Faculty and Staff
Our Faculty and Staff
Mr. Taylor Bettencourt
Headmaster, Literature, History, and Philosophy
Mr. Bettencourt holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy as well as Master of Arts in Philosophy with a concentration in Bioethics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Additionally, he is pursuing a Master of Arts in Humanities with a concentration in Classical Education from the University of Dallas. He previously taught at the Atlanta Classical Academy for six years. In addition to his responsibilities as headmaster, Mr. Bettencourt also teach some of our humanities courses.
Mrs. Charissa Saenz
Executive Director
Mrs. Saenz holds a Bachelor of Science in Music from the University of Alabama. She has previously served in various capacities in development and school administration and currently serves as Director of Liturgical Music and Director of Marketing and Development at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. Mrs. Saenz is the co-founder of Chesterton Academy of Atlanta and is the vice chair of the board of directors and also serves as executive director.
Ms. Niki Mallinak
Theology, Health, and PE
Ms. Mallinak holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Master of Theological Studies from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Ms. Mallinak has served previously as a teacher and catechist in parish settings and has also served as a missionary with Life Teen.
Mrs. Meghan Smith
Art
Mrs. Smith holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Art History, a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and a Master of Fine Arts from the State University of New York. Mrs. Smith currently teaches art classes at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School and will continue to do so while teaching at Chesterton Academy.
Mrs. Brenda Accurso
Music
Mrs. Accurso holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor and a Master of Arts in Sacred Music from the University of Notre Dame. Mrs. Accurso has previously taught music classes in a Catholic school in Raleigh, NC as well as in various parish settings.
Mr. Jeremy Johnston
Latin
Mr. Johnston holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Theology from Ave Maria University and is also completing his Doctoral degree in Moral Theology at Ave Maria. Mr. Johnston has previously taught theology, Latin, and humanities courses at a classical school in Ave Maria, FL and has also served as an adjunct professor of theology at Ave Maria University. He is currently serving as Director of Adult Faith Formation and Evangelization at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and will continue to do so while teaching at Chesterton Academy.
Mrs. Michele Hynes
Science
Mrs. Hynes holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemical Science from Harvard University. She has previously taught science at the middle school and high school level for eleven years prior to coming to Chesterton Academy. Prior to beginning her teaching career, Mrs. Hynes worked in Biotech and Pharma laboratories.
Mr. John Saenz
Math
Mr. Saenz holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stetson University and Master of Arts from the University of Alabama in Music Education as well as a Georgia State Certification in Math. Mr. Saenz has taught a variety of subjects for many years and currently teaches middle school math at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School and will continue to do so while teaching at Chesterton Academy.
Fr. Neil Dhabliwala
Chaplain