Faculty & Staff
Faculty & Staff
Headmaster
Dr. Aaron Thurow
HEADMASTER
Dr Aaron Thurow was raised in Texas and received his PhD in literature from the University of Dallas. He has spent the last fifteen years immersed in the classical-schools movement. He has participated in a vibrant effort to restore a great books core to the University of Texas at Austin, led the Humane Letters department at the highest scoring Great Hearts academy in Arizona, and, more recently, has been leading the humanities department at a 100-year-old Catholic high school in Phoenix where he helped to design and implement a new classical curriculum. He has also taught classes at the University of Dallas and Mary College at Arizona State University. He is a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Afghanistan shortly after the September 11th attacks and jumped out of more than a few perfectly good airplanes along the way. He is a Byzantine Catholic, in full union with Rome but celebrating the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Dr. Thurow, his wife, and their three children are excited to answer God’s call to leave the Arizona desert and join this beautiful community in Nashville starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
Dr. Aaron Thurow
HEADMASTER
Dr Aaron Thurow was raised in Texas and received his PhD in literature from the University of Dallas. He has spent the last fifteen years immersed in the classical-schools movement. He has participated in a vibrant effort to restore a great books core to the University of Texas at Austin, led the Humane Letters department at the highest scoring Great Hearts academy in Arizona, and, more recently, has been leading the humanities department at a 100-year-old Catholic high school in Phoenix where he helped to design and implement a new classical curriculum. He has also taught classes at the University of Dallas and Mary College at Arizona State University. He is a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Afghanistan shortly after the September 11th attacks and jumped out of more than a few perfectly good airplanes along the way. He is a Byzantine Catholic, in full union with Rome but celebrating the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Dr. Thurow, his wife, and their three children are excited to answer God’s call to leave the Arizona desert and join this beautiful community in Nashville starting in the 2025-2026 school year
Mr. Joseph Grossheim
ASSITANT HEADMASTER
DISCIPLINES: Philosophy, History, Latin
Mr. Grossheim grew up in Columbia, TN, attending St. Catherine’s Church. He was homeschooled through middle school and attended public high school. Mr. Grossheim received his BA in Catholic Theology and Philosophy at Aquinas College in Nashville, TN. He then pursued his Masters Degree in Philosophy at the Center for Thomistic Studies in Houston, TX, which included work with medieval Latin texts. He is presently researching for his PhD dissertation to complete the doctoral portion of his education.
Mr. Joseph Grossheim
ASSISTANT HEADMASTER
DISCIPLINES: Philosophy, History, Latin
Mr. Grossheim grew up in Columbia, TN, attending St. Catherine’s Church. He was homeschooled through middle school and attended public high school. Mr. Grossheim received his BA in Catholic Theology and Philosophy at Aquinas College in Nashville, TN. He then pursued his Masters Degree in Philosophy at the Center for Thomistic Studies in Houston, TX, which included work with medieval Latin texts. He is presently researching for his PhD dissertation to complete the doctoral portion of his education.
Mrs. Julianna Chaney
ASSISTANT DEAN OF WOMENDISCIPLINES: Math, Science
Mrs. Julianna Chaney is a Nashville native and alumna of St. Cecilia Academy. She graduated from MTSU with a B.S. in Biochemistry and is currently pursuing her Masters in Education. She worked at an environmental laboratory and a medical forensic laboratory before switching to the classroom. She spent several years teaching a variety of subjects and ages at St. Patrick’s School in McEwen. She then worked at Regina Caeli Academy in Nashville teaching high-school Algebra and Chemistry.
Mrs. Juliana Chaney
ASSISTANT DEAN OF WOMEN DISCIPLINES: Math, ScienceMrs. Julianna Chaney is a Nashville native and alumna of St. Cecilia Academy. She graduated from MTSU with a B.S. in Biochemistry and is currently pursuing her Masters in Education. She worked at an environmental laboratory and a medical forensic laboratory before switching to the classroom. She spent several years teaching a variety of subjects and ages at St. Patrick’s School in McEwen. She then worked at Regina Caeli Academy in Nashville teaching high-school Algebra and Chemistry.
Mr. Henry McLeod
DISCIPLINES: Latin, Literature, History
Mr. McLeod grew up in Nashville, and attended Pope John Paul II High School. After high school, Mr. McLeod was a seminarian for the Diocese of Nashville for two year, where he found a deep love for Latin and the liturgy. After leaving seminary, He attended the University of Dallas where he studied Classics, with a concentration in Latin. Mr. McLeod is an avid outdoorsman, particularly liking rock climbing, and fly fishing. He has returned home from San Antonio with his wife and two young sons. He brings an excitement to the language of Latin that he is anxious to share with his students.
