Mr. Robert Hencken has a very diverse background which brings a well-rounded professional experience to John Paul the Great Montessori Academy.  His background stems from information technology, theatre, automotive mechanics, woodworking, construction, music festivals, concert production, and being on boards of other 501(c)(3) organizations.  He holds a Master of Science in Information Assurance and Security from Capella University, holds several professional certifications in his field, and is currently employed with a technology firm in the Northern Virginia area.  He has been actively involved in the Frederick and Warren County Montessori communities for over 10 years and has volunteered as a firefighter, a soccer coach, and among the local community by lending a helping hand wherever needed.  He is drawn to John Paul the Great Montessori Academy as it promises to hold true to being Catholic first and faithfully following the child using the Montessori Method.  He is inspired by the culture, community, faculty, and staff that has come together to form John Paul the Great Montessori Academy.

Mark Rohlena double-majored in history and political science and economics at Christendom before earning his law degree in the inaugural class of the Ave Maria School of Law.  He practiced law for nearly a decade for the large Colorado-based law firm of Holland and Hart, LLP, specializing in legal ethics and risk management, as well as litigation.  Feeling a strong call to serve the poor, Rohlena left his successful law career to become the President and CEO of Catholic Charities of Central Colorado.  In that position, he oversaw the organization’s annual budget of $3 million and led its 50 employees, who assisted those in need in 10 counties of Colorado with the help of over 1,600 volunteers per month. Services included programs focused on spiritual and corporal works of mercy, adoption, post-abortion and family counseling, family immigration, and disaster relief work. The organization provided important leadership in assisting those affected by wildfires in Colorado.  Rohlena has served on numerous educational, legal, and nonprofit boards, and is currently a member of the Christendom A Call to Greatness Campaign Committee and Alumni Association Advisory Council.

Marie Mavretich is the proud mother of five children.  She has a masters degree in clinical psychology from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences and she worked in a variety of school settings and private practice before staying home full time.  Marie is thrilled to help advance JPGMA’s mission as the Parent Liaison.

Sharon Hickson earned her B.A. from Marymount College and her M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She taught Literature, Grammar and Composition and was the Academic Dean at Wakefield Country Day School for eight years; she then taught at Seton High School for five years.  Since 2004 she has been an Assistant Professor in the Language and Literature Department at Christendom College where, in addition to teaching, she has been involved in Men’s and Women’s Formation.  She enjoys travelling, playing tennis, biking, hiking, and appreciating life and beauty with friends and family.  She is grateful for her eight children and 26 grandchildren and is delighted to be a part of the JPGMA Adventure.  Sharon will be teaching Grammar and assisting with the Literature Program at JPGMA. She is also helping to develop the academic curriculum for the Middle School and High School.

I am Mary Zirkle, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and the Founder and Clinical Director of Two Hearts Catholic Counseling, a position I have held for twenty years. Two Hearts Catholic Counseling is a branch of the Winchester Community Mental Health Center, founded in Miami, Florida.  Additionally, I am the Catholic Counselor of Sacred Heart Academy and Christendom College.  As the Clinical Director of Winchester Community Mental Health Center, Inc. I am responsible for an integrative team of Medical Doctors, Psychiatric Behavioral Health Nurse Practitioners, Therapist, Social Workers, and pre-graduate students.

I earned a Master’s in Counseling from Florida International University in April of 2000. During the initial sixteen years of my career, I worked with Catholic couples.  For the last four years, I have studied and served, almost exclusively, children who have suffered severe trauma.

I have been privileged to work with children, adolescents, couples, and families, faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.  As a counselor, working with God’s grace and faith-filled Christians is an honor, and a sure path to healing.  Two Hearts Catholic Counseling is a ministry and gift, which I truly treasure.

Outside of the office, I am a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.  I enjoy outside activities and family adventures.  I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this new and exciting journey with the staff of John Paul the Great Montessori Academy.