Faculty & Staff
Headmaster
Mr. Frank Cronin
We are proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Frank Cronin as our first headmaster. Mr. Cronin is passionate about Catholic education and is a proven school leader with a decades-long background in school administration across Catholic, other Christian, and public schools. We are confident in his ability to help get Chesterton Academy off the ground and very excited to be working with him.
“I’ve been excited about joining Chesterton Academy since my first conversations with the board,” said Mr. Cronin. “The Chesterton curriculum is rationally sound, and the various academic disciplines are rigorous and integrated. I am particularly excited to establish a warm and supportive school culture grounded in thinking and learning characterized by joy and love, comradery and the high purposes of God. I am also most impressed that this rigorous curricular approach is also available to families of almost any means, who desire a truly Catholic, classical education for their young sons and daughters.”
F. X. “Frank” Cronin is a Roman Catholic revert who thought and lived as an existential atheist, a deist and an evangelical Protestant before returning to the Catholic Church in 2007.
He has worked as an administrator in Catholic, Protestant and public schools, as well as a leadership consultant and school board member, and as a teacher and a counselor at the high school and middle school levels in Connecticut public schools. Most recently, he was the Principal at St. John Vianney Catholic School in Gallatin, TN and Assistant Principal at Overbrook School in Nashville, TN. He has also participated in accreditation efforts, serving as Vice Chairman of accreditation committees for high school re-accreditation visits for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and consulting with a Christian high school as they were seeking accreditation with Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
He taught graduate level courses at the University of Connecticut in Teacher Leadership and the History of Higher Education Leadership as an adjunct professor. Additionally, he taught undergraduate level courses at Aquinas College in Nashville in Instructional Methods, Educational Psychology, Educational Ethics and Philosophical Anthropology.
As a young father, he homeschooled his daughters, teaching first through third grade during his Masters study at Regent University. He has also taught RCIA for two years in his parish in Connecticut and has spoken at Theology-on-Tap, diocesan pre-Cana settings and Catholic and Protestant ministry events, as well as regional and national conferences.
Mr. Cronin has studied on a graduate and doctoral level in education at Harvard University (CAS-1996) and at the University of Connecticut (MA-1985), in leadership at Columbia University (Ed D, ABD-2004) and the University of Connecticut (Ed Leadership Certification-1999) and in theology at Regent University (MA-1995) and Holy Apostles College and Seminary (CAS-2014).
He has written many articles and series for The National Catholic Register, Catholic World Report, Catholic Exchange and Catholic Vote’s The Loop. He has appeared for hour long interviews on EWTN’s The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi in 2013 and 2021, which are available on YouTube and on Women of Grace with Johnette Williams in 2021. His first book entitled, The World According to God was published by Sophia Institute Press in July 2020. The World According to God reached Amazon’s Catholic Best Sellers List as high as its #2 Best Seller in April 2021.
Watch Mr. Cronin’s 2021 interview on the Journey Home with Marcus Grodi
Mr. Frank Cronin
We are proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Frank Cronin as our first headmaster. Mr. Cronin is passionate about Catholic education and is a proven school leader with a decades-long background in school administration across Catholic, other Christian, and public schools. We are confident in his ability to help get Chesterton Academy off the ground and very excited to be working with him.
“I’ve been excited about joining Chesterton Academy since my first conversations with the board,” said Mr. Cronin. “The Chesterton curriculum is rationally sound, and the various academic disciplines are rigorous and integrated. I am particularly excited to establish a warm and supportive school culture grounded in thinking and learning characterized by joy and love, comradery and the high purposes of God. I am also most impressed that this rigorous curricular approach is also available to families of almost any means, who desire a truly Catholic, classical education for their young sons and daughters.”
F. X. “Frank” Cronin is a Roman Catholic revert who thought and lived as an existential atheist, a deist and an evangelical Protestant before returning to the Catholic Church in 2007.
He has worked as an administrator in Catholic, Protestant and public schools, as well as a leadership consultant and school board member, and as a teacher and a counselor at the high school and middle school levels in Connecticut public schools. Most recently, he was the Principal at St. John Vianney Catholic School in Gallatin, TN and Assistant Principal at Overbrook School in Nashville, TN. He has also participated in accreditation efforts, serving as Vice Chairman of accreditation committees for high school re-accreditation visits for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and consulting with a Christian high school as they were seeking accreditation with Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
He taught graduate level courses at the University of Connecticut in Teacher Leadership and the History of Higher Education Leadership as an adjunct professor. Additionally, he taught undergraduate level courses at Aquinas College in Nashville in Instructional Methods, Educational Psychology, Educational Ethics and Philosophical Anthropology.
As a young father, he homeschooled his daughters, teaching first through third grade during his Masters study at Regent University. He has also taught RCIA for two years in his parish in Connecticut and has spoken at Theology-on-Tap, diocesan pre-Cana settings and Catholic and Protestant ministry events, as well as regional and national conferences.
