Skip to main content

Saint Martha Catholic School

Teachers & Staff

School Leadership

Suzanne Barnett

Principal

Taffie Duckworth

Assistant Principal

Susan Eichberger

Office Manager

Suzanne Geiger

Learning Coordinator

Kathleen Lang

Data Coordinator

Emily Lape

Childcare Director

Cara Tompkins

School Counselor

Support Staff

Middle-aged man with glasses and a goatee, wearing a light-colored checkered button-down shirt, standing outdoors in front of a blooming crape myrtle tree.

John Fanton

Facilities
A smiling man with a red beard and glasses wearing a black polo shirt, standing outside a brick building with pink flowering bushes.

Garrett Goodwin

Cafeteria Manager

Meredith Havlin

Instructional Coach
A man wearing a black Saint Martha Catholic School polo shirt and a baseball cap stands outside a brick building near a flowering bush.

Rob Lang

Facilities

Annette Thornsberry

Office Assistant

Garrett Goodwin

Cafeteria Manager
A man wearing a black Saint Martha Catholic School polo shirt and a baseball cap stands outside a brick building near a flowering bush.

Rob Lang

School Facilities Director

A Professional Learning Community (PLC) in education is a collaborative team of educators who meet regularly to share expertise and work together to improve teaching skills and student academic performance. In October 2024, St. Martha proudly received the Model PLC @ Work® designation in recognition of our commitment to working collaboratively to support our students and ensuring that ALL students learn at high levels. We are incredibly proud of this recognition and, most importantly, of the collaborative work our faculty and staff do each day to help every student succeed. St. Martha was honored to be the first of only two schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville to receive this prestigious designation. This achievement reflects our shared commitment to continuous improvement, collaboration, and creating a learning environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

The answer is YES! The Catholic Education Foundation, the Archdiocese of Louisville, and St. Martha Parish all provide financial assistance to help make a Catholic education accessible to families. The tuition assistance application opens in October for the following school year. Families can find more information about eligibility and how to apply through the Catholic Education Foundation – www.ceflou.org. 

St. Martha has an average class size of 16 and a student/teacher ratio of 9:1.

Preschool:  School begins at 7:50am and dismisses at 2:15pm for students who attend full-time.

K-8:  School begins at 7:50am and dismisses at 2:40pm.

Doors open for all students at 7am.

Our teachers use technology intentionally and purposefully to enhance learning, not replace meaningful instruction and personal connection. Students use technology when it supports collaboration, creativity, research, and individualized learning, while also emphasizing face-to-face interaction, hands-on experiences, and responsible digital citizenship.

K-2:  Students K-2 are 1:1 with iPads, which remain at school, and there are Clevertouch Interactive boards in each classroom.

3-8:  Students in grades 3-8 are 1:1 with Chromebooks and there is a Clevertouch Interactive board in each classroom. Chromebooks remain at school for students in grades 3-5. Middle school students are able to bring their devices home for work. 

St. Martha offers six special area classes – Art, Global Innovations (STEM), Global Connections (library/research), Music, Physical Education, and Spanish. Students in preschool through 8th grade participate in all special area classes. Grades 3-8 attend special area classes on a six week rotation, visiting each special area every day for six weeks before moving to the next rotation. This allows for students to dive deeper into the content, making connections and learning more meaningful.

St. Martha’s Support Center takes a holistic and inclusive approach to student support. The Support Center is a valuable resource for all students, ensuring that every student has access to the tools and strategies they need to succeed. Our dedicated Support Center staff provide a wide range of resources and services designed to meet students where they are and help them reach their full potential. Support Center staff work with students in a variety of ways, including individual support, small group instruction, and in class assistance. They may push into classrooms to support learning centers, co-teach lessons, model instructional strategies, and provide additional academic support. Staff also help students develop essential skills that contribute to long term success, including organization, study strategies, time management, and self-advocacy skills.

Our Learning Coordinator works closely with families to establish Student Accommodation Plans for students with documented learning differences. These individualized plans outline specific accommodations and strategies designed to support the student’s needs and promote success in the classroom. 

For students who do not have a formal diagnosis, but would benefit from additional support, we offer a Student Strategy Plan. This plan focuses on practical strategies and tools that can help students strengthen their skills, build confidence, and experience greater success academically.

Please note, we are able to accommodate many students, however there are some accommodations we do not have the resources to provide. We are up front and honest with families if there are concerns or needs beyond what we are able to offer. 

St. Martha offers a wide variety of extracurricular and co-curricular opportunities, giving every student a chance to discover their interests, develop their talents, and get involved. From STEM, technology, music and theatre, and art to games and Quick Recall, reading, service, faith formation, and athletics – there truly is something for everyone!

At St. Martha, student safety and well-being are top priorities. We create a safe, supportive environment through caring supervision, clear expectations, social-emotional support, emergency procedures, and open communication with families. Our faculty and staff work together to ensure every student feels safe, valued, supported, and ready to learn.

Preschool:  The preschool students wear St. Martha PE uniforms.  The uniform consists of a t-shirt, shorts, sweatpants and sweatshirt – all St. Martha branded.  The St. Martha PE uniform may be purchased at Louisville Sporting Goods. 

