic School. From 2002-2007, she taught applied oboe lessons at Transylvania University, and at present, maintains a private studio of middle and high school students. Mrs. Weitkamp performs with various community bands including the Sacred Winds Ensemble. She was selected as the KMEA District 7 High School Teacher of the Year in 2009 and is a member of many professional organizations including the Kentucky Music Educator’s Association, National Association for Music Education, Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Music Fraternity, American School Band Directors Association, and Phi Bet Mu Band Masters fraternity. Mrs. Weitkamp attends Christ Church Cathedral Episcopal church and rresides in Lexington with her husband, Charles, their three children, James, Julia, and Joey, and cats, Samoa and S’mores.
Chelsea Wright - EL Teacher -
Chelsea Wright is our EL (English Learners) Teacher. This is her 9th year teaching as well as her 9th year at Mary Queen School. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Kentucky and her Master's degree in English as a Second Language from Asbury College. She is an alumnus of Lexington Catholic High School and Christ the King School. Mrs. Wright is married to her husband, Evan and together they have a daughter, Chaney. Mrs. Wright's favorite thing to do is to spend time with her family, especially watching football together, cheering on the CATS, and taking family walks with our two dogs.
Ginny Robinson - ACES (Gifted/Talented) Teacher -
Ginny Robinson is the ACES teacher and our Student Council Sponsor at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School. She attended Kentucky Christian University, The University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University. Her Bachelor’s degree certifies her to teach regular and special education (learning and behavior disorders). She has an endorsement as a special education consultant. Her Master’s Degree and Rank I are in Guidance Counseling. Ginny retired from Fayette County schools having served thirty-one years as a special education consultant, guidance counselor and technical liaison. Ginny’s son Caleb is a violist studying at the College Conservatory of Music at The University of Cincinnati. Ginny loves to learn and is known for her curiosity! She enjoys gardening, bicycling, collecting geodes, reading and exercising with friends.
Emily Dupree - Reading Interventionist -
Emily Dupree is a Reading Intervention teacher. She has taught at the elementary level for 6 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Kentucky with a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of the Cumberlands. Additionally, she is wrapping up a Literacy Specialist degree from the University of the Cumberlands. Reading has always been her favorite subject to teach, so Emily was thrilled to join the team at Mary Queen to help support our students and community. One of her goals as an educator is to help her students develop a genuine love of reading. She is excited to work with your children this year moving towards that goal! Emily is a proud aunt to her two year-old niece, Ava, and in her spare time she enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Norma Henry - Math Interventionist -
Norma Henry is a math intervention teacher at Mary Queen. She was a public school teacher in Kentucky for over 27 years and has substitute taught in public schools as well as at Mary Queen. She loved subbing at Mary Queen so much that she wanted to spend more time here working with our amazing staff and students. She received her Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Business Education from the University of Kentucky. She has one daughter and two grandchildren. She enjoys tending to her plants and flowers, reading, crafting and biking.
Heidi Buchanan - Math Interventionist -
Heidi Buchanan is a math interventionist teacher. She loves teaching and has a heart for kids. She has been a teacher for 20 years. She has worked as a classroom teacher, a PE teacher, and currently a math interventionist. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education K-8 from Oral Roberts University. She grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and is married to Rob Buchanan. She has two children, Nikki and Connor, along with raising her nephew, Kensho. She also has a grandbaby with another one on the way! She loves spending time with her family and enjoys swimming, boating, and camping.
Nina Cornell - Reading Interventionist -
Nina Cornell is one of the reading interventionists at Mary Queen, and it is her first year on our team. This is her 8th year teaching, but her first year as an interventionist. She previously taught 1st and 2nd grade at a Catholic school in Louisville for 7 years. She graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Kentucky. She is from Louisville, Kentucky, but she grew to love her time here in Lexington while working on her undergraduate degree, so she made her way back. Ms. Cornell has a passion for reading and is very excited for her new role at Mary Queen. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors and playing sand volleyball. She loves spending time with her 3 nieces and loves being the "fun aunt"!
Christy Rickert- Title I Math -
Christy Rickert is the Title I Math Interventionist here at MQHRS with Fayette County Public Schools. She is an alumna of both Mary Queen and Lexington Catholic High School. Christy earned a BS in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education from the University of Kentucky, MAT in elementary education from Spalding University along with MEd/Rank I in Education Leadership from the University of Kentucky. Christy worked as a teacher and administrator for the Diocese of Lexington for eleven years. She is entering her 24th year in education and has a great passion for math, as well as family and community engagement in the schools. Christy is a member of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, traveling, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.