Father Patrick Tishel - Headmaster and Co-Founder
Fr. Patrick Tishel is one of the founders of St. Herman of Alaska Christian School 30 years ago. His educational path started out in the pursuit of medicine and biological sciences. He graduated from SUNY Stony Brook Cum Laude in Pre-medical studies and Biology.
He gained experience teaching while in college and after graduation when he taught science to elementary school children and helped to start another small school.
“Being Christian has always seemed to me to be integrally connected with being interested in education. The saints are the best educators because they know God, have seen God and then through this illumined perspective they can speak about the creation, people, history, science and all things. “The Light of Christ Illumines All!” We need to show the children this and experience it ourselves.
Besides my involvement in the school, I am also the Pastor of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church and serve as an Archpriest in the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese U.S.A., Canada, & Australia under Metropolitan Joseph, who is the prelate of the Diocese. Of course as a pastor I have a lot of experience speaking and teaching. But now I also have over 20 years of invaluable classroom experience and study. Children are good educators for educators and pastors. Talking to children has definitely helped me give sermons and classes that adults are more likely to understand and even enjoy.
Over the past 20 years at St. Herman’s School, I have had the blessing of teaching many, if not all, of the classes including different levels of science, math, religious studies, geography, music appreciation, recorder and handwriting. I have also worked extensively on the curriculum development and the philosophical foundations for Orthodox education. I feel responsible before God for the children and youth that are in our care. They deserve the best we can offer, and that is the Lord Who should be revealed in our studies as the light, the center and the goal.”
Alexander Karcher - Administrator, MS Instructor
Alexander is the current Administrator at St Herman's, although he also moonlights as a teacher of Language Arts, Orthodox Christianity, and Geography for the Middle School. In ancient times he graduated with highest distinction from Hellenic College with a Bachelors in Religious Studies. Taking his degree and his long-held aspirations for literary greatness he went and worked in a napkin factory realizing neither his aspirations nor putting his degree to much use. Instead he spent a few years managing millions of pounds of paper-goods and the raw materials that would be used to create them. Providentially, God had other plans for him and Alexander was brought, out of the belly of the beast of industry, to seminary at Holy Cross. After finishing his Masters of Divinity, he decided to continue pursuing his education, and is now completing his Masters of Theology with a focus on Missiology. Alexander happily lives with his wife, and to a lesser degree of happiness with his cat, thinking up ever more creative ways to justify bringing doughnuts to class.
"St Herman's longevity alone is a testament to the incredible investment of love and care so many dozens of people over the years have poured into it; and this investment of love and care is itself a profound witness of faith---a deep and abiding faith in God to bless their labors, their challenges, their triumphs, and their sacrifice, that they may image Christ to generations of students who will in turn do the same for others. I pray this work continues for many more years."
Father Teodor Anastasoaie - Children's Garden, Greek, Latin and History Instructor
Father Teodor Anastasoaie is the Kindergarten teacher at Saint Herman of Alaska Christian Orthodox School. Originally from Romania he attended Holy Cross School of Theology where he received his Masters of Theology degree. After graduating from Holy Cross he began teaching at SHS. He is the main teacher for Kindergarten and first grade and teaches Middle School Religious Studies, New Testament Greek and History classes.
“St. Herman’s is an especially wonderful place for me. My wife is the first alumna to have graduated from St. Herman’s—a school where the love and the knowledge of God and the rigors of academia are so beautifully woven.
My hope is to put all my knowledge, experience, energy, faith and love in to helping the children learn and grow to be exemplary citizens and Christians.”
Deacon Aaron Friar
Deacon Aaron Friar has taught at St. Herman's in some capacity for over a decade. He joined the school when it was only beginning in 1994 and has since taught mostly humanities including English, History, and Latin. He now teaches part time as a US Civics instructor for the Middle School.
