Faculty Bios

Gina Baker

B.S., Penn State University
Years of Teaching Experience: 18
Years at BG: 2
Subjects Taught: Integrated Science, Environmental Science, Senior Applied Science, Algebra I
Why I Like Teaching at BG: I graduated from BG. It is like coming home again.

Carly Brumbaugh

B.A. Biology and Spanish Teaching Certificate, St. Francis University
Years of Teaching Experience: 3
Years at BG: 3
Subjects Taught: Spanish II and Honors Spanish
School Activities: Spanish Club Moderator, Learn About Hispanic Culture Outside the Classroom Moderator
Why I Like Teaching at BG: Small class sizes and family atmosphere.

Thomas Bussman

B.A. Youngstown State University
Years of Teaching Experience: 39
Years at BG: 34
Subjects Taught: History
Special Certifications/Teaching Awards: Extra course work completed throughout my teaching career.
School Activities: Assistant Football Coach

Gerald Cooper

B.S. Shippensburg University
Years of Teaching Experience: 34
Years at BG: 30
Subjects Taught: Algebra I, Geometry, Intermediate Essentials of Algebra and Trigonometry
Special Certifications/Teaching Awards: National Teacher of the Year, Bishop Guilfoyle Ring of Honor
School Activities: Why I Like Teaching at BG: Teaching in a Catholic school is my vocation in the Church.

Victoria M. Byrne

B.S. Secondary Biology Education, Penn State University
Years of Teaching Experience: 10 Years at BG: 9
Subjects Taught: Biology, Integrated Science, Anatomy & Physiology
School Activities: Junior and Senior Classes; PA Junior Academy of Science; Student Assistance Program
Why I Like Teaching at BG: Family environment

Stuart Crocker

B.S. Chemistry, Rochester Institute of Technology
Years of Teaching Experience:19
Years at BG: 16
Subjects Taught: Chemistry Lab, Honors Chemistry, C++ Programming, Basic Programming
Special Certifications/Teaching Awards: Who’s Who in High School Education Awardee (multiple years)
School Activities: Current Fencing Team Coach; Former Boys & Girls Cross Country and Track & Field Coach
Why I Like Teaching at BG: Freedom

Joan Donnelly

B.S. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Years of Teaching Experience: 29
Years at BG: 29
Subjects Taught: Accounting I & II (dual certified courses)
School Activities: Middle States Internal Coordinator

Doreen Fogle

B.S. Secondary English, California University of Pennsylvania
Years of Teaching Experience: 18
Years at BG: 8
Subjects Taught: English I & II, Public Speaking
School Activities: Drama Club Moderator; National Honor Society Moderator
Why I Like Teaching at BG: I love teaching at BG because our students have incredible heart and spirit. The BG community is like a family and I am proud to be a part of it!

Richard J. Hatch

B.A. Juniata College
Years of Teaching Experience: 34
Years at BG: 31
Subjects Taught: World Geography, Psychology
School Activities: Athletic Director
Why I Like Teaching at BG: Interaction with students in a faith-based setting.

Teresa Jeffries

B.S. Communications & Secondary Education, Kutztown State University
Years of Teaching Experience: 15
Years at BG: 10
Subjects Taught: Religion I & III; English I
School Activities: Moderator of Mission Club; Committee Chair for Faith Committee (Validating the Vision I Middle States Accreditation Process)
Why I Like Teaching at BG: I like the faith-based family atmosphere.

Melissa LaBorde

B.S. Secondary Education English/Communications, Penn State University
Years of Teaching Experience: 10
Years at BG: 10
Subjects Taught: Honors English III, American Literature, Journalism I & II
School Activities: Moderator for Accolade, BG’s yearbook; Started the Guilfoyle Gazette, the school newspaper.
Why I Like Teaching at BG: I truly enjoy the close-knit community, the love and support that is always present. The students are more than just bodies in a classroom. They are kind, compassionate and highly motivated individuals.

