Mr. Brian Bernhardt is originally from Bloomington, Illinois, and is the youngest of four siblings. He discerned religious life in college before receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville. After college, Mr. Bernhardt and his wife, Courtney, served as FOCUS missionaries for two years, before going into teaching for the past three years. Mr. Bernhardt recently completed a Master of Arts degree in Theology from the Augustine Institute. Mr. and Mrs. Bernhardt will be married for five years in August and are blessed with their daughter, Thérèse. Mr. Bernhardt loves soccer and all sports, being outside in any form, and a good night of Euchre or board games.

Dr. Goldsmith earned his PhD in mathematics from Texas A&M in 2015, and recent data shows that he also gravitates toward science documentaries when he is able. He taught a variety of courses in the Departments of Math and Statistics at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, including History of Math and Intro Statistics. When not pondering the mysteries of God’s creation, one might find him playing board games, juggling boomerangs, or traveling by unicycle. He has a beautiful wife and daughter who have been instrumental in forming him into the man he is today.

Mr. Paul Rupert is native to the Diocese of Peoria and attended St. Vincent de Paul school, Seton Home Study, and Chesterton Academy of the Sacred Heart. Mr. Rupert received the bachelor's degree in philosophy from Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota as a diocesan seminarian before exiting formation. Mr. Rupert has been teaching at St. Mark's School in Peoria, where he has assisted in the revitalization of the science program. Mr. Rupert and his family are parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in downtown Peoria. Mr. Rupert is very excited to return to the school that helped launch his forays into philosophy and encouraged his faith.

Mrs. Ketterling is the daughter of a German father and Irish-American mother. Having heard English spoken by her mother and German from her father, she was raised bilingual. She graduated with her Bachelor's Degree from Bradley University in 2017 with a double major in English and History and a concentration in Creative Writing and received her Master's Degree in English at Bradley University in the spring of 2019. Mrs. Ketterling genuinely enjoys teaching Latin and upper level history at Chesterton Academy. She and her husband (married 2023) were blessed with their firstborn son, Kolbe, in the summer of 2024. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, sewing, and training horses.

Mary Beth Knott received the Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University with a major in art and a biology teaching minor. She has worked professionally doing brush lettering and commercial art layouts and has exhibited and sold paintings through juried shows, art fairs and private collections. Mrs. Knott formerly taught at Willowbrook High School, Metamora High School, and was a volunteer in the Art Form Program in conjunction with the Art Institute of Chicago. An advocate for classical drawing, her students have won numerous art awards throughout the years. Mrs. Knott incorporates knowledge of brain function into the learning process to allow all students to find the freedom to fulfill their creative potential.

Mr. Berlinger retired from Caterpillar, this year, with 35 years of service, most recently as the Founder and Head of Corporate Technology Licensing. For the past 5 years he was also an Executive in Residence at Bradley University, where he created and taught a course on Intellectual Capital Management to undergraduate and graduate students and globally to over 200 Caterpillar employees each semester. During his Caterpillar career, Bill held various engineering, purchasing and leadership roles. He is a globally recognized expert on intellectual property and testified before the United States Senate on patent valuation. Bill holds a BS in mechanical engineering and physics and an MBA. He has 14 patents and sits on the board of several technology-based start-up companies and owns the Western Hearts Ranch and Riding Club outside Peoria, which serves the middle-income equine community.

Mrs. Taylor has lived in the Peoria area the majority of her life and is the wife of Bret Taylor (31 years), and mother of Zach (29), Nate (27), Ben (25), Bridget (22), Dominic (19), Matthew (15), and Peter (11). They have been members of St. Mark Parish (since 1996), Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in St. Louis, and St. Mary's in Kickapoo. Mrs. Taylor holds bachelor's degrees in Mathematics, Economics, and Finance from Augustana College and has over 40 years of tutoring experience in middle school, high school, college, and ACT Review in mathematics.

