Each faculty and staff member at Chesterton Academy is a faithful Catholic who has taken an Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Each has also undergone our safe environment requirements, including fingerprinting, Level 2 background check (state and federal), and VIRTUS safe environment training.
Jim Hickel
Headmaster
Mr. Hickel is the founding Headmaster of Chesterton Academy of Orlando. He was born and raised in Alaska alongside his sixteen siblings.
He attended the College of Saint Mary Magdalen and received his B.A. in Liberal Arts, with an emphasis in Theology and Philosophy. He then received a Masters in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University.
He began teaching in 1980 to “help students learn how to learn, and to share the excitement and beauty of learning.”
He has been involved in Catholic education and administration for over 40 years and has served as Headmaster/Principal in four previous schools, including most recently St. John Bosco Academy in Cottonwood, Idaho.
Clergy
Fr. Josh Swallows
Chaplain
Fr. Josh serves as pastor of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church (Oviedo, FL).
He is also the Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Orlando and chaplain to the Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) at the University of Central Florida.
Fr. Josh grew up in nearby Casselberry, graduating from Lake Howell High School and then Florida State University with a degree in Economics. While at Florida State, he became involved in campus ministry as a student leader. After graduation, he returned home and served as the lay Campus Minister at CCM from 2004-2008.
In 2008 he responded to his calling to the priesthood and entered seminary. He was ordained in 2015.
Fr. Joseph Tran
CHAPLAIN
Fr. Joseph serves as parochial vicar of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church (Oviedo, FL).
He was born in Dong Nai, Vietnam. From a young age Fr. Joseph heard a call from God. The oldest of three children, he grew up playing soccer and video games and practicing the piano, he is a gifted musician. Part of a devout Catholic family, he remembers hearing stories of the saints, walking to church almost daily, and eating dinner in front of a statue of Saint Joseph. All these things laid a firm foundation of faith and inspired him to consider the priesthood.
At 20 years old, Father Joseph’s family moved to Melbourne, FL and he began attending Eastern State College, majoring in mechanical engineering. He was immersed in his studies and working at a nail salon when his uncle, who is also a priest, visited from Illinois and asked him if he still had the desire to enter the priesthood. He followed that call and was ordained on May 28, 2022.
Fr. Joseph served as a parochial vicar at Resurrection Catholic Church in Lakeland until his official transfer to Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Oviedo in September 2024, where he now serves.
Fr. Kenneth Bolin
CHAPLAIN
Fr. Kenneth M. Bolin serves as pastor of St. John Fisher Catholic Church (Orlando, FL), a Catholic parish of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.
He is a native of Manlius, IL, and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Arabic and French from the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY, a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, TX, and a Master of Arts in Moral Theology and Ethics from the Catholic University of America, in Washington, DC.
Prior to his call to ministry, Fr. Bolin served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), deploying to Egypt on a peacekeeping mission in 1999, and was a company commander with the 54th Signal Battalion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, deploying forward to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan for Operation Enduring Freedom (2002-2003). After serving on active duty for seven years in the Infantry and Signal Corps branches, he resigned his commission to pursue full-time vocational ministry. He was subsequently commissioned as a United States Army Chaplain in June 2006, retiring from active-duty military service in October 2019.
Fr. Bolin grew up Lutheran, became a non-denominational evangelical protestant during his initial time in the Army, later serving as a protestant chaplain during the first half of his military chaplaincy, most of that as an Anglican priest. In 2012, he was received into the Catholic Church, and ordained to the priesthood in March, 2013.
Faculty
Charles Cacciatore
LITERATURE, PHILOSOPHY, civics
Mr. Cacciatore graduated magna cum laude from Middlebury College in 2020 with a B.A. in Political Science. He wrote an honors thesis in defense of the jurisprudence of Antonin Scalia. In 2023 he earned an M.A. in Political Science at Louisiana State University; his Master’s thesis is a criticism of the new classical natural law theory of John Finnis.
He has experience teaching political philosophy (from Plato to Nietzsche) to undergraduates. His favorite thinkers are Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, Leo Strauss, and Pope Benedict XVI.
