7th/8th Grade Science

Course 1 Math, Course 2 Math, and Algebra

Rachel joined Prince of Peace in 2012 teaching middle school math Courses 1, 2, 3 and Algebra. She holds a Bachelors in Marketing, a Masters in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and Middle School Math Certification from the University of Alabama - Birmingham. Rachel worked in sales for five years but realized her true calling was to be a teacher. She has a passion for teaching and loves math! She is currently teaching Course 1, 2 and Algebra and helping lead the middle school house program. She hopes to instill a love for math in all of her students, while helping students and making a difference.

Rachel and her family have been parishioners at Prince of Peace for many years, and her four children have attended Prince of Peace School since they were infants. Her children can often be found "helping" in her classroom! In Rachel's free time, she loves to bake, read a good book and spend time with her family.

7th Grade Homeroom and Religion, Course 3 Math, 7th Grade Civics/Geography, Mindfulness

Kaitlyn Brown joined the Prince of Peace middle school team in January 2017. She has over 12 years of experience teaching the middle grades both here and in Nashville, Tennessee. She currently teaches the 7th and 8th grade Course 3 Math classes as well as 7th grade Religion and Civics/Geography. Mrs. Brown has both her Bachelor and Master's degrees from Lipscomb University. She brings with her the ability to make students learn to laugh at themselves as they make mistakes and grow as learners. She works hard to make students feel comfortable and engaged in her classroom. Mrs. Brown believes that middle school classrooms should be safe places for students to learn not only about academic topics but also about one’s own character, strengths and weaknesses, and faith. Mrs. Brown has been a parishioner of our parish since childhood and is also a Prince of Peace parent.

8th Grade Homeroom, Religion, & World History, 6th Grade English, Study Skills

Originally from Leland, Mississippi, Bethany attended Catholic elementary school, and graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Greenville, Mississippi. In 2006, she earned her bachelor’s degree in English and education from Millsaps College, and became a certified teacher in secondary English and special education. In 2007, she began teaching in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and earned her master’s degree in English from the University of New Orleans. Bethany and her husband moved to Hoover, Alabama in 2011, where she began teaching middle school, high school, and college-level English.

Bethany and her husband are parishioners at Prince of Peace and have two children, Edith (6) and James (3), who attend the school. In her spare time, Bethany enjoys traveling, music, cooking, crafting, and spending time with her family.

Bethany believes that there is no greater reward in education than seeing the look of pride and accomplishment on a student’s face. At Prince of Peace, she intends to foster a love of learning and promote intellectual curiosity, strong character, and empathy. More than anything, she wants to inspire students to become virtuous adults who live with the heart of Christ.

Band Director

Angelica attended The University of Alabama, where she earned her Bachelor's of Science in Music Education and was a member of the Million Dollar Band, Wind Ensemble, and Huxford Orchestra. She has taught students in elementary, middle, and high school. She loves teaching at POP and being able to share her Catholic faith with all her students. Angelica teaches middle school band, elementary music, and elementary religion. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her growing family, reading, and baking.

Foreign Language

Susie graduated from the University of Montevallo with a degree in Social Work and Psychology. She began teaching at Prince of Peace in 2013 after previously having taught Spanish at Westminster Upper School, Briarwood Christian School, Covenant Christian School (St. Louis), and Virginia College (Birmingham) as well as two Homeschool programs.

8th Grade Homeroom and Religion, 7th and 8th Grade English, Film

Erica joined the Prince of Peace faculty in 2021 as an English Language Arts teacher. Previously, she taught 7th and 8th grade English at Mountain Brook Junior High. Erica attended OLV and John Carroll, and she graduated from UAB with a bachelor’s in English in 2009. She also recently earned her Master’s in Education in Secondary English Language Arts.

Prior to returning to school, she spent many years as a legal assistant. However, Erica's passion for literature and her desire to help students develop into analytical thinkers and skilled writers led her to become an English teacher. Regardless of students' interests, Mrs. Neumann hopes to help them gain the skills to better pursue those passions as they advance in their educations and lives.

Erica's family is not new to the POP community as both her boys have attended the school since preschool. When Erica is not at school, she loves to cook adventurous foods, read about far off places, and cheer on LSU.

Mary Elizabeth has a BS in Anthropology from University of South Florida and a MS in Science Curriculum and Instruction from Florida State University. She joined the Prince of Peace team in 2017 teaching middle school science and religion after teaching science to grades 5-8 at Corpus Christi School in Tampa, Florida.

In 2021, Mary Elizabeth transitioned to the role of STEM Coordinator at Prince of Peace. In this capacity, she works with teachers to create unique science curriculum that aligns with Next Generation Science Standards and weaves the principles of Catholicism throughout student inquiry. She also teaches grades PreK/4 through 8th in weekly STEM and Technology class, STEM elective course, and a Robotics competition team. Mary Elizabeth is a certified Level 2 Google Educator, has multiple certifications through VEX Robotics, and loves to share her own passion for learning with students.

6th Grade Homeroom, Religion, 6th Grade Science, & American History, Musical Theater

Jess has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is certified to teach Special Education, Elementary Education, and middle school Social Studies. Prior to coming to Prince of Peace, Jess taught middle school Social Studies and Religion at Holy Spirit Catholic School in Rochester, MN, where for ten years, she also ran Vacation Bible School, and helped with musical theater. Jess has a unique perspective of student life being both a mother and teacher of POP students. She finds that her understanding fuels her commitment to the school's programs which are designed to maximize student success.

Religion Teacher

Emily Tsikalas joined the Prince of Peace middle school team in August 2023, but Prince of Peace was her "home" long before that. Emily, her husband Nick, and their kids Kate and Luke have celebrated many joyous sacraments at POP over the years. When she decided to return to the teaching profession, POP was her clear choice due to the school's Christ-centered and compassionate learning environment.

Emily has always felt called to the teaching profession. She graduated from John Carroll in 2003 and the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2008 with a BA in History and Secondary Education. She taught in Alabama and Florida for 5 years before staying home with Kate and Luke. During her break from the classroom, Emily continued having a hand in formation by teaching middle school Sunday School, writing the curriculum programs used each year, and leading EPIC, the middle school youth group. She is ready for her second year as a middle school religion teacher. She believes that she was created for a purpose—to share God's love with others, and teaching is one way to accomplish that.  

"For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them." -Ephesians 2:10