Mr. Henry McLeod
DISCIPLINES: Latin, Literature, HistoryMr. McLeod grew up in Nashville, and attended Pope John Paul II High School. After high school, Mr. McLeod was a seminarian for the Diocese of Nashville for two year, where he found a deep love for Latin and the liturgy. After leaving seminary, He attended the University of Dallas where he studied Classics, with a concentration in Latin. Mr. McLeod is an avid outdoorsman, particularly liking rock climbing, and fly fishing. He has returned home from San Antonio with his wife and two young sons. He brings an excitement to the language of Latin that he is anxious to share with his students.
Mrs. Janet Cruz
ART
Originally from Pennsylvania, Janet moved to Nashville after completing her graduate
work in New Mexico. She holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Studio Art and Art History,
and a Master of Fine Arts Degree with a focus in painting and printmaking. She is a
professional artist primarily working in two-dimensional media, however throughout her
career she has gained experience with a wide variety of media including drawing media,
oils, intaglio printmaking, stone lithography, clay, and plaster and bronze casting. Janet
has taught art and art history at the college, high school, and elementary level. She greatly enjoys sharing the incredible story of art history with her students and watching them discover how to see as artists.
“My favorite moments of studio art classes are
when I look at a student’s work and can tell them
‘I wish I had drawn that.’”
Mrs. Janet Cruz
ART
Originally from Pennsylvania, Janet moved to Nashville after completing her graduate work in New Mexico. She holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Studio Art and Art History, and a Master of Fine Arts Degree with a focus in painting and printmaking.
She is a professional artist primarily working in two-dimensional media, however throughout her career she has gained experience with a wide variety of media including drawing media, oils, intaglio printmaking, stone lithography, clay, and plaster and bronze casting. Janet has taught art and art history at the college, high school, and elementary level. She greatly enjoys sharing the incredible story of art history with her students and watching them discover how to see as artists.
“My favorite moments of studio art classes are
when I look at a student’s work and can tell them
‘I wish I had drawn that.’”
Ms. Helen Pacek
DANCE
Helen Pacek began dancing at a very young age starting with Lithuanian Dancing. In 2006 she started her training in classical ballet with Ken Von Hedeckie and continued her training in ballet at Foubourg School of Ballet, American Dance Center, A Time to Dance, and Lou Conte Dance Studio. She also trained in traditional modern dance at Foubourg, Jo’s Footwork Studio, A Time to Dance, American Dance Center and Lou Conte Dance Studio.
Her modern dance education has consisted of technical training with an emphasis on improv. Helen started as a dance instructor in 2009 and has instructed ballet levels beginner-advanced, modern dance levels beginner-advanced, stretch classes, floor barre classes, movement classes for skaters and ballet for ballroom dancers.
She has also worked with a variety of different students privately to refine and strengthen individualized skills pertaining to specific students personal goals.
In 2017 Helen completed a ballroom teacher training program and started working as a ballroom instructor teaching private and group lessons. Helen discovered swing dance in 2018 where she continued her education in learning various vintage swing dance styles, including Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag and vintage line dances. She began her swing dance training with Chandrae Roettig Gomez, as well as attending various swing dance workshops taught by instructions from around the country and continues to train and further her knowledge through self education. Helen is passionate about teaching dance to others and hopes her students find as much joy through dance as it has brought her.
Ms. Helen Pacek
DANCE
Helen Pacek began dancing at a very young age starting with Lithuanian Dancing. In 2006 she started her training in classical ballet with Ken Von Hedeckie and continued her training in ballet at Foubourg School of Ballet, American Dance Center, A Time to Dance, and Lou Conte Dance Studio. She also trained in traditional modern dance at Foubourg, Jo’s Footwork Studio, A Time to Dance, American Dance Center and Lou Conte Dance Studio.
Her modern dance education has consisted of technical training with an emphasis on improv. Helen started as a dance instructor in 2009 and has instructed ballet levels beginner-advanced, modern dance levels beginner-advanced, stretch classes, floor barre classes, movement classes for skaters and ballet for ballroom dancers.
She has also worked with a variety of different students privately to refine and strengthen individualized skills pertaining to specific students personal goals.