Raymond J Ramirez D.V.M. graduated with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1986 from the University of Illinois. After graduating, he worked in a Chicagoland ER, then at a daytime hospital in Milwaukee, before he started doing relief work. After 4 years in Wisconsin, he moved his relief practice & family to Maroa, IL. In 2007, he bought Lakeview Veterinary Clinic in East Peoria.  He and his wife Kelly met in a ballroom dance class at University of Illinois and have five children.  They started homeschooling their children in 2003.  Kelly and Ray wanted to enhance their homeschool and did so with special field trips as well as Ray teaching a biology lab Co-op in the 2007-2008 school year. He serves (or served) on numerous non-profit councils and professional boards including the Tri County Animal Emergency Clinic, the Mississippi Valley Veterinary Medical Association, and the IDFPR Veterinary Licensing and Disciplinary board.   Their youngest two daughters, Elyse and Therese, have graduated from Chesterton Academy of the Sacred Heart. They have been involved with Chesterton Academy since its founding.

Gregory Pesely studied liberal arts at Thomas Aquinas College and completed his graduate work mostly in the area of philosophy of science at Laval University, Quebec.
Mr. Pesely's first teaching position was at St. John’s Seminary College, the archdiocesan seminary for Los Angeles. He taught there for two years and one year at Bishop Diego HS in Santa Barbara.
He taught required and electives in philosophy at Benedictine College for eight years and then accepted a position in the catechetical ministries department for the Diocese of Fargo, ND. While in Fargo and later here in Peoria, Mr. Pesely wrote on theological topics and reflections for various publications, such as the National Catholic Register, OSV, and My Daily Visitor.
Mr. Pesely, and his wife, Diana, are parishioners of St. Mary of Lourdes Catholic Church in Germantown Hills. They have six children and seven grandchildren.

Mr. Rupert is a graduate of the first four-year class of Chesterton Academy of the Sacred Heart and his work experience includes 5 years of staffing through the W.D. Boyce Council in various fields, including STEM, archery, and most recently climbing. He is currently pursuing a degree in Industrial Engineering through Liberty University. Mr. Rupert looks forward to teaching in a community that honors scholarship, encourages excellence, and upholds the precepts of Holy Mother Church and is excited to introduce the freshmen to the universal tongue of the Church.

Mr. Koszarek has been our Ballroom Dance Instructor for the last two years. He brings such a joy of dance and music to our students. By day he is a Financial Planner for Northwestern Mutual.

Miss Olsen is studying fine art at Illinois Central College. She is a graduate of Chesterton Academy of the Sacred Heart, where she attended four years of high school. She has studied sacred art throughout her life, because it shows how God has been present and how he has touched the lives of people throughout all of history. Acrylic and oil paint are areas of specialty for her. Miss Olsen looks forward to sharing her passion for art and the gifts God has given her with the students this year!

Jeff Podhajsky is a Catholic husband and father. He lives in Princeville, Illinois with his wife, Jennifer, and their six children. They are members of Sacred Heart parish in Peoria, and oblates of the Community of St. John in Princeville. Mr. Podhajsky graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and has since earned his CMA in Accounting. He has eleven years' experience teaching mathematics at various public and private schools, including Algebra I, Algebra II, College Math, Calculus, and Physics. Mr. Podhajsky has also coached several sports over the years, including basketball, baseball, and track. 

Mr. Anderson spent his career as a radio personality at various radio stations in Wisconsin and Illinois. (He even used to be a DJ at a polka station!) While living in Champaign, Illinois, he spent about five years involved in community theatre. He is a husband to Mary and father of five. His family is a member of St. Mary of Lourdes in Germantown Hills. 

Mrs. Anderson has her degree in Business Administration from Drake University and has had years of experience in the business world in marketing, management and most recently as VP Operations at a Steelcase Office Furniture dealership. Her husband had been a teacher at Chesterton when she became appreciative of the mission and embraced by the beautiful community that is Chesterton. She lives in Roanoke and enjoys spending time with her 4 children and 10 grandchildren.

Mrs. Rupert brings a multitude of talents to Chesterton with her bachelor's degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois, and her experience at Caterpillar as a Staff Auditor. She was married in 2024 to one of our teachers, Mr. Paul Rupert and they are delighted to be expecting their first child. She lives in Pekin and is a member of Sacred Heart parish.