Robert G. Lanier

B.S. Secondary Education (Biology), University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and St. Francis University
Years of Teaching Experience: 20
Years at BG: 16
Subjects Taught: Advanced Placement Biology, Biology Lab
Special Certifications/Teaching Awards: Certifications: Biology a & Environmental Education; Awards: National Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teacher, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (six time award winner), and Disney Teacher of the Year Nominee (2006)
School Activities: SADD Moderator (Students Against Disruptive Decisions)

Jennifer F. Long

B.S. Math Education, Penn State University
Years of Teaching Experience: 24
Years at BG: 8
Subjects Taught: Algebra II, Advanced Math & Geometry, Probability & Statistics
School Activities: Scholastic Scrimmage Team Coach, Student Assistance Program, Student Council
Why I Like Teaching at BG: I enjoy being able to live my faith while teaching. For me, teaching in a Catholic school is like being with my family. That is why my own daughter is a BG alumni and my younger children attend Altoona Central Catholic School.

Theresa Patterson

B.A., Duquesne University
Years of Teaching Experience: 24
Years at BG: 2
Subjects Taught: Music
Why I Like Teaching at BG: It’s an exciting challenge to try and motivate young people to embrace music into their lives.

Gary Rhone

B.S. Secondary Education, Penn State University
Years of Teaching Experience: 20
Years at BG: 13
Subjects Taught: Social Studies
Special Certifications/Teaching Awards: PA Certified EMT
Why I like Teaching at BG: The students!

Jana Sidler

B.S. Retail Management, Syracuse University
B.S. Secondary Art Education, College of Notre Dame at Maryland
Years of Teaching Experience: 26
Years at BG: 23
Subjects Taught: Art Appreciation, Art Theory, Art Lab
Special Certifications/Teaching Awards: Who’s Who in American Teachers, St. Vincent’s College Great Teach Recognition Award (2005)
School Activities: Community Liaison with Parochial Schools, School Play, Whatever needs done!
Why I Like Teaching at BG: With 15 years of Catholic education under my own belt, I feel most comfortable in the saying that a Catholic education is the best education, both spiritually and academically.

Bob Sutton

B.A. Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Years of Teaching Experience: 9
Years at BG: 4
Subjects Taught: Christian Morality & Christian Lifestyles
Special Certifications/Teaching Awards: Specialized in catechetics while at Franciscan University
School Activities: Moderator of Voice for Life; Forensics Teacher Assistant
Why I Like Teaching at BG: The people...students, families, faculty and staff

Suzanne Thoma

B.S. Math, Misericordia University
M.S. Secondary Education, St. Francis University
Physics Certification, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Years of Teaching Experience: 30
Years at BG: 21
Subjects Taught: AP Calculus, Precalculus, Advanced Math, Physics
Special Certifications/Teaching Awards: Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction (2006); AJCSTA Teach of the Year (2002); Diocesan Teach of the Year (2000); Who’s Who Among High School Teachers.
School Activities: Student Council Moderator and Scholastic Team Coach; Currently an adjunct math instructor at Penn State Altoona.
Why I Like Teaching at BG: The students are the absolute best!

Jeanne H. Thompson

Associate Degree, Religious Students, St. Francis University
B.S. Professional Humanities, Mount Aloysius College (Magna Cum Laude)
Years of Teaching Experience: 26
Years at BG: 7
Subjects Taught: Religion

Special Certifications/Teaching Awards: Facilitator for Protecting God’s Children Program, Campus Minister (7 years)
Ministerial Coordinator of Christian Initiation for Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown (13 years)
Awards: St. Francis Univeristy Adult Service (1996)
Prince Galitzin Cross Award (2001)
School Activities: Assistant Moderator for Mission Club and Voice for Life
Why I Like Teaching at BG: I love being able to share what I love best: my love of God, the Trinity and the Catholic Church. The students’ response is a growth in spirituality and understanding of our Religion and the Holy Word of God. To be a part of their growth is an overwhelming, but awesome call from God.

Jane. L. Yingling

B.S. English Journalism, Lebanon Valley College & St. Francis University
Years of Teaching Experience: 12
Years at BG: 7
Subjects Taught: AP English, English I & IV
Special Certifications/Teaching Awards: Teaching Certification in Secondary Education/English; Nominated as a Hometown Favorite Teacher (2002)
School Activities: Director of the Drama Club
Why I Like Teaching at BG: I love teaching at BG for many reasons. One reason is that because we are a private school, I can truly teach and not just teach to test. Also, I love the fact that if I wish to relate a piece of literature to moral, ethics and God, I am permitted to do so. I enjoy our family atmosphere.