Meet the Staff
Holy Family School has a staff of highly qualified educators with an exceptional devotion to Catholic teachings. They are well-educated, experienced, compassionate, and dedicated to their students, school and profession.

Principal: ​Mrs. Renee Almy

​   Welcome to Holy Family School!  This is my first year as principal and 17th year in education.   I have a BA in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University and a MA in Educational Administration from Western Washington University.  I have taught 1st grade, 4th grade, 2nd grade, Pre-K, and library.  I grew up as a member of Holy Family Parish, and feel blessed that my own children are now part of the same community.  In my free time my husband and I enjoy chauffeuring our kids to all of their activities, traveling, reading, waterskiing, and playing tennis.
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Pastor: Father Roy Baroma

     Father Roman Roy Chavez Baroma, Jr. was born in the Philippines on November 28th, 1969. He was in the seminary for 14 years and that covered his formation in High School, Philosophy, Spirituality Year, Pastoral Year, and Theology. He was ordained a priest on April 3, 1997 for the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines.  After pastorally serving 10 years in the Philippines Father Roy moved to the Archdiocese of Seattle in 2007 to continue his priestly ministry, and has led many parishes in the diocese.  Father Roy says "I am always grateful to God for my priestly vocation and for the many blessings he gave me and to be assigned in your parish is another great blessing! I am also grateful to Archbishop Sartain for his trust and support and for giving me this new assignment. I love and enjoy my ministry here in our Archdiocese."         Aside from ministry he loves the outdoors and enjoys playing tennis, hiking, biking, kayaking, and golfing. Likewise, he enjoys drinking coffee and interacting with others.
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Administrative Assistant: ​Mrs. Lorena Brock

   As the Administrative Assistant I wear many different hats during the school day! Supporting the Pastor, Principal and our extraordinary teaching staff is a priority.  Working with such wonderful students and parents is a blessing.
   Holy Family School and Parish is my “home”.  My husband attended Holy Family School when it first opened in 1964.  Our children also attended HFS.  When my youngest son went into Kindergarten I began looking for a job after 7 years of staying home.  Holy Family had an opening to work part time in the school office. I immediately applied and was blessed to find out I had been hired.  My plan was to stay at Holy Family until my children were finished with 8th grade however, my heart could not say goodbye to this little school and so I stayed!
   It has been one of my greatest pleasures to work here at Holy Family School for the past 30 years and I look forward to a few more years to come!
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Pre-Kindergarten Teacher: Mrs. Mary Glaze

  I grew up on a small farm in Wilsonville, Oregon next door to my grandparents and a large extended family. Twenty years ago I moved to Washington with my husband, Derek. Although this is my second year teaching Pre-K, my journey with Holy Family began over ten years ago. My oldest son, Jack, joined Holy Family in the second grade and is now a sophomore at Bellarmine Preparatory. My youngest son, Ethan, started in Pre-K and is now a freshmen at Bellarmine.
   As our boys grew, six years ago we decided to become a foster family. I realized that I am passionate about giving children a loving home, a good foundation and hopefully a love for learning. I am in the process of getting my Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and am excited for the opportunity to become part of the Holy Family staff as the Pre-K teacher. I look forward to getting to know each of the Pre-K families and their students over the coming year. 

Pre-Kindergarten Assistant: Mrs. Jessica DeJesus

It is such a joy to watch the Pre-K students grow and learn throughout the school year. Their laughter and  smiles make the school day so much brighter. I have been helping in the Pre-K class at Holy Family School since 2016 and have been a parishioner here at Holy Family Church ever since I can remember. Growing up in nearby Pacific, I would attend Mass every Sunday morning with my mother and grandmother, and Religious Education class (CCD back then) on Wednesday nights. I am a Auburn Riverside High alum and have a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Central Washington University. My wonderful husband and I have four lovely children that currently attend Holy Family School. I love spending time with my family, traveling to the beach, baking, reading books, and being creative with arts and crafts.

Kindergarten Teacher: Ms. Leah Eaton

  Hello, my name is Leah Eaton and I am so excited to be joining the Holy Family School family! I grew up in Renton where I attended St. Anthony’s and Kentridge High School. I received my Bachelor’s of Arts in Elementary Education and an endorsement in Reading from Saint Martin’s University. I have been teaching at St. Luke’s in Shoreline for the past 2 ½ years in Kindergarten and 1st grade. When I’m not working I enjoy taking classes at Barre3, hiking, spending time with my nieces, and being around friends and family. ​
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First Grade Teacher: Mrs. Michelle Helm

  

​Hi! My name is Michelle Helm, and I am brand new to Holy Family and the 1st Grade. I grew up in Northeast Kansas and went to school at Washburn University. Before moving here, I taught 4th Grade for three years in Oklahoma. This past year was especially eventful for me and my family. Jacob, my husband, is a pilot in the Air Force and we moved here in October. We also welcomed our first child, a little girl named Clara Elizabeth in February! We are members of All Saints parish in Puyallup. I am excited to start this new adventure with everyone here at Holy Family.