Deacon Aaron holds an M.Div. from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and a BA from Hillsdale College. He is the father of five beautiful children all named after members of the last Russian Royal Family of the Romanov Dynasty. His teacher name of "Mr. Friar" has held fast even after his ordination to the diaconate.
"I love St. Herman's School and have given most of my life to it. I explain to friends who have never heard of it that it is a one room schoolhouse just like Laura and Mary from Little House on the Prairie. Except this "Little House" is in the city."
Antonia Hall - Class II Instructor
Antonia is the Class ll homeroom teacher at Saint Herman Christian school, blending her love for teaching with a rich tapestry of cultural insights. Originally from the sun-soaked shores of California and raised in the rugged wilderness of Alaska, Antonia’s love for life and learning has led her on countless adventures to over 40 countries. With a solid educational foundation from the University of Alaska Anchorage, including Magna Cum Laude degrees in international studies and languages, and a transformative year at St. Petersburg State University in Russia, Antonia brings an array of experiences and knowledge to the classroom. Antonia enjoys spending time with her growing family, making music, exploring the great outdoors and sharing a deep love for folk music and dance.
"It is a great honor to teach at SHS, where transmission of knowledge, coupled with heavy emphasis on living the Orthodox life allow the students to grow and blossom in their Christian formation. One of the greatest blessings for the students is their attendance at all the liturgies and feast days during the week. Putting the faith first shows the students where our priorities lie."
Dianne Mira - Art and Penmanship Instructor
Dianne Mira began teaching at SHS in 1995 as part of the Artist-in-Residence program and now teaches penmanship and calligraphy.
“I personally love teaching at St. Herman’s, for every day when I enter my classroom I am greeted by students full of natural curiosity and a healthy exuberance towards learning.
I considered it a blessing to have sent my own children to St. Herman’s for their elementary education, and I continue to feel blessed as a member of the staff of St. Herman’s School.”
Matthew St Pierre - Children's Garden, MS and PE Instructor
Matthew is the primary teacher for the Children’s Garden as well as the instructor for middle school math and physical education. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, he studied at St. Michael’s College and Southern New Hampshire University, from which he graduated summa cum laude with a BA in history in 2023. Matthew has loved working with children since he was in high school, when he volunteered as a youth hockey coach and worked as a summer camp counselor.
“My favorite thing about working at St. Herman’s is that the school is totally immersed in the Orthodox Christian way of life. Something that defines the school is that all of us, from the four-year-old kindergarteners to the eighth graders nearing high school, from new teachers like myself to those who have been teaching longer than I have been alive, gather in front of the icons every morning and afternoon to pray, directing our hearts to God.”
Joanna Rozonoyer - Children's Garden Instructor
After studying the Great Books at St. John's College, Joanna (Eryn) Rozonoyer moved to Boston to pursue a PhD in political philosophy. In addition to her studies, she has been working with children for over fifteen years, and was thrilled that St. Herman's allowed her an opportunity to continue doing so during graduate school. She currently teaches Nature Studies to the Children's Garden class, which allows her to draw on her own experiences as a child growing up in rural Colorado.
"I've found working at St. Herman's to be unlike any other experience I've had with teaching children; the closeness of the community and the shared vision of the staff and clergy result in an educational environment in which each child is approached as an individual soul to be formed and nurtured. I'm very grateful for the time I've been able to spend with the wonderful students and dedicated teachers here."
Katya Grinberg - Music Instructor
Katya Grinberg is the music teacher at SHS as well as the mother of two St. Herman’s graduates. She is from Russia and came to the United States in 1994.
In Russia she graduated from Moscow Musical College, affiliated with Moscow Conservatory, in 1986, with a Bachelor Degree in Art, majoring in choir conducting. She has been teaching piano and kindermusik for more than 20 years and has been teaching chorus and kindermusik at SHS since 1994.
“I love teaching at St. Herman’s because this school is different from other schools in that there is a strong focus on Christian love and respect between the students and teachers. As a result, it has a wonderful loving and warm atmosphere to teach in.”