In 2017 Helen completed a ballroom teacher training program and started working as a ballroom instructor teaching private and group lessons. Helen discovered swing dance in 2018 where she continued her education in learning various vintage swing dance styles, including Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag and vintage line dances. She began her swing dance training with Chandrae Roettig Gomez, as well as attending various swing dance workshops taught by instructions from around the country and continues to train and further her knowledge through self education. Helen is passionate about teaching dance to others and hopes her students find as much joy through dance as it has brought her.
Mr. Joshua Carswell
CHOIR
Joshua Carswell is an accomplished vocalist and frequent performer of opera, oratorio, musical theatre, and commercial music. A native of North Carolina, Mr. Carswell graduated from Elon University in 2010 with a Bachelors in Vocal Performance, garnering the University’s prestigious Presser Music Scholar award.
He has performed in Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium, as a guest soloist with the Annie Moses Band and the New American Choir and Orchestra, and made appearances with the Greensboro Opera and Symphony as well as the North Carolina Symphony. His recent roles include Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte (American Singers Opera Project), Rinuccio in Gianni Schicci (Elon) and soloist on “Generations” in Children of Eden (Elon).
Mr. Carswell’s exceptional interpretive skill has garnered national attention. He recently won the 2012 Grand Prize in the prestigious American Traditions Competition in Savannah, GA, and was recently a guest soloist with the Savannah Philharmonic. He is a winner of state and regional levels of NATS for Classical and Musical Theatre.
Mr. Joshua Carswell
CHOIR
Joshua Carswell is an accomplished vocalist and frequent performer of opera, oratorio, musical theatre, and commercial music. A native of North Carolina, Mr. Carswell graduated from Elon University in 2010 with a Bachelors in Vocal Performance, garnering the University’s prestigious Presser Music Scholar award.
He has performed in Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium, as a guest soloist with the Annie Moses Band and the New American Choir and Orchestra, and made appearances with the Greensboro Opera and Symphony as well as the North Carolina Symphony. His recent roles include Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte (American Singers Opera Project), Rinuccio in Gianni Schicci (Elon) and soloist on “Generations” in Children of Eden (Elon).
Mr. Carswell’s exceptional interpretive skill has garnered national attention. He recently won the 2012 Grand Prize in the prestigious American Traditions Competition in Savannah, GA, and was recently a guest soloist with the Savannah Philharmonic. He is a winner of state and regional levels of NATS for Classical and Musical Theatre.
Mrs. Mignon Thurow
ALGEBRA I
Mignon Thurow has both undergraduate and graduate degrees in literature. Her teaching experience ranges over two decades, teaching literature and music (and a little algebra!), from elementary to college. She loves liturgy, and in her spare time has sung professionally in both large and small ensembles as well as solo engagements. She also loves to travel, cook, and talk about great books with her friends. Her proudest achievement is birthing four beautiful children, three of whom she has had the privilege of raising. She is also proud to call herself wife to an extraordinarily good man.
Mrs. Mignon Thurow
ALGEBRA I
Mignon Thurow has both undergraduate and graduate degrees in literature. Her teaching experience ranges over two decades, teaching literature and music (and a little algebra!), from elementary to college. She loves liturgy, and in her spare time has sung professionally in both large and small ensembles as well as solo engagements. She also loves to travel, cook, and talk about great books with her friends. Her proudest achievement is birthing four beautiful children, three of whom she has had the privilege of raising. She is also proud to call herself wife to an extraordinarily good man.
Mrs. Angie Duncan
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Mrs. Angie Duncan has spent over 20 years as a pediatric critical care nurse and ECMO Specialist. In her experience caring for the sickest children and their families, she developed a skill to anticipate needs and accomplish goals.
Mrs. Duncan holds a BSN from St. Louis University as well as a BA in history from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Mrs. Duncan has done missionary work in Mexico, Belarus, Dominican Republic and Guatemala.
The Duncans’ two sons are students at Chesterton Academy of the Incarnation and the Duncans are parishioners of St. Edward Catholic Church.
Mrs. Angie Duncan
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Mrs. Angie Duncan has spent over 20 years as a pediatric critical care nurse and ECMO Specialist. In her experience caring for the sickest children and their families, she developed a skill to anticipate needs and accomplish goals.
Mrs. Duncan holds a BSN from St. Louis University as well as a BA in history from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Mrs. Duncan has done missionary work in Mexico, Belarus, Dominican Republic and Guatemala.
The Duncans’ two sons are students at Chesterton Academy of the Incarnation and the Duncans are parishioners of St. Edward Catholic Church.
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