Second Grade Teacher: Mrs. Noralee Reger

   Hello, my name is Noralee Reger. I have been teaching 2nd Grade here at Holy Family since 2010.  My favorite part of teaching 2nd Grade is preparing my students for the sacraments.
My husband and I have been members of Holy Family Parish for 27 years.  Both of our children are graduates of Holy Family School. I received my Masters in Teaching from City University and my Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington. I enjoy reading, gardening, and travel.

Third Grade Teacher: Mrs. Ann Kelly

This is my 26th year teaching here at Holy Family School.  Each day, I still get excited when I see my students learning something new or when they share an interesting insight.  I like to make learning fun and interesting.
 
HFS feels like home to me.  I attended HFS as a child.  HFS looks different today, but the environment is still warm and inviting.  It is always fun to see former students and classmates.  I love to hear what everyone is doing today.
 
When I am not teaching, I love to spend time with my family.  I enjoy walking the dog, reading some good books, and running in the park.

Fourth Grade Teacher: Mr. John Paiva

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I am so excited to become a member of the Holy Family team!  Our family is from California, but our two daughters discovered the beauty of Washington and made it their home.  They invited us and we came.  My daughters both attended Catholic school and my wife is a Catholic school teacher.  I have taught grammar school for most of my career, most recently second grade, but I did spend three delightful years in fourth grade.  Other than teaching, my passions in life include hiking, gardening, reading, and baking artisan sourdough bread. 

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Fifth Grade Teacher: Mr. Conner Eriksen
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 Hello! My name is Conner Eriksen and this is my first year with Holy Family. I was born and raised in the Tacoma area, received my BA at UW Tacoma, and completed my MAT at the University of Puget Sound. I discovered my passion for teaching in South Korea, where I lived for five years as a student and as an English teacher. During my free time, I like going to the beach or the gym, as well as reading and traveling. There is always something new and exciting to learn about others and the world we live in. It is my goal to bring this same curiosity to the classroom in order to inspire students to develop their own desire and joy for learning. ​

Eighth Grade Homeroom/Middle School Social Studies:
Mrs. Carri Burk

  My name is Carri Burk and this is my seventh year teaching at Holy Family School.  I have been a member of Holy Family Parish for 16 years and all three of my children graduated from Holy Family School. 
  I attended five Catholic elementary schools (Army brat) and graduated from St. Michael’s in Olympia, Bellarmine Preparatory, and the University of Portland. My undergraduate degree is in History with minors in Political Science and German.  Before starting a family, I earned an MBA and I am currently working on my Masters in Education.
   I believe that a Catholic Education, which emphasizes spiritual and academic excellence, has the ability to transform a student’s life.  Being a part of building that foundation is an exciting responsibility.

Seventh Grade Homeroom/ Middle School Math:
​Mr. Larry Rupp

   My name is Larry Rupp.  This is my fifth year teaching at Holy Family (started in 2017), but I have been a parent at Holy Family School for the last 12 years. I am the 7th grade Home Room teacher, and I also teach 7th grade Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and 7th and 8th Grade Science.
   I have a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Washington in Electrical Engineering, with a Minor in Mathematics.  I have previously worked as a software engineer for Hughes Missile Systems, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, and  I also served 15 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Ground Radio Repairman (Electronics) and Combat Engineer.
   My wife and I live in Auburn, and we have one son (Chris) and one daughter (Sophia).  We like fishing, kayaking, and spending time with our family. ​

Sixth Grade Homeroom/ Middle School ELA:
Ms. ​Ms. Katherine Van Eddy

​ Hi, my name is Katherine Van Eddy and I’ve taught in Catholic schools for five years (grades 3-5). This is my second year teaching at Holy Family and I’m so excited to join this community!   I have a BA in English and MAT in Elementary Education, both from the University of Puget Sound. I’m currently earning a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry through the Rainier Writing Workshop (Pacific Lutheran University). I believe that through the creative arts, we express our humanity and connect with one another!
  I attended a K-8 Catholic school in the San Francisco Bay Area, and a Jesuit high school. After college I served a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Bridgeport, CT.  I love being able to share my faith with students and help them grow in theirs. I have a 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter who keep me busy! I also enjoy running, traveling, hiking and being near water!

