Faculty & Staff

This is Mrs. Bealke's 12th year teaching Grade 10 English at Visitation Academy. Kristina is an alumna of the class of '98 and a mother of Montessori graduates. She attended Fordham University ('02) and worked in advertising before realizing her place was in a classroom. She moved back to St. Louis and earned her MEd from UMSL. Mrs. Bealke is a member of NCTE and loves reading about new ways to make the classroom a positive and fun space for learning!

Linda Benken loves being a part of the Visitation community. She is a proud alum who is in her fourth year at Viz. Linda received a degree in education from St. Louis University. She has been an educator for over 30 years, working with many different grade levels. As a Montessori assistant, Mrs. Benken helps the teachers with a variety of projects and activities. She also is the Aftercare coordinator. She enjoys getting to know the students outside of the classroom setting. Mrs. Benken loves seeing the growth in the children throughout the year.

Dan Berry knows that physical activity is an important part of a student's day. That's why when students come to his PE class, they know two things are about to happen: they will have fun, and they will get moving. Mr. Berry has taught for 15 years and spent the last three years at Visitation Academy. Dan attended Southeast Missouri State, where he majored in education. Mr. Berry is passionate about all-girl education and helping Viz students become strong women. He has recently joined the ICGS (International Coalition of Girls' Schools) to help make this happen.

Amy Bischoff joined the Visitation Montessori faculty in 2011 as a Toddler assistant, then moved to a 3-5-year-old Montessori room in 2012. Amy loves working with this age group and feels lucky to come to work at Viz each day. She has certification from the American Montessori Society and the United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepard. Amy received her bachelor's in early childhood education and master's in elementary education with an early childhood focus from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Mrs. Bischoff loves spending time with her husband and three children outside school.

Laurie Blanner teaches AP biology, environmental science, and anatomy and physiology at Visitation Academy. Laurie proudly joined the talented Viz science teaching team after working as a learning specialist in the sciences and teaching undergraduates and graduate students at SLU and Maryville University. She aspires never to stop learning and hopes to convey the love of learning all things science to future classes of Vivettes. When she's not teaching, Mrs. Blanner is usually catching a flight to either Los Angeles or New York City.

Amelia Blanton Hibner joined Viz in 2020. She is responsible for articulating a vision and creating a strategy that ensures collective ownership of the Catholic, Salesian, Visitation identity of Viz. Amelia has presented academic work across the United States and holds membership in several national societies. A native of Texas, she graduated from Saint Louis University with a BA in theology and communication, earned a Master of Theological Studies from Boston College, and then returned to Saint Louis University to earn her PhD in higher education administration.

Mary Bodlovich has been in education for over 20 years. Mary began her career as a social worker and then took a job as a crisis counselor at a local high school. That is when she realized her true calling was to work with high school students. Mary feels her master's degree in social work, her status as a licensed clinical social worker, and her social work background allowed her to grow in school counseling, meeting the students where they are and helping them to achieve their goals.

Doey Boldt has been in the teaching field for over 35 years. Doey has taught every grade from preschool through high school, but her favorite grade to teach is second grade! She has been at Visitation Academy for eight years. Doey is Kagan and SPIRE trained and continues to take classes and attend professional development opportunities to stay current with all the latest strategies and educational trends. Mrs. Boldt attended Spring Hill College, where she earned a BS degree. She also has her Missouri certification in elementary education.

Molly Bryant joined the Viz faculty in 2012, teaching visual arts to students in Grades 8-12. After dedicated growth to the art department, Molly now teaches Grades 9-12 electives and AP art courses. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she serves as an advisor and US Art Club moderator. Additionally, Molly is a Missouri Art Education Association member and a College Board AP Art Reader by ETS. After receiving her BA in art education from Fontbonne University, Molly went on to earn an MA in art education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.