A New School Year and New Faces

Benilde-St. Margaret’s is pleased to welcome the following new members of the faculty & staff to our community. With many years of experience and diverse backgrounds, the BSM community is stronger by having them with us for the 2024-2025 school year.

Let’s meet the new members of the BSM team:

Emily Anderson
Emily joins the BSM team as a long-term English substitute for Paul Canavati who is out on paternity leave during the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year.

Before coming to BSM, Emily subbed at various Twin Cities high schools, was an upper school English teacher for six years at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, and also a marketing writer for an educational technology company.

This fall, Emily will be teaching for Paul Canavati's English classes: Advanced Composition, Creative Writing, and Yearbook while he is on paternity leave. Emily helps students examine and develop their ideas through the written word and helping them see where their creativity takes them in the process. She believes that finding one’s voice is an important step in finding one’s passions!

Outside of teaching, Emily enjoys hiking, camping, reading, and hanging out with her four- and six-year old daughters.

 

 

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Brandy Castaneda
Brandy joins BSM as a member of our senior high guidance and college counseling team, serving students with last names Mi-Sa.

This will be Brandy’s first full-time position as a school counselor and she is excited to join the Benilde-St. Margaret’s team. Her focus is on supporting the academic, social, and emotional growth of each student.

Brandy is honored to be part of BSM’s rich tradition of academic excellence, strong community, and holistic student development. She looks forward to working with the students, helping them reach their goals. Overall, Brandy wants to help nurture students' intellectual growth as well as support their emotional and social well-being.

Beyond her professional role, Brandy likes exploring new restaurants and trying different cuisines in Minnesota. She also enjoys spending quality time with loved ones with a good meal at home or traveling around the world to explore new places. She is passionate about exercise, knowing that being active helps maintain balance and well-being in her life.

 

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Jack Entzion
Jack is joining BSM as a member of the senior high science department, teaching biology and AP Environmental Science.

Jack is excited to be at BSM teaching the subjects he’s loved his entire life and wants to share that enthusiasm with Red Knights. He knows of BSM’s long tradition of academic excellence and feels honored to teach students here.

When he is not working, Jack loves a good video game and movies. He also is an avid bird watcher and wants to share that passion with his students as an extension of the classroom experience at BSM.

 

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Nicholas Henderson
Nick will be an English teacher in the senior high at BSM and loves the opportunity to discuss literature with students and peers alike.

His most recent teaching experience was as a social studies teacher at Blake Middle School in Hopkins, MN. Nick also taught undergraduates in the department of cultural studies and comparative literature at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Outside of work, Nick reads about Christian mysticism, lifts weights, enjoys a good sauna with friends, and watching movies with his fiancée Vivien and cat Yoko.

 

 

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Charlie Keyes
Charlie is returning to BSM as a theology teacher, excited to be part of the wonderful BSM community that fosters amazing growth among our students.

Most recently, Charlie was a theology and business teacher at Hill-Murray School.

When not working, Charlie enjoys playing music and exploring the local music scene. He also reads and spends time with his family.

 

 

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Marcos Luna
Marcos Luna is a familiar face at BSM for our student athletes in the football program, having served as an assistant coach for the past three years, this will be his fourth with the Red Knights.

This year, Marcos will also be serving as a long-term sub for physical education and health classes, providing students with opportunities to stay fit and have a positive, active, and healthy lifestyle.

When not on campus, the University of Minnesota-Morris alum enjoys all types of sports, spending time with his dog, and is passionate about coffee.

 

 

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Julie McDonald
Julie has joined the BSM admissions team as an associate director. Most recently, Julie was a teacher at Holy Name of Jesus School.

She is excited to be a part of the Red Knight community because she will be able to introduce prospective families to the wonderful Catholic college-prep experience at BSM, with all it has to offer in academics, activities, and athletics.

Outside of BSM, Julie enjoys spending time with her family (a proud mom of three and one dog), attending her children's various activities, reading, and exploring Minnesota parks. She also likes discovering new coffee shops, walking, and cheering on her beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

 

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Ivy Mattson
Ivy returns to BSM as an art teacher, focusing on the AP art and design/drawing class, painting, and middle school art courses.

Most recently, Ivy taught drawing and painting, ceramics, and video production at Edina High School.

She is excited to be back at BSM and reconnecting with this fantastic community. After work, Ivy is a practicing ceramicist. She is the 2024 Pottery Museum of Red Wing award recipient, spending all of her free time in the studio. She creates whimsical, art-nouveau inspired functional ware and has an Instagram page featuring her work (@mudandivy).

Ivy also is an avid hiker always on the lookout for a new local hike around the cities.

 

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Kelsey Rathmanner ‘10
Kelsey joins the BSM team as a Spanish teacher and as a proud Red Knight from the Class of 2010. She is excited to be back at BSM and looks forward to being an active member of the faculty & staff. Kelsey is happy to be the third female member of her family to work at BSM (in addition to her mom and sister).

Most recently, she was a Spanish teacher at Spring Lake Park High School.

Outside of work, she loves reading, doing anything outdoors in Minnesota, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

 

 

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Jason Schwalen
Jason is joining the BSM English department and is excited to developing a dynamic curricula with the team at Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

He has taught for 25 years, most recently at Breck, and was previously at Mounds Park Academy and Totino-Grace.

Jason loves the welcoming energy at BSM and looks forward to diving into all aspects of the BSM community, both as a faculty member and a parent.

He enjoys traveling with his family, watching movies, reading all genres, and coaching soccer and lacrosse. Jason also enjoys live theater and being a sports dad. He is a Gulf War veteran who served for six years as a nuclear technician and operator on a fast-attack submarine. His father graduated from BSM and has a daughter who is joining the BSM community as an 8th grade Red Knight this fall.

 

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Bridgid Smith

Bridgid will be serving as a long-term substitute for the high school theology department. She looks forward to sharing a love for academic theology with BSM students, while also providing a learning environment that fosters and encourages intentional reflection on questions of faith and religion and its purpose in our lives. 

 

Outside of BSM, Bridgid is interested in sports and anything that keeps her active, in particular, spikeball is a favorite! She also plays piano, cooks, hikes, reads, travels, and likes to do calligraphy. 

Bridgid is grateful for the opportunity to once again teach at BSM and looks forward to being part of the dynamic Red Knight community! 

 

 

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Esther van Stam
Esther joins BSM as a new part-time 7th grade theology teacher. She is looking forward to meeting our newest Red Knights and sharing the joys of theology with them in class.

Esther has been a faith formation coordinator at St. France Cabrini for a number of years and will continue in that position part time. She and her family are also members of the parish.

Esther and her husband Tony, a BSM alum from the Class of 1993 have three children, ages 11, 5, and 2. They love traveling together, reading, going on walks, and playing games.

 

 

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Erin Werneke
Erin is returning to BSM, having previously served as a substitute teacher in the 2018-2019 and 2023-2024 school years, this time as a full-time business teacher in the senior high.

Prior to joining BSM, Erin worked in retail service and management, banking, religious and nonreligious nonprofits, the US government, entrepreneurship, and teaching in grades 6–12. She has a masters of business administration in marketing.

She loves being a mom to her two sons (ages 13 and 9) and is a den leader in the St. Odilia Catholic School (STO) Cub Scouts and a parent coach for their swim team. Erin also is involved in various liturgical ministries at St. Odilia Catholic community, writes and narrates books, works as a travel agent, and coaches individuals with mental health and/or neurodiverse challenges.

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The entire BSM team welcomed new and returning students to BSM on Monday, Aug. 26 and Tuesday, Aug. 27. To meet our full faculty and staff, visit the BSM Directory.