Music/Drama/Band Director: Ms. Deanna Horn 

    Hello, I'm Mrs. Horn, formerly known as Ms. Reitan.  I am in my 15th year teaching general music and preparing students for liturgies at Holy Family School, Auburn.  I grew up in small towns up and down the Pacific coast (my Dad was in the Navy and is a Vietnam Veteran).  I've spent most of my life in Washington State; in the Puget Sound area and Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands.  When I was a child the nuns from Lopez Island would come to Friday Harbor and teach the Catholic kids to sing at the Saint Francis Mission Church.  I grew to love liturgical music at St. Francis in Friday Harbor, and then at St. Gabriel's in Port Orchard.
     I have two adult daughters who live and work in Seattle.  My oldest daughter is an actress and play-write in Seattle working for the immersive dinner-theatre Nordo in Pioneer Square.  I enjoy visiting my daughters in Seattle regularly and attending shows.  My new husband, Stuart, had a thirty year career in the Los Angeles area as a professional classical musician (oboe/english horn), and so we enjoy attending the opera and concerts in Seattle, and abroad.  I am an avid jazz radio listener!  My favorite jazz- singer is Ella Fitzgerald and trumpeter/singer Chet Baker.
    My teacher training includes a Broad-Area Music Education BA from Central Washington University and extensive post- graduate studies in classical singing.  I have attended Levels I & II at the Kodaly Institute at Seattle Pacific University.  My jazz experience comes from college and running a non-profit jazz performance venue in Kent.  I have taught for my own private voice studio for over twenty years in Kent and Puyallup (directing students singing in small cast musicals and operas), as well as serving as a professional music and choral director for a number of churches in Kent, Puyallup, Seattle and Tacoma.  Recently I have served as music coordinator/pianist/cantor for St. Aloysius Parish in Buckley and Holy Disciples in Graham.  I have taught elementary and middle school music (including play directing) at Thomas Academy in Kent and in the Puyallup School District. I hold a Washington State professional teaching certificate for K-12 Music.   I enjoy working at Holy Family because I can combine my experience and love of sacred music with general music education.  I also very much enjoy teaching students band instruments and building the middle school jazz band program.  I am also the religion teacher for grades seven and eight.

PE: Mrs. Mindy Klimkiewicz

Hi!  My name is Mindy Klimkiewicz and I grew up in a small farming community in western Illinois.    I have a Bachelor's degree in the Bible, specializing in Intercultural Missions from St. Louis Christian College and have spent the better part of the past 24 years coaching volleyball.  I have worked in several different settings, from large public schools, to smaller private schools and everything in between. We were given the life changing opportunity to move here last August, and couldn't be more thrilled! I love health, fitness and teaching about wellness.  I am passionate about the Chicago Cubs, (and pretty much all Chicago sports)  and spend my downtime with my husband and 3 daughters exploring the outdoors.  We are soaking up all that this amazing state has to offer!  I am so excited to join the Holy Family team.
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Library/Technology: Mrs. Donna Klugh

My husband and I are both from the East Coast. In 1999 he accepted a job offer in Tukwila. He is a U of W graduate, but for me...I knew nothing about the Pacific Northwest.! I thought, “Oh my, rain, rain, rain and nothing but trees.  Seattle? Where is that?” Then, in April of that year I came out here to start looking for houses.  Of course, it was one of those days when we had fantastic weather without a cloud in the sky! One look at Mt. Rainier and the rest of the area and I was hooked! We moved to Black Diamond with our two-year-old son, Jonathan and in 2002, enrolled him in Kindergarten at HFS. He was in the 2011 graduation class. Then our daughter Julia came along in 2003 and she was also enrolled at HFS from Pre-K through 8th grade in 2017. Fortunately, I was able to continue working at home as a programmer of online training courses while maintaining the flexibility to volunteer at HFS. Now, I have been associated with HFS for 19 years, doing a variety of things, including our auction, teaching assistant, costumes and whatever I could do to help our great school. In 2013 I was hired as a Pre-K aide and since 2014 have had way too much fun teaching Technology and running the library.  I love our HFS students and teaching technology has been perfect for me. I can use my background as a software engineer and my technical degree in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.​

Before and After School Care: Ms. Patricia Garcia

Hello, I was born and raised in Bellingham, Washington. Moved to the Auburn area in 1993. I attended Green River Community College and University of Phoenix majoring in Human Resources.  I have been a long time parishioner at Holy Family School, I have total of three children, two which had attended Holy Family School and one who is attending currently and two grand kids.  I have worked as in Administrative for many years and volunteered for Sunday Mass nursery since the early 2000’s.  I had an opportunity to care for the grand kids which lead me to receive a certificate for the Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).   Throughout the years I have cared for and/or in the lives of many children.  I have enjoyed being a part of kids’ lives and found a passion to care and guide them.  I have always had the passion for it and when I had the opportunity to have that at Holy Family School it was a calling that I could not pass on.

Development Director: Mrs. Gretchen Kurth

​   I am the Development Director for Holy Family School.   My primary functions are to oversee all fundraising activities including the annual Auction.  I also assist with school marketing/enrollment, help out in the office and monitor the playground during lunch recesses.   I have two daughters currently attending HFS, my husband (KW) works at Manheim in Kent, and we all love Holy Family School!
   I attended St. Francis of Assisi Catholic grade school in Burien, John F. Kennedy High School and Seattle University.  I then did a internship with Bank of America in London followed up by a position in the foreign exchange dept at Seafirst/Bank of America in Seattle.  I then was asked to join Microsoft where I worked for just short of 20 years in the Microsoft Treasury Dept.  In 2012 I "retired" from Microsoft, took a year off and then joined Holy Family School as the Development Director.  I am also a member of the Holy Family Church Finance Council and am Treasurer of the Holy Family Parents Club.