Jean-Thierry Mendiola - Social Studies & Religion
My name is Jean-Thierry Mendiola. I have been teaching at St. Felicitas since 2013. I have a degree in Religious Studies from UC Berkeley and a multiple subject credential from San Francisco State University. I also have my Catechist Certification, and teaching the Catholic faith is one of my greatest passions.
I am also very excited about teaching history. Reading is my biggest hobby, and I love to read books about ancient history, theology and philosophy. I am very excited to be teaching middle school because I believe that these are the years when children begin to develop a passion for reading history, as well as consolidating their faith. I enliven my history and religion lessons with the dramatic stories about the past that I have learned through my personal reading of the classics and the early church fathers. I own a large library and I love to bring in my books to share with the students.
I am also a former music and drama teacher and I love playing classical piano, cello, drums, and guitar. My other hobbies include singing, running, politics and kickboxing (Krav-Maga). I live in Oakland and attend the Cathedral of Christ the Light by Lake Merritt.
Beth Stern - Science & Literature
My name is Beth Stern and I am a San Lorenzo and San Leandro native. I graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Creative Writing. I have over a decade's worth of experience teaching, directing, and developing curriculum for many different camps and after school programs, as well as for a special needs school in Oakland. This will be my 5th year teaching in the St. Felicitas community, and I look forward to creating a classroom where everyone comes excited to learn- not just about their studies- but about themselves, others, and God. In my spare time, I love to read, play the ukulele, spend time outdoors, and think about the mysteries of the ocean.
Cindy McIntyre - Math
& English
Greetings! My name is Cynthia Singfield McIntyre aka Cindy Mc aka Ms. Mc. I am truly blessed to have found a home at St. Felicitas Catholic School. The Holy Spirit has guided me here. Truly, good things come from challenges.
I am originally from St. Louis, Missouri. I attended the capstone, Howard University, in Washington, D. C. where I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1975. Upon graduation, I returned to St. Louis and attended Washington University School of Law. I received my Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from there in 1978. My husband, also a Howard alum, and I moved to the Bay Area in 1979. We had two children, a daughter and a son. They attended Catholic high schools, Holy Names High SChool, and Saint Mary's College High School. Both of them graduated from Howard University in 2007 and 2009 respectively. My daughter lives in the Bay Area and has two little girls. My son still resides in the D.C. area.
I started teaching in 1999 at St. Lawrence O'Toole School, where my children went. I taught Kindergarten for two years, seventh grade for four years and taught eighth grade there for twelve years. St. Lawrence O'Toole closed in June, 2017. I said earlier, good things come out of challenges. The closing was a horrible experience, but it was worth it because of where I landed. I bring with me years of experience in eighth grade in the Diocese of Oakland and a good working relationship with and personal knowledge of the Catholic high schools. I am happy to be serving the St. Felicitas community.
Amos Hodgson - Math
My name is Amos Hodgson, A.K.A. “Mr. H”. I teach half of the middle school math classes and, I assist with technology in the classes here at St. Felicitas. I am a product of Catholic School education, having graduated from St. Jarlath in Oakland and St. Mary’s in Berkeley. I graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in Environmental Earth Science. When I am out of the classroom, I like to spend time with my family, read comic books, and cook. I am a fairly nerdy guy who believes that a classroom is a place where students should feel free to explore the concepts that they are learning. In doing so, they are able to reach their God given potential, and excel.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
Meghan Jorgensen - Religion
My name is Meghan Jorgensen and I am not only the 8th grade religion teacher but I am the principal of St. Felicitas. I come to St. Felicitas with many years of teaching experience and this is my 7th year as principal. I am passionate about teaching and enjoy getting to know the 8th grade students on a deeper level. Teaching religion is by far my favorite subject and I find that often the students teach me just as much as I teach them each year. Middle school students always inspire me with their faith sharing and passion for service. Religion is not just a subject but a part of life and I truly enjoy walking the faith journey with my students.