(202) 561-1189
4265 4th St SE, Washington, DC 20032
Serving Pre-K through 8th grade
catholic academy
St. Thomas More
Many of our students come to us from a space where they feel defeated, yearning for understanding and validation. It is our goal to create a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere where all feel valued and are given the tools to make success inevitable.
St. Thomas More Academy was founded on September 9, 1957 and we are honored to continue a legacy of education for D.C. youth.
A refuge for students who want to transform their narrative, guided by
education, faith and community.
Catholic School, Washington D.C.
Welcome to St. Thomas More Catholic Academy
Building an active, strong community
We are Advocates for...
Teaching youth to give back to their community through service
Providing a foundation of faith, drawn from the teachings of scripture
Bestowing students with a love of learning
Teaching students to proceed as if success is inevitable
Giving students and their parents a voice
in addition to a gentleman, humanist and martyr. Born in London in 1478, St. Thomas More led a life driven by faith, family and community. He ensured that his children had a proper education. His heart quivered at the thought of those who fell prey to the social system, lacking property and therefore basic rights. He wished for a utopia that allowed all to live free, working and learning with the rights they deserved. When a series of events led to his arrest, imprisonment and ultimate execution in 1535, he was seen as a martyr, later being canonized in 1935.
St. Thomas More Catholic Academy is honored to have the namesake of a saint who has been considered a scholar himself,
Details sourced from an Article by Fr. John J. Caselot published in The Catholic Standard Jan/Feb. 1978
Our Namesake
Meet the Principal
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Biology with minor in Chemistry
Graduate Degree: M.S. Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Teaching Career: 5 years at St. Thomas More Catholic Academy as a Science Educator 4th-8th Grade; 2 years Bishop McNamara High School AP Chemistry and Physics Educator 9th-12th
Passions: Educating the youth, international travel, reading, cooking
CREDENTIALS:
I call the students of St. Thomas More Academy, “scholars,” because I believe that they’re more than students — they’re lifelong learners who deserve a title that matches their ability to change the world. I am deeply invested in making sure that these scholars and the families of our academy are seen, their voices validated and their perspectives considered in all areas of education.
Gerald D. Smith, Jr.
St. Thomas More Academy Principal
“God does not call the qualified,
he qualifies the called.”
While I am unsure what the future holds for my life, what I know for sure is that God has called me to take up this good work to fortify and improve the impeccable St. Thomas More Catholic Academy, and it gives me great honor to lead, teach and inspire the parents, teachers and most importantly, the students of this school community. I am honored and thrilled to work with each of you as principal and look forward to meeting each obstacle with courage and grace.
Our Faculty
(202) 561-1189
deidre.shuler@catholicacademies.org
Vice Principal - 6th Gr ELA
Deidre Shuler
davida.best@catholicacademies.org
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Davida Best
(202) 561-1189
gerald.smith@catholicacademies.org
PRINCIPAL
Gerald D. Smith Jr
Mrs. Shuler is married and has 5 children and 4 grandchildren. She graduated from Claflin University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She has been an educator at St. Thomas More Catholic Academy for 18yrs and is now the Vice Principal. She is a very caring and lovable person, ambitious, trustworthy and a hard worker.
She enjoys exercising, shopping and spending time with family and friends. In her spare time (which she doesn’t really have) she likes catching up on her favorite shows, and relaxing. She loves listening to gospel music, it keeps her calm and relaxed. To know her is to love her!
Deidre Shuler
Vice Principal - 6th Gr ELA
Ms. D has been working at STM for a little over 5 years. She never imagined that she would be working at herold school and with CHILDREN! She is graced and blessed to interact with some of the most amazing scholars and staff. They're all her family and she loves being a part of the STM community.
Davida Best
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
natalia.mcgee@catholicacademies.org
COUNSELOR
Natalia McGee
kristen.weinman@catholicacademies.org
PRE-KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
Kristen Weinman
nancy.taylor@catholicacademies.org
ACADEMIC DEAN
Nancy Taylor-Williams
Mrs. Nancy Taylor-Williams has been at St. Thomas More for nearly a decade. In her tenure with STM, she has taught middle school math and science and now serves as the Academic Dean. She received her Bachelor's of Arts in Biology from the University of Chicago and will graduate this coming August with her Master's of Arts in Leadership in Teaching from Notre Dame of Maryland University. Mrs. Taylor-Williams strongly believes that all children have the right to a quality education that challenges them to think beyond the right answer, emboldens them to question theories, procedures, and systems, and prepares them for a successful, independent, joyful future. When she's not at STM, you can find Mrs. Taylor-Williams playing with her son, spoiling her three dogs, and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes!
Nancy Taylor-Williams
ACADEMIC DEAN
Natalia McGee
Counselor
Ms. Weinman has been teaching at St. Thomas More for 19 years and Pre-
Kindergarten for the past 13 years. . She loves driving across the country with
her dog. She loves exploring two places her home, Washington DC and
Seattle, Washington where she grew up. She finds ,uch joy in teaching the
youngest scholars. They are eager to learn and explore their world. She is an
avid reader and wants to bring that love to my scholars.