Mr. Cronin has studied on a graduate and doctoral level in education at Harvard University (CAS-1996) and at the University of Connecticut (MA-1985), in leadership at Columbia University (Ed D, ABD-2004) and the University of Connecticut (Ed Leadership Certification-1999) and in theology at Regent University (MA-1995) and Holy Apostles College and Seminary (CAS-2014).
He has written many articles and series for The National Catholic Register, Catholic World Report, Catholic Exchange and Catholic Vote’s The Loop. He has appeared for hour long interviews on EWTN’s The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi in 2013 and 2021, which are available on YouTube and on Women of Grace with Johnette Williams in 2021. His first book entitled, The World According to God was published by Sophia Institute Press in July 2020. The World According to God reached Amazon’s Catholic Best Sellers List as high as its #2 Best Seller in April 2021.
Watch Mr. Cronin’s 2021 interview on the Journey Home with Marcus Grodi
Staff
Mr. Gabriel Heidbreder, MACS
DISCIPLINES: Theology 9 / 10, Astronomy, English Literature
Mr. Heidbreder grew up outside a small lake town in South East Michigan. After a period of discernment with The Fathers of Mercy in Kentucky, he completed his bachelor’s degree in English Literature and the Humanities through Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. At that same time, he earned his Masters of Arts in Catholic Studies through The Athenaeum of Ohio in Cincinnati, Ohio. He moved to the Nashville area soon after graduation, and began working in full-time parish ministry. Mr. Heidbreder taught philosophy and ancient history for St. Thomas More Schola in Franklin.
Mr. Gabriel Heidbreder, MACS
DISCIPLINES: Theology 9 / 10, Astronomy, English Literature
Mr. Heidbreder grew up outside a small lake town in South East Michigan. After a period of discernment with The Fathers of Mercy in Kentucky, he completed his bachelor’s degree in English Literature and the Humanities through Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. At that same time, he earned his Masters of Arts in Catholic Studies through The Athenaeum of Ohio in Cincinnati, Ohio. He moved to the Nashville area soon after graduation, and began working in full-time parish ministry. Mr. Heidbreder taught philosophy and ancient history for St. Thomas More Schola in Franklin.
Mr. Joseph Grossheim
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
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. To-Linh Coombe
DISCIPLINES: Algebra, Geometry
Mrs. Coombe arrived in the United States as a 10-year-old refugee from Vietnam who didn’t speak any English. She went on to graduate as the Hillwood High School Salutatorian and earned both a BS and a MS degree in Education from Tennessee Tech University. She spent several years in the classroom teaching high school level math at Cookeville High School, Nashville State Community College, and Tennessee Tech University. She then took a position as the Registrar and VA Representative at Aquinas College in Nashville.
Mrs. To-Linh Coombe
DISCIPLINES: Algebra, Geometry
Mrs. Coombe arrived in the United States as a 10-year-old refugee from Vietnam who didn’t speak any English. She went on to graduate as the Hillwood High School Salutatorian and earned both a BS and a MS degree in Education from Tennessee Tech University. She spent several years in the classroom teaching high school level math at Cookeville High School, Nashville State Community College, and Tennessee Tech University. She then took a position as the Registrar and VA Representative at Aquinas College in Nashville.
Miss Anna Pacek
DISCIPLINES: Music
Miss Pacek grew up in Homer Glen, IL and attended St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Chicago. She moved down to Tennessee last year and is the Director of Sacred Music at St. Martha’s Catholic Church in Ashland City. She was homeschooled through high school and graduated with a BA in music with a special focus on piano performance and conducting. She is a passionate pianist, organist and music director with a comprehensive background in performance, directing/conducting, accompanying and arranging, with a special devotion for sacred music, liturgy, theology, and education. More than 18 years as a piano and music theory instructor, as well as extensive experience in a variety of ensembles. Skilled Rehearsal & Performance Accompanist proficient in sight reading. She has studied under, as well as performed with musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chicago’s Lyric Opera.
Miss Anna Pacek
DISCIPLINES: Music
Miss Pacek grew up in Homer Glen, IL and attended St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Chicago. She moved down to Tennessee last year and is the Director of Sacred Music at St. Martha’s Catholic Church in Ashland City. She was homeschooled through high school and graduated with a BA in music with a special focus on piano performance and conducting. She is a passionate pianist, organist and music director with a comprehensive background in performance, directing/conducting, accompanying and arranging, with a special devotion for sacred music, liturgy, theology, and education. More than 18 years as a piano and music theory instructor, as well as extensive experience in a variety of ensembles. Skilled Rehearsal & Performance Accompanist proficient in sight reading. She has studied under, as well as performed with musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chicago’s Lyric Opera.
Miss Helen Pacek
DISCIPLINES: Ballroom Dancing
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.
Miss Helen Pacek
DISCIPLINES: Ballroom Dancing
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.
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