FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
Helen Harrelson
Director of Instrumental Music | Benedict | Band and Orchestra
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Certifications
Postgraduate Degree in Secondary Education, OPEN University DMA Candidate, Salford University
Education
Royal Northern College of Music: BMus (Hons)
University of Missouri Kansas City: MA
Jason Cole
Director of Choirs | St. Peter
Jason Cole (B.M., Tennessee Tech; M.M., University of Kansas) is a choral composer, arranger, and music educator. His arrangement of the hymn I Will Trust in the Lord was premiered at the 2017 National American Choral Directors’ Association Conference and his setting of O Gracious Light is now available from Cantica Nova. During the Summer of 2018, Jason was selected as one of the winners of a composition contest celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Children's Choir. Jason was also the winner of the 2019 Hymn competition held by the Widow's Corporation for the Episcopal Church of Pennsylvania in celebration of their 250th Anniversary. In addition to composing, Jason has served as a music educator for over 17 years and is currently the Director of Choral Music at St. James Academy in Lenexa, KS and the choir director at Keystone United Methodist Church in Kansas City, MO. He resides in Overland Park, KS with his wife MacKenzie and daughter Ginny.
Always Crescendo
Certifications
Composition and Choral Pedagogy
Education
Tennessee Technological University: Bachelor of Music Education
The University of Kansas: Master of Music Education
Visual Arts Teacher | Peter | National Art Honor Society, Art Club
I have taught at St. James Academy since its second year in operation (2006) and taught before that for nine years at Maur Hill–Mount Academy, formerly known as Maur Hill Preparatory School in Atchison, Kansas. I teach all art mediums including drawing, painting, ceramics, a little printmaking and some sculpture, but my favorite is is teaching those with no artistic skill at all in drawing, because I, too, drew stick people before I came to discover that drawing is a LEARNABLE skill through the book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. It was because of this book that I became a high school art teacher rather than an elementary school teacher, which is what I’d wanted to be since 1st grade. My husband, Cameron, and I were married in 2004 and we have two sons. Mason and Caden both attend Sacred Heart in Shawnee, where we are parishioners.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Education
Emporia State University: BSE Bachelor of Science in Education (k-12)
Emporia State University: Master of Science
Joe Walberg
Director of Speech & Debate, Social Studies Teacher | Mother Teresa
Joe Walberg is a Parent, Teacher, Coach, Mentor, Nerd, Believer, Ultracrepidarian, Cartophile, and head coach of the Speech and Debate team of St. James Academy. He was the 2017 recipient of the SJA Teacher of Excellence award, a 2020 Fellow of the Duc in Altum Catholic Schools Collaborative, and the 2022 District New Coach of the Year for the National Speech and Debate Association. He and his wife Erin are raising two lucky-but-unimpressed children, Leah and Jack.
Isaiah 46:8-10 - Remember this and consider, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention."
Certifications
History Government and Social Studies 6-12, Speech/Theatre 6-12, Business 6-12, Technology Education 6-12
Education
University of Kansas: B.G.S. Political Science
Avila University: Master of Arts in Education: Teaching and Learning
Theatre
- Fall Musical
- Winter Play
- Spring One Acts
- Drama Classes
- General Music Theory & Musical History Classes
Instrumental Arts
- Instrumental Music Classes
- General Music Theory & Musical History Classes
- Zero Hour Courses
- Extra-Curricular Instrumental Music Ensambles
- Tri-M Honor Society
Vocal Arts
- Vocal Music Classes
- General Music Theory & Musical History Classes
- Tri-M Honor Society