Welcome New SJS Staff!

SJS is excited to announce our newest staff members for the 2024-2025 school year. Read on to learn about these awesome educators!

Sister Maria Christi Greve, O.P.
Principal

Sister Maria Christi Greve, O.P. is a Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia Congregation. She was born and raised in Cincinnati and most recently served as the principal of St. Gertrude School in Madeira, Ohio where she served as teacher prior to entering St. Cecilia. Sister Maria Christi graduated from Xavier University in 1990 with a Bachelor’s in Education. She completed her Master of Science in Educational Administration in 1999 and her Master of Arts in Theology at Franciscan University in 2009. In 1993, she entered St. Cecilia Congregation, a religious congregation which is dedicated to Catholic education. Since 1990, Sister Maria Christi has been a teacher and administrator in elementary schools in California, Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia and Missouri. She has served in Catholic education for over 30 years. Her love of learning and love of God, and His Church, are evident in all that she does.

Patrick Black
Assistant Principal

Patrick Black brings a wealth of experience to SJS with over 33 years in education as a middle school teacher, high school teacher and administrator. He was the ExCEL teacher of the year in 2002 and awarded Kentucky’s Middle School Teacher of the year in 2003. Mr. Black has served at SJS since February of 2022 as a Math Interventionist, and is now the SJS Assistant Principal. 

Sister Maria Grace Thielman, O.P.
Middle School Theology

Sister Maria Grace Thielman, O.P. is originally from Buffalo, New York. Prior to entering the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, she completed a BA in Medieval Studies and Classics at the University of Notre Dame and taught high school theology. As a sister, she studied Secondary Education at Aquinas College in Nashville, and is currently working towards a Masters in Catholic Studies at the University of  St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She has served in a variety of schools in South Carolina, Tennessee, and most recently, Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville, IN, where she taught freshman English. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time outdoors, baking, and diving into a good book on a rainy day. She is looking forward to returning to the vibrant community at Saint James Catholic School, where she served for the 2021-2022 school year, and is excited to reconnect with familiar faces and share Christ with those she has yet to encounter!

Sister Sofia Thomas Coulter
Middle School Science

Sister Sofia Thomas Coulter is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, and joined the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in 2016, making her final vows in 2023 (on the feast of St. James!). She has a BA in Economics and Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas, a MA in Secondary Education from Aquinas College, and a law degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. She joins St. James from Carmel, Indiana, where she spent three years teaching 7th and 8th grade.  She has a great love for the wonders of God’s creation, and is looking forward to sharing that wonder with the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science classes at St. James! Sr. Sofia Thomas says that the families of SJS are in her prayers and asks you to please keep her in yours!

Nicholas McDonald
P.E. Teacher / Athletic Director

Nicholas McDonald has lived in the Elizabethtown area since 2010. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine University, and Master’s degree from Western Kentucky University. Mr. McDonald was a substitute teacher for 3 years in Fort Knox schools before receiving a permanent substitute job in Louisville. Last year, he was hired as the P.E. Teacher at Saint James. Mr. McDonald is excited to be at Saint James for another year as the P.E. Teacher, and looks forward to taking on his new role as Athletic Director! 

Eliza Singer
Middle School Math Teacher

Eliza Dyrdek Singer is an alumna of St. James. She grew up attending St. James Church until she moved to Louisville for college. Mrs. Singer earned a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at UofL in 2013 and worked in the construction industry until 2021. She has a husband, Alex, and three children, Roberta (7), Ophelia (5) and Daniel (1). Mrs. Singer has always enjoyed her work as an engineer, but knew that the Lord was calling on her heart to become a teacher. She has 3 years of teaching experience at the high school level in both math and science. Mrs. Singer is very excited to grow as an educator in teaching middle school math and to be teaching at a catholic school! She loves to focus on transferring understanding across content, especially science. She can’t wait to help students solidify their foundation in math concepts and feel confident as they transition to high school. Besides spending time in the classroom, and with her family, Mrs. Singer enjoys spending time with her sisters, parents, nieces and nephews, running and exercising, and reading a good book. 

Laureen Laumeyer
Interventionist

Laureen Laumeyer is recently retired from teaching Gifted Education in Bullitt County.  Before that, Mrs. Laumeyer taught in the Hardin County School System in Kentucky and the Fayette County School System in Georgia. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Elementary Education from Western Kentucky University, a Masters of Arts Degree in Elementary Math Education from Nova Southeastern University out of Florida, an Endorsement for Teaching Gifted Education K-12 from Western Kentucky University, and a National Board Certification. 

She has three wonderful grown children and two incredible grandchildren.  Since both her grandkids live out of state, she cherishes any and all times she gets to spend with them.  Mrs. Laumeyer has a rescue dog named Abbie (after Abigail Adams, since all her dogs were named after First Ladies). She is currently learning to be a Beekeeper because she is so amazed by these insects God created. She enjoys the outdoors, water activities, and history. She is looking forward to this upcoming school year and working with the awesome students and staff at St. James! 

Emily Drake
3rd Grade Teacher

Emily Drake is from Leitchfield, Kentucky. She taught at Saint Paul Catholic School for the past 13 years. Mrs. Drake enjoys working with children and feels her role as a Catholic educator is her vocation. Besides teaching, she enjoys singing, horseback riding, cooking, gardening and working at her house. Mrs. Drake lives with her husband, Charlie, who is a sprinkler fitter on their family farm. Their family has 5 or 6 generations that live around them, where they raise their 6 children. She is very happy to start on this new journey at Saint James School!