New Faculty and Stf Fall 2022 V

Gerry Braun

Gerry Braun moved to the Fort Myers area in the summer of 2021 and spent last year teaching at Gateway High School before joining the Bishop Verot family as a history teacher and head wrestling coach. Prior to the move, Gerry spent nine years in Catholic Education at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale. While teaching at St. Thomas, Gerry coached wrestling and football, and founded the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honors Society for the school. Gerry graduated from Anderson College (SC) with a B.A. in Secondary Social Studies Education, was an NCAA national qualifier in wrestling, and an academic all-American. After Anderson, Gerry taught for seven years in Georgia before moving back to South Florida. Gerry was recently married in October, and loves spending time with his family. His wife Lacie, and 6-year-old daughter Allie are his biggest supporters.

Trisha Calfee

Trisha Calfee joined the Bishop Verot Science Department this year. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.S. in Biology, and has been teaching high school science for 11 years. Trisha is a mom of three daughters, a wife, a daughter, and is the oldest of five siblings. Her passions are spending time with family, teaching, reading, and traveling. She is currently working on her goal of visiting all 50 states and 63 National Parks! Trisha is excited to be a part of the Bishop Verot community and is excited to see what the future holds.

Gina Clarizio

Gina Clarizio has lived in Illinois her entire life, prior to moving to Florida this school year. She is in her 26th year in Catholic education. Gina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature Communication and a Masters of Arts in Education in Curriculum and

Instruction. She is also AP certified from Northwestern University. She has taught every level of learner from 7th and 8th grade through the collegiate level. After having subbed and taught a few semesters in the public school system, she knew her vocation is in Catholic schools where she can teach students not only about English and speech, but most importantly about God, as He is the real teacher in her classroom. She feels extremely blessed to be here.

Greg Coleman ’98

As a 1998 graduate of Bishop Verot, Coach Coleman is extremely excited to be back home in his first year leading the Viking Athletic Program. Coleman spent the last 16 years in the School District of Lee County, most recently as the Athletic Director and Head Boys Basketball Coach at Lehigh Senior High School. During his six-year stint at Lehigh, Coach Coleman led his teams to three district championships, two regional championships, and two 7A Final Four appearances. As Athletic Director at Lehigh, Coleman orchestrated facility improvements to the gymnasium, baseball/softball fields, and football/soccer stadium. Before leaving Lehigh for Verot, Coleman was a key contributor and initiated bringing ESPN to Lehigh for a National broadcast of a football game in 2022. In his 15 years as a head basketball coach at Ida Baker, Island Coast, and Lehigh, Coleman accumulated over 200 wins, was named SFABC and News-Press Coach of the Year twice, and twice was a finalist for the Jeff Sommer Coach of the Year Award. He also served as the football offensive coordinator at Island Coast, helping the Gators to a district championship and regional final appearance in 2015. Coach Coleman began his high school coaching career at Bishop Verot in 2001 as the freshman basketball coach under Matt Herting and assistant softball coach, helping lead the Lady Vikings to the 2004 3A State Championship game. Coleman graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2005 with a BA in Social Science. He resides in Fort Myers with his wife, Stefanie, and their two kids, Alexa ’25 and Brayden ’29.

Lara Disuanco ’17

Lara Disuanco, born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida, is a 2017 alumnus of Bishop Verot and joined the World Languages Department this year. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2021 with a B.S. in Digital Arts and Sciences. Lara spent time as an altar server at St. John XXIII Parish and was a cantor and reader during her enrollment at Verot. She is the oldest of three siblings and enjoys playing video games, cooking, and singing. Lara still thinks it’s very crazy that she’s a teacher now, but is excited to work with the teachers and staff who inspired her as a student not too long ago!

Tom Frauenshuh

Tom Frauenshuh is a Florida native, music educator, and professional French Hornist who just relocated to Southwest Florida from Arizona, where he’s been performing and teaching music for the past three years. Before this he was in Las Vegas, Nevada for seven years, where he performed with the Las Vegas Philharmonic and on the Las Vegas Strip. Tom is currently performing with orchestras in the region, including the Gulf Coast Symphony and Punta Gorda Symphony. Aside from music, Tom’s life revolves around Golf and hiking/camping in Utah during the summers.

Bethann Hankin

Bethann Hankin, moved from PA to FL this year to join the Student Services

Department at Verot. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Muhlenberg College and her Masters and Post Masters Training from University of Pennsylvania in Psychological Services and Family Therapy/School Consultation. Bethann enjoys spending time with her family and exercising, as well as giving back to the community. She is thrilled to be a part of the BVHS staff.

Kyle Harding

Kyle Harding has returned to Southwest Florida where he was born and raised, after spending the past two years in Las Vegas. Kyle earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Eckerd College where he also played baseball. Prior to teaching, Kyle earned certification in EMT/firefighter, nursing assistant, and personal training as well as trained in death investigation. He is excited to begin his second year of teaching at Bishop Verot.

Stephen Hayford

Stephen Hayford spent 20 years in photojournalism working for various newspapers and magazines. In that career he photographed everything from world leaders and natural disasters to crime scenes and celebrities. After leaving photojournalism he translated his documentary skills to his unique art of photographing his handcrafted dioramas. Since the early 2000’s, he has created his art for major entertainment companies such as Lucasfilm, Disney, Marvel, Hasbro, Lego and others, working extensively with Star Wars. He has shared his knowledge with students while teaching at FGCU and with the Lee County School District before joining Bishop Verot Catholic High School.