K-8:  Boys wear navy blue shorts or pants with either a plain white or dark green golf shirt with the St. Martha logo. Girls wear navy blue shorts or pants, or blackwatch plaid (Plaid #55) skirt or jumper with a plain white or dark green golf shirt with the St. Martha logo. All students may wear dark green sweatshirt, fleece, or black nylon jacket with St. Martha logo. There is a PE uniform worn on PE days. Skirts/jumpers and white shirts may be purchased at local uniform stores and online, and green shirts, sweatshirts/fleeces/jackets, and PE uniforms may be purchased at Louisville Sporting Goods. Specific details on the school dress code are available in the school handbook.

Preschool: Breakfast is not available. Students may bring lunch from home or money may be deposited in a family account on FACTS and lunch fees will be deducted when lunch is purchased. If lunch is brought from home, state requirements dictate it must contain all 5 food group components: Milk, Bread/Grain, Meat/Meat Alternative, 2 different vegetables OR one fruit and one vegetable. 

K-8:  A la carte breakfast items may be purchased in the cafeteria between 7:00-7:25am. Lunch consists of one hot option, as well as a sandwich option. Middle School students also have a salad bar option. Money may be deposited in a family account on FACTS and lunch fees will be deducted when lunch is purchased. Students are always welcome to bring their lunch from home.

Preschool: The Gesell Developmental Observation – Revised and/or Brigance Screening is administered to assess developmental progress and kindergarten readiness.

K-8: Students in the Archdiocese of Louisville take the NWEA MAP Growth Assessment three times a year (fall, winter and spring). The ACRE (Assessment of Catholic Religious Education) is also administered to students in the 5th and 8th grades. 

Yes! St. Martha does offer an after school care program that is available until 5:30pm. There is also an awesome summer care program offered to families as well. 

The first step in the application process is to make contact with the school. This can be done by completing an online inquiry form on our website (www.stmartharocks.com) or contacting the school office directly at office@stmarthaschool.org or (502)491-3171. This first point of contact allows potential families to set up a time to tour the school and to receive additional information about our school. 

After a family tours the school, and if they are ready to move forward with applying, the application may be found on our website (www.stmartharocks.com). The application allows the school to learn a little bit about your child(ren). As a part of the application, you should submit recent grades/report cards, standardized test scores, and any documentation of learning differences. There is a $25 application fee per child to apply. Once all items are received, the school will review the application to determine if enrollment would be a good fit. If further information is needed in the process, the school will reach out. 

Once your child(ren) has been accepted to St. Martha, you will be invited to complete the full enrollment process. There is a $125 per new child enrollment fee. (This fee is $150 for returning students. New families pay the additional $25 as a part of the application.)

After enrollment is submitted, we will invite your child(ren) to complete an academic screener. This screener does not affect your child’s enrollment status. The screener is given to help us understand where your child(ren) is in their learning.

A woman with short hair wearing a patterned sleeveless top stands in front of a brick building and a flowering bush.

Annette Thornsberry

Office Assistant

Preschool Teachers & Staff

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a green and black floral print top stands outside a brick building next to a blooming crape myrtle bush.

Debbie Albrecht

Preschool Assistant
A smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a light pink shirt, standing in front of a brick building and a flowering bush.

Lori Bratton

Preschool Assistant

Amy Crespo

Preschool Assistant

Kat Cruz

Preschool Assistant
A woman smiling in front of a classroom.

Fran Kidwell

Preschool Teacher

Maggie Miller

Preschool Assistant
A woman in a polka dot shirt smiles in front of a bulletin board.

Jessica Paul

Preschool Teacher
A woman smiling in front of a bulletin board.

Erica Frederick

Preschool Teacher

Misty Wood

Preschool Teacher
A woman in a polka dot shirt smiles in front of a bulletin board.

Jessica Paul

Preschool Teacher

Primary Teachers & Staff

Lindsey Ackerman

Kindergarten Teacher

Elizabeth Faust

Second Grade Teacher

Kayla Fitzgerald

First Grade Teacher

Shelli Merel

Kindergarten Assistant

Paige Middleton

First Grade Teacher

Amber Napier

Second Grade Teacher
A smiling woman with her hair in a bun wearing a floral print top stands outdoors in front of a brick building.

Gretchen Thomas

Kindergarten Assistant

Gina Vaccaro

Kindergarten Teacher

Intermediate Teachers

Shannon Bautista

Fifth Grade Teacher

Riley Bock

Fourth Grade Teacher

Katherine Kuhl

Third Grade Teacher

Gloria Misquith

Fifth Grade Teacher

Tess Reid

Fourth Grade Teacher

McKenna Schelb

Third Grade Teacher

Middle School Teachers

Shannon Dauenhauer

Middle School ELA Teacher

Elizabeth Grimm

Middle School Science Teacher

Amy Harley

Middle School Math Teacher

Laura Holmberg

Middle School ELA Teacher

Jennifer Mueller

Middle School Social Studies Teacher

Karen Woo

Middle School Religion Teacher

Special Area Teachers

Chloe Bailey

Art Teacher

Paige Eaton

Global Innovations STEM Teacher
A smiling woman in a pink striped shirt standing in front of a brick building and a blooming crape myrtle tree.

Cathy Graas

Global Connections Teacher
A smiling woman wearing a Saint Xavier University t-shirt and a St. Martha Catholic School lanyard stands outdoors.

LaToya Lee

P.E. Teacher
A woman smiling in front of a stained glass window.

Caroline Rolon

Spanish Teacher

Melanie Tipton

Music Teacher