Life Science

Christa Maldonado

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Christa Maldonado is a naturally curious person who is constantly reading. The wonder of the natural world led her to studying science deeply in her adult life, but she is really a polymath and philosopher at heart. She has a Master of Education in Instructional Design, a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences - Biology, a Bachelor of Science in Hospital Administration, and an Associate of Science in Chemistry. Christa has formal experience teaching science, mathematics, Latin, and grammar as well as a host of additional subjects through tutoring and homeschooling.

Christa is a Catholic wife and mother. Her family lives the rhythms of liturgical life and they have developed a great love of Catholic traditions and culture. Her husband is a school administrator working in public education. Her children learn at home from the rich curriculum that nourished the minds of the saints past. Aside from their liturgical and educational interests, her family enjoys raising chickens and rabbits, growing a garden, reading good books, baking delicious breads, and exploring nature.

Danielle Bartko

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Danielle Bartko is an experienced Math and Science teacher, and Orthodox Church Cantor and Choir Director. She taught in public schools and a Montessori based Orthodox private school. She has served the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese as a Cantor and Choir Director, and the Orthodox Church in America as a Choir Director. She spent countless summers at Camp Nazareth, first as a camper, and later as a counselor and chant teacher.

She holds degrees in Biology and Music from Lafayette College, and Secondary Teacher Certification from DeSales University. She has taught grades 5-12, and currently homeschools her children. She has experience in a variety of teaching methods, and has taught students with diverse academic needs. She is a lifelong learner, and has enjoyed growing and changing as an educator over the years. Her goal is to inspire her students to become lifelong learners as well.

Her Liturgical music education comes from a variety of coursework in Orthodox Music and Choral Directing. She has taken classes through Christ the Saviour Seminary and the OCA Liturgical Music Department, and independent study with Very Rev. Protopresbyter Michael Rosco and Professors Paul Hilko, George Hanas, Andrew Talarovich, and Jerry Jumba. Whenever she travels and visits a church, she will sneak into the choir loft, wait for an invitation to sing with the choir, and then ask for copies of good music to keep as a souvenir.

She grew up in New Jersey, but now lives in Pittsburgh PA with her husband and two young daughters. When she is not homeschooling her children or teaching classes, she enjoys gardening, jigsaw puzzles, SRS Iconography classes, visiting with friends and family, and going to the beach.