My name is Yaneli Almonte-Arias, and I am honored and grateful to join Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Hope as the Director of School Operations. As a mother of two and an educator with over 16 years of experience, I deeply understand the trust families place in a school each day.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Event and Sport Management, with a concentration in Psychology, from Johnson & Wales University. I am also completing my MBA in Organizational Leadership. My professional background spans over a decade in operations and customer service with Gillette Stadium and Showcase Cinemas, as well as leadership roles in education. I served as Director of Before and After School Programs at the YMCA for four years, followed by eight years with the Chariho School Department and three years with the Providence Public School Department. In addition to my professional work, I actively support and collaborate with Stop the Wait RI, a nonprofit organization of parents, educators, advocates, and community leaders committed to amplifying parent voices and advocating for a stronger educational landscape for all children.

I was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the United States at the age of 12, settling in New York City, where I completed middle and high school. I later moved to Rhode Island for college and have now lived here for over 24 years, raising my family. I have been married for over 21 years to my high school sweetheart. As a first-generation college graduate, my journey has shaped my belief that every child has a unique story that deserves to be known, supported, and celebrated. At the heart of my work is a simple but powerful commitment: your child’s safety and well-being come first. From arrival to dismissal, every student is entrusted to our care, and I take that responsibility personally. My goal is to build your trust by ensuring that each child feels safe, supported, and seen every single day. I believe that strong school operations create the foundation for everything else—allowing teachers to focus on joyful instruction and students to grow both academically and spiritually. As Pope Saint John Paul II said, “The future starts today, not tomorrow.” I carry this mindset into my work each day, knowing that what we do now helps shape the lives of our children.

As a practicing Catholic and a member of St. Charles Parish in Providence for over 16 years, I feel especially blessed to serve in a school where faith and education are united. I look forward to getting to know your families, hearing your stories, and helping to build a school community that truly feels like a home away from home.

yalmonte@chestertonri.org

Michelle Arpin was born and raised in Rhode Island. Currently, she lives in Coventry, RI with her husband, Joe, and daughter. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rhode Island College. She has been an Administrative Assistant at several health care facilities and AAA Northeast. She loves her Catholic faith. In her spare time Michelle enjoys reading about Catholicism and watching Fr. Chris Alar "Explaining the Faith".  She is very excited about combining her Administrative Assistant and Receptionist skills while working for the Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Hope.  

marpin@chestertonri.org

Robert Baxter is a native of Warwick, Rhode Island. He has been active within his parish for his entire life, serving as a lector since 2017. He graduated from Fairfield University in May of 2023 with a double major in history and economics. 

Mr. Baxter and his father were heavily involved in the restoration and renovation of the Saint Francis School building during Chesterton Academy’s initial years. Mr. Baxter continues to assist in the day to day upkeep of Chesterton Academy as a member of the facilities department.

rbaxter@chestertonri.org

Mr. Casey and his wife, Laurie, have lived in Jamestown, Rhode Island for 30 years and are parents of 5 children and the grandparents of 4. He is a trustee at his local parish, St. Mark Church in Jamestown, RI. Mr. Casey received his B.S. in Resource Development and an MBA from the University of Rhode Island and started his own business which he sold in 2016. During his career, he helped start several businesses in industries which ranged from manufacturing to online marketing. In previous years, he has served on various boards including Magdalen College, The Mother of Life Center, and St. Edmund's Retreat Center. He brings a broad spectrum of skills which he hopes will help families who want a strong, Catholic, and classical education for their children.

mcasey@chestertonri.org

Ms. DeSilva graduated high school in Cranston, Rhode Island, where she fell in love with teaching for the first time. Teaching younger children from grades K-8 has taught her what it means to be creative, spirited, and how to find beauty in everyday life. Ms. DeSilva brought this love of teaching to the wilds of Wyoming Catholic College where she was immersed in the theology, philosophy, and literature of Western Civilization and the majesty of the Rocky Mountains. This classical education has greatly influenced Ms. DeSilva’s love of teaching and learning. By bringing the classics into her classroom, she experienced a great change in her students: where their desire to read, wonder of natural beauty, and growth of friendships with classmates have increased and strengthened their pursuit of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful.

Ms. DeSilva has co-taught the Freshman Music Practicum at Wyoming Catholic College with Choirmaster Paul F. Jernberg, she has taught Middle School English Language Arts at Saint Michael School in Fall River, and she continues to substitute teach K-5 at her home parish school, St. Pius V in Providence.