Kristen Weinman
Pre-Kindergarten teacher
latori.fuller@catholicacademies.org
PRIMARY INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE - Art Teacher
Latori Fuller
paula.nesmith@catholicacademies.org
2ND GRADE TEACHER
Paula Nesmith
lisa.williams@catholicacademies.org
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
Lisa Williams
My name is Lisa Williams. This is my 26th year teaching at St. Thomas More Catholic Academy. I have over 29 years of Early Childhood experience. I am a native of the DMV area. I attended Norfolk State University undergrad and Cambridge College for a Master's degree.I have a great interest in early childcare and reading readiness. I love teaching young children and supporting them to be independent learners and thinkers. My interests are supporting scholars in children’s church, reading novels, movies, organizing, and eating at fine restaurants.
Lisa Williams
kindergarten teacher
Coming Soon
Latori Fuller
PRIMARY INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE - Art Teacher
Paula Nesmith, is the Second Grade teacher at Saint Thomas More Catholic Academy. She has been
a classroom teacher for over 17 years; teaching 1 st – 4 th grades in both public and private schools. Mrs. Nesmith earned her Bachelors in Business Administration from Howard University in 1998. Presently, she is seeking her Master of Arts in Leadership in Teaching with an endorsement in Special Education at Notre Dame of Maryland University. Most recently, Mrs. Nesmith has been recognized as Educator of the Year at Saint Thomas More SY2019- 2020, and SY2018 – SY2019. She
is a faithful worker and currently serves in leadership as the Superintendent of Sunday School at her local church. When Mrs. Nesmith is not teaching, she enjoys reading and gardening.
Paula Nesmith
2ND GRADE TEACHER
karimah.smiley@catholicacademies.org
3RD GRADE TEACHER
Karimah Smiley
marc.barnes@catholicacademies.org
4TH GRADE TEACHER
Marc Barnes
natasha.james@catholicacademies.org
PRIMARY INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE
Natasha Conyers
Coming Soon
Marc Barnes
4TH GRADE TEACHER
Coming Soon
Marc Barnes
4TH GRADE TEACHER
Coming Soon
Marc Barnes
4TH GRADE TEACHER
erica.jones@catholicacademies.org
LIBRARIAN
Erica Jones
gheran.goddard@catholicacademies.org
MUSIC TEACHER
Gheran Goddard
kimberly.wood@catholicacademies.org
Intermediate INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE
Kimberly Wood
Kimberly Wood is a para-educator at St. Thomas More Catholic Academy. She has been a part of the STMCA family for 27 years. She is an alumni of Morris College, a proud mother of two who truly believes in putting family first. She is a gourmet who enjoys cooking, traveling, listening to music, and watching documentaries. Her motto in life she lives by daily is, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Kimberly Wood
Intermediate INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE
Mrs. Jones has degrees in K-12 Reading and Secondary English and has been the Library teacher at STM since 2014. She is committed to ensuring our scholars experience the joy of literacy and works to help them become lifelong readers. OR believes in the power of reading and strives to share her love of reading with our STM scholars.
Erica Jones
LIBRARIAN
Coming Soon
Gheran Goddard
Music teacher
brittany.alexander@catholicacademies.org
MIDDLE SCHOOL Social Studies teacher
Brittany Alexander
nyjha.smith@catholicacademies.org
Intermediate & Middle School Instructional aide
Nyjha Smith
helena.gibson@catholicacademies.org
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TEACHER
Helena Gibson
Coming Soon
Nyjha Smith
INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE
@catholicacademies.org
5th grade teacher
Emoijah Bridges
wanda.brooks@catholicacademies.org
RELIGION teacher
Wanda Brooks
latoya.romney@catholicacademies.org
MIDDLE SCHOOL - SCIENCE
Latoya Romney
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Wanda Brooks
RELIGION TEACHER
shavonne.peasant@catholicacademies.org
1st Grade teacher
Shavonne Peasant
stm@catholicacademies.org
TECHNOLOGY TEACHER
Christine Steweard
stm@catholicacademies.org
Tittle 1 teacher
Cornichia Krider
Tittle 1 teacher
Coming Soon
Hiring
RESOURCE TEACHER
Mrs. Peasant considers it a great honor to teach and learn with the first grade scholars at STMCA! Before recently relocating to the Washington D.C. area, she spent 12 years teaching kindergarten and first grade in Jacksonville, FL. Mrs. Peasant holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Curriculum and
Instruction from the University of Florida.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
Shavonne Peasant
1ST GRADE
STM is looking for a part-time middle school resource educator with expertise in math and differentiated learning. Reach out to Principal Smith with your resume at stm@catholicacademies.org
Resource Educator
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH- PART TIME
STM@catholicacademies.org
Physical Education teacher
Curtis Watts
stm@catholicacademies.org
TECHNOLOGY TEACHER
Now Hiring
stm@catholicacademies.org
Teacher
Now Hiring
teacher
Coming Soon
Hiring
Physical Education teacher
Coming soon
Curtis Watts
1ST GRADE
STM is looking for a part-time middle school resource educator with expertise in math and differentiated learning. Reach out to Principal Smith with your resume at stm@catholicacademies.org
Resource Educator
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH- PART TIME
follow us on instagram
copy credit Salted Pages | Image Credit Rudney Novaes | Site Credit Northfolk
©2020 St. Thomas More Catholic Academy. All Rights Reserved.
