2022-23 TUTOR BIOGRAPHIES

Bill Wolaver is the Director of Sacred Music at St. Catherine’s. He is an award-winning songwriter and arranger with 40 years of experience. He is also a music editor specializing in music transcription and print product.  Along with his wife, Robin, Bill has written numerous songs, musicals, and arrangements for a host of leading Christian publishers.  Together, they composed the Sandi Patti hit song, “Make His Praise Glorious”, which won the distinction of “Gospel Song of the Year” from ASCAP and the Nashville Songwriter’s Association, and was nominated for a Dove Award in the “Song of the Year” category. Bill is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a degree in Piano Performance.  He has traveled internationally as the pianist and composer for the Annie Moses Band, a Juilliard-trained, award-winning string and vocal band comprised of six of his children.  His works have been performed at Carnegie Hall, PBS, and the Grand Ole Opry, as well as other celebrated venues.  Bill and Robin are also the creators and musical directors of the newly-launched and highly-acclaimed children’s show, “The Wonderful World of Benjamin Cello” now available on Formed Media (Formed.org) and RightNowMedia.

Gretchen Wolaver is a member of the Emmy-nominated group, the Annie Moses Band. She has toured and performed professionally for over 15 years and has taught violin, mandolin, and songwriting for over 10 years. She is passionate about raising up children as ambassadors and saints for the Kingdom of God.  

Nita Bernard retired from Maury County School District after 25 years, 16 as an Educational Assistant for Kindergarten and Pre-K programs, and several years as a Substitute Teacher, Pre-K-4th.  She has been a St. Catherine’s parishioner for over 30 years , serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, 1st & 8th grade catechist, and currently leads the Baptismal Preparation Class at St. Catherine's.

Melissa Ladd is the Youth Director at St. Catherine’s. Melissa is a catechist fully-trained in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based Religious Education program created by Sophia Cavaletti and Gianna Gobbi in Rome. The works Sophia and Gianna developed help children see that Jesus is a real person who lived in a real place and time, which allows them to ponder the core mysteries of the Faith, and foster their relationship with God in their own lives and time. Melissa is wife to Kevin and mother of 4 nearly-grown sons, ages 30 - 16, 3 of whom she has homeschooled.

Julia Morbo is an independently-contracted tutor and owns Julia’s Tutoring. She completed her thesis for a Masters of Arts Education and received her undergraduate education from the University of California, Riverside. She recently saw the light and exodused to Columbia from California.  Julia has dedicated her career to Catholic home education!

Ray Seibold (Upper Religion) is a Deacon at St. Catherine’s parish. The greatest gift that the Lord has given Deacon Ray is the opportunity to share the love of Christ with our children. Peace from Ray.!

Berklee Wolaver is an artist/graphic designer with Man Alive Enterprises, including work for Annie Moses Band and the children’s show The Wonderful World of Benjamin Cello.  She plays the role of "Lolly Popular", the real-life artist in residence for the show's sets and illustrations.  She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is mother of 5 wonderful children! 

Chelsea Campbell recently joined the exodus from California and moved to Columbia to enjoy the beauty and freedom of Tennessee.  A former brick-and-mortar Catholic school teacher, she now homeschools her three children and works part-time as an online teacher for Kolbe Academy. 

Erin Conner holds her BA degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH, and spent 10 years working in the mental health field with at-risk teenage girls. She has over 15 active years in youth ministry and now stays at home as wife and mother of 3, (somehow more?) children.

Rocky Conner is a licensed elementary educator in Tennessee and Utah, and has taught in both public and private spheres, including Overbrook School in Nashville.  He is a proud Zag from Gonzaga University, an attaorney licensed as a member of the Utah State Bar, and a former seminarian for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City.  He and his wife, Erin, have 3 energetic and wonderful children -- and 1 scary ”Millie-dog” -- protected by the Three Hearts of the Holy Family and the Archangel St. Gabriel!