Ms. DeSilva loves to cook for family and friends, watercolor, spend time outdoors, and she is both excited and honored to teach at Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Hope.

Mrs. Casey grew up in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and attended Catholic schools throughout her education. In high school, she discovered a love for math and felt drawn to teaching. She went on to earn her degree in Secondary Education Mathematics from The Catholic University of America. Since graduation, she has taught Algebra I and Geometry at a Catholic high school in New Jersey and recently moved to Rhode Island after marrying her husband. She joins Chesterton as a mathematics teacher and looks forward to helping her students build confidence and a genuine appreciation for math.

meghancasey@chestertonri.org

Dr. Robert Gervasini is a native Rhode Islander who first discovered the Classics at Providence College, where his love for the Ancient Greek and Christian wisdom traditions was born. After graduating in 2015, Robert earned his MA and PhD in philosophy at the Catholic University of America. He has earned scholarships and distinctions in his scholarly work. Robert has taught undergraduate courses in the history of philosophy, Western Civilization, Ethics, and Ancient Greek language. Robert and his wife Miriam met in Italy and now live in Southern RI. Robert is looking forward to serving as the Academic Dean at Chesterton Academy, where young men and women are formed by their encounter with the Classics. In addition to being the Academic Dean at Chesterton, Robert is an adjunct professor at Providence College. 

rgervasini@gmail.com

Mr. Gotcher was brought up and home-schooled in Franklin, Wisconsin. After high school, he studied music composition at Lawrence University for one year. He then took a year to work and discern God’s will for him, after which he found himself studying the Great Books and growing in his faith at Thomas Aquinas College. Mr. Gotcher is excited to share his love of music, language, and the Great Books with the CAOLH community.

tgotcher@chestertonri.org

Mr. Jefferson lived in Germany for fifteen years, graduating high school there. After moving to Maryland, he pursued an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and History at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Some of his favorite fields of study include medieval history and Ancient Greek philosophy. In addition to the humanities, he has a deep love for music and has been involved in music ministry for many years. He plays a number of instruments, most prominently piano and guitar, and loves to write music and perform. He is also fluent in German. At Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Hope, he will be teaching in the Humanities and Music.

hjefferson@chestertonri.org

Mr. Magaña grew up in Chesterfield, Virginia, where he was homeschooled for much of his education. After receiving his Associates Degree and working for several years as a network engineer, Mr. Magaña developed a deep love for truth, goodness, and beauty while studying theoretical mathematics, which led him to complete a Masters degree in Mathematics from Arizona State University.

While a graduate student, Mr. Magaña also taught math full-time for a classical academy in Phoenix, where he met his wife, Margaret, also a teacher there. Mr. Magaña brings a deep love of the liberal arts and a profound conviction of the importance of human formation through education.

jmagana@chestertonri.org

Mr. Maynard attended a Catholic high school in Hyannis Massachusetts, where he first saw the value of a well-rounded education. To pursue such an education, he attended Thomas Aquinas College seeking an integrated view of the truth, studying theology, philosophy, mathematics, natural science, literature and history through the Great Books. Mr. Maynard teaches in both the Humanities and in Math and the Sciences, a testimony to Chesterton's view that all disciplines are united in pursuing the one truth. He is excited to teach at CAOLH and especially to help guide students to a fuller understanding of the intricacies of God's Creation.

Mr. Mattias is a pipe organ technician, President of Potter-Rathbun Organ Co., and an Eagle Scout (’86).  Upon graduation from Bishop Hendricken HS in 1988, he began serving as Director of Music/Organist/Choir Director at his home parish, Our Lady of Częstochowa in Coventry. Brian is an accomplished musician in many instruments and genres, as well as an organ builder and composer.

Mr. Mattias is Past Grand Knight of Msgr. Peter E. Blessing Council (K of C) and volunteers as a Grab & Go (soup kitchen) team leader with the SVdP Society Coventry Conference.  He lives in Exeter with his wife Heather-Rose and their daughters Alana & Kira, both students at CAOLH.

bmattias@chestertonri.org

Mrs. Abigail Tardiff has a B.A. in the Liberal Arts and an M.A. in Philosophy. In addition to homeschooling her seven children, Mrs. Tardiff has 12 years' experience teaching high school English, Theology, and Philosophy. She regularly edits manuscripts for Ignatius Press. Mrs. Tardiff is excited to be part of the Chesterton community and teach classical philosophy and literature.

atardiff@chestertonri.org