CCTheo is blessed to have a team of staff with a diverse set of specializations and skills. Many have several decades of experience between the classroom and atrium while other were Montessori or atrium children. Meet the team that brings CCTheo to life.
Interim Director, Formation Leader
Katy was drawn to Montessori and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) when her oldest children, twin daughters, entered the toddler community at Juneau Montessori School in Juneau, Alaska in 2005. Amazed at their peace and love for the work offered in their children’s house, Katy wanted to learn more. When, as the Director of Religious Education at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau, she learned there was a Montessori method for children’s religious formation, she waited and prayed for an opportunity to attend CGS catechist formation. In 2010, she attended a Level 1 CGS course in Tampa, Florida. Since that first course Katy has travelled to attend formations and conferences around the United States. In 2015 she became a formation leader for Level 1and in 2019 a formation leader for Level 2. While Katy enjoys adult formation and spiritual conversations, her main focus continues to be working with children in the atrium. In 2016 Katy and her family moved from Alaska to Boise, Idaho where they currently reside. Since then, Katy has continued to offer CGS formations (Levels 1 & 2) for adults while also volunteering in the Level 1, 2 and 3 atria at two local Catholic parishes.Katy also enjoys writing and preaching. She co-authored Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities for 2019, 2020, and 2021, reflecting on the Sunday scriptures and providing homily prompts. Her writing has also appeared in newspapers and journals, including the CGSUSA Annual Journal in 2023, 2019, and 2018. She is a contributing preacher for theWord, a Dominican podcast.Katy graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington with a BA in English and Religious Studies and holds a Masters in Pastoral Studies with a focus in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri.When not in the atrium, preaching, or writing, Katy loves going on long walks with her dog, playing piano, reading novels, and sitting in Centering Prayer.
Editorial Director, Formation Leader, Founding Director
Catherine lives in Washington DC with her husband and two dogs, enjoying visits with her five children and three grandchildren. She was the founding director of the Center for Children and Theology. She now works with CCTheo as a formation leader, research guide for Catechist Action Research in the Atrium, and Editorial Director. Her passion for both Montessori and the Atrium is met in her two theology degrees from Trinity University of Washington and Howard University School of Divinity, and years of work in the atrium at Christian Family Montessori School. She is the author of Sing with Joy, Songs of Love, DoubleClose, and Violence and Nonviolence in Scripture, as well as many published articles and essays.
LEI Grant Project Director
Jodi-beth McCain serves as the Program Director for CCTheo’s Grace Space Families initiative, supporting our project leaders in bringing new work and resources to children, families and catechists. Two decades of accompanying children as they journey with the Good Shepherd at Christian Family Montessori School, a BA in Religion from Duke University, a popular education certificate from PROCESO in Bolivia, and an MA in Urban Planning from the University of Iowa help to ground and guide her work.
She rejoices in CCTheo’s nurturing of collaboration, where all are invited to wonder and to offer their unique histories, gifts and lenses to know God at work among us. She co-hosts the Center’s Nurturing the Beloved Community Podcast and commutes via a human-powered kick scooter.
Grace Notes Editor
Allison flows through all things communication, sharing the light of the Center for Children and Theology in our emails, newsletters, website, publications, and reports.
She began her journey with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in 2009, when she took her first Level 1 Formation course with Catherine Maresca. Having fallen in love with the process, she went on to complete Level II and Level III CGS formation courses. After her children were born, she delighted in their awe and wonder at a parent-toddler atrium, led by Davette Himes. With the shepherding of Davette, Allison later led a parent-toddler ministry at her church. Allison lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, two sons (now adolescents), and their hilarious dog, Nimbus.
As with most of our staff, Allison wears other job hats and has worked for more than a decade as an environment and energy reporter on Capitol Hill. As a freelance reporter, she has been published in The Washington Post, Discover Magazine, New York Times.com, Rolling Stone.com, States Newsroom and DC Moms.com. Allison is an honors graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she lived with Cocky the Gamecock.
Book Keeping & Finance
Annie lives in the Chicago area and is passionate about a good run. She’s a proud Loyola graduate.
Community Engagement & Events Coordinator
Vicki’s life is deeply woven through with her faith. She fell in love with CGS the first time she saw the Level 2 geography materials. She knew this was an amazing way to communicate the presence of God to children in a concrete way.
Her quick wit, breadth of TikTok knowledge, and deep commitment to the parents and catechists made her the perfect person to support our community on Social Media and through events.
She lives in the north Atlanta area with her Baptist husband and 3 thoroughly Catholic children. Her family is committed to faith being a team sport filled conversations, questions, and wonder.
Commerce Coordinator
Katie lives in Takoma Park, DC. and has four children – two are now young adults and two are high schoolers.
She began working at CCTheo over ten years ago when three of her children were attending Christian Family Montessori School, and her family found great comfort through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
Katie handles sales, customer relations, and vendor partnerships, as well as all the back end parts that makes sure people have what they order in their boxes on arrival. She enjoys the rhythm of her work, which often involves preparing supplies for atriums, parishes, and homes.
Katie loves taking walks and bike rides to the Post Office where she sends out these supplies.