Lucas Holt

Prior to teaching at Verot, Lucas worked in broadcast media as a producer for multiple radio shows. He and his wife Gina recently moved from the Chicago area and welcomed their first son into the world this past summer. Lucas has a B.S. in Public Management & Policy from the University of Arizona; an M.A. in Apologetics from Houston Baptist University; and a PGDip in Theology from the University of Oxford. He is a convert to the Catholic faith and came into the Church in 2017. He likes to run and is an assistant coach on the BVHS cross-country team.

Elizabeth Kroll

Elizabeth Kroll is originally from Pennsylvania. She graduated Cum Laude from Wilkes University with a BA in English, and she earned a MS from the University of Scranton. Throughout two decades of teaching, Elizabeth has held a variety of positions including English instructor, Content Specialist, Leadership Specialist, and Literacy Coach. When not partaking in literary exploration, Elizabeth and her family enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and skiing. This year Elizabeth feels incredibly blessed to be part of the Verot family.

Stacy Leckler

Stacy Leckler, a New York native, moved to Florida in August of 2020 with her family. This year she joined the Bishop Verot family as the Instructional Technology Coordinator. She graduated from New York Institute of Technology in 2000 with a B.S in Elementary Education. In addition, she earned a Masters of Educational Technology from Long Island University in 2005, and her Administrative Leadership

Certification in 2007. Stacy taught for 20 years in the Westbury School District on Long Island. Her focus was serving students learning English as a Second Language. Stacy is passionate about teaching and learning for all through collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. Stacy is married with two children who attend Bishop Verot High School. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, supporting her children in their sports endeavors, and refinishing furniture. She is beyond grateful and blessed to be a part of the Bishop Verot community.

Christine Mastandrea

Christine Mastandrea returned to the Bishop Verot family this year in the role of Dean of Students. Christine taught Theology and coached Girls Soccer briefly back in 2013-2014 and left to pursue her Master’s Degree in School Counseling. Afterward, Christine spent several years as a school counselor and assistant girls soccer coach at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Fort Lauderdale. While on the east coast, Christine earned her Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University and completed a professional program in College Admissions Counseling through UC Berkeley. Prior to returning to Verot, Christine served as a court appointed Guardian ad Litem and was on the Board of Directors for Voices for Children of Broward County, a non-profit organization that provides programs to meet the needs of children in foster care and open dependency court cases. Christine is enjoying her new role as the Dean and is happy to be back in black and gold.

Pete Orsita

Pete Orsita, a New Jersey native, moved to Florida in 2021. He graduated from Montclair State University in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Pete is a US Navy veteran and spent time stationed on the USS John Paul. While on board, Pete maintained and manned the Spy 1D/ Radar. He spent time in the Southwestern pacific and was later stationed in San Diego California. Pete is the son of an ordained minister. He is also an accomplished power lifter, holding four state records in both New Jersey and Florida. In addition to teaching, he also coaches football and wrestling. Pete is excited to be a part of the Bishop Verot community.

Lisa Pfeiffer

Lisa Pfeiffer was born and raised in Fort Myers and has been teaching for 29 years. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with a BS in Math Education and Florida Gulf Coast University with MS in Education. Lisa has always had a love for family, cooking and working out. She is very excited to join the Bishop Verot Community.

Eric Riemenschneider

Eric Riemenschneider has joined the Bishop Verot Practical Arts department this year for Computer Graphics & Design. He is a graduate of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio and moved to Florida in the early 90’s. He is a graduate of Ringling College of Art & Design and has artwork featured throughout our community. He has been recognized as a Golden Apple teacher and his students have earned millions of dollars in scholarships to top art and design schools. Excited to join the Bishop Verot community, Eric and wife, Katie, have 3 sons: Clay attends

Nova Dental School, Kyle is an FGCU student/basketball player, and Rhys is a middle schooler at St. Francis Xavier School. The Riemenschneiders enjoy sports and the outdoor lifestyle of Florida.

Alissa Schenk

Alissa Schenk returns to the Bishop Verot family as the Assistant Athletic Director and Head Coach of the Girls Basketball Team. She graduated from Purdue University in 2014 with a B.S. in Health and Kinesiology-Athletic Training. She then went onto grad school where she got her M.S. from the University of South Florida in 2016. After that, her stints included Bishop Verot, Syracuse University, Florida Atlantic University, WNBA Las Vegas Aces, and TCU. She made her way back to Verot because of the family and community. She is originally from St. Philip, Indiana.

Michelle Weitlauf

Michelle Weitlauf recently relocated to sunny southwest Florida from the bluegrass of Kentucky. She has enjoyed careers in the military and corporate America, but her true passion is in education where she has been for the past 18 years. She has taught grades 5-12 in both private and public schools and taught in higher education for 16 years. Michelle enjoys triathlon, hiking, and weight lifting as well as spending time with her four children. She earned an MA in English from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from Midway University. Michelle is excited to be a part of the distinguished Bishop Verot community. BV