Mr. Cacciatore will do his best to form his students in the life of virtue–for what Aristotle calls “a community of speeches and thought,” the ultimate manifestation of which is grounded in friendship with Christ.
Cristian Caiola
Music/Choir, philosophy, history
Mr. Caiola has spent much of his life steeped deeply in music and culture. Currently a Music Education student at the University of Central Florida as a member of the French Horn studio, he has performed with numerous world class ensembles. These include the Rollins Wind Symphony, the U.C.F. Symphonic Band, the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, and the Brass Band of Central Florida.
In addition, he has been teaching local musicians of all ages since 2017 and serves as the Music Director at St. John Fisher Catholic Church.
Michael De Salvo
Academic Dean
Theology, Philosophy, language
Mr. De Salvo received his B.A. in Liberal Arts (summa cum laude) from Wyoming Catholic College and his M.A. in Theology (summa cum laude) from Ave Maria University. He is pursuing his Ph.D. in Theology at Ave Maria University.
He has taught undergraduate Theology courses at Ave Maria University. From 2014-2015, he served as an inaugural faculty member at the Chesterton Academy of Chicago, teaching Old and New Testament, Ancient Literature, Latin, Science, and P.E. classes.
Michael is married with three children.
Maggie Gunn
SCIENCE, MATH, LANGUAGE
Mrs. Gunn grew up in Poland where she earned her M.Sc. in Chemistry and later moved to the United States to obtain a Ph.D. in Chemistry at North Carolina State University, where she also instructed general chemistry classes and laboratories.
She homeschooled her children while residing in Belgium before gaining valuable experience working as a scientist in the biotech field and as a program manager in pharmaceutical research.
Recently relocating back to Florida with her family, Mrs. Gunn was drawn to the innovative educational approach of Chesterton Academy, motivating her to become a part of its faculty. Her mission is to cultivate a sense of curiosity and passion for science among Chesterton students to nurture the next generation of scientists.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Mrs. Gunn actively participates in the community as a member of Incarnation Catholic Church, where she sings in the choir for Sunday Mass.
Emily Hernandez
Theology, History, pe
Ms. Hernandez received her B.A in English from the University of Central Florida, with a minor in Religious Studies, and her M.A. in Theology and Christian Ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
She has a Youth Ministry Certificate from Franciscan University and a Theology of the Body Certificate from the Theology of the Body Institute. She spent four years at a parish as the Youth Ministry Coordinator, preparing young people to receive their sacraments, and aiding the middle school religion teachers.
She attends Mass and Young Adult Formation at St. James Cathedral while volunteering with their Children's Faith Formation program.
Andrew Hocott
Latin, debate, College Knowledge
Mr. Hocott received his B.A. in History (magna cum laude) with two minors in Medieval Studies and Philosophy from Ave Maria University. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctorate in 2021 from Ave Maria School of Law, ranking fifth in his class.
He developed his passion for teaching and formation as a writing tutor at Ave Maria University and teaching history for a homeschool co-op of high school and middle school students from 2017 to 2019. He now concurrently works at Chesterton Academy and as a Staff Attorney for the Florida Sixth District Court of Appeals.
Andrew is the husband to a wonderful wife, father to three children, and is an active member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
Tanya Podchaski
SCIENCE, hEALTH
Mrs.Podchaski is a wife, mother and educator with passions for science education and her Catholic faith. She is married and just celebrated 28 years with her husband Alex. They have three daughters, and a dog.
Mrs. Podchaski received her B.S. in Environmental Science with a specialization in Secondary Science Education from Cook College, Rutgers University (now known as Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences). She worked for 11 years teaching science at Bernard’s High School in Bernardsville (NJ) where she taught several courses including Earth Science, Biological Science, and Environmental Science. She was trained in the International Baccalaureate Program and taught IB Environmental Systems and IB Biological Science courses.
She also worked summers at The Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University under the Outreach and Education Coordinator, where she worked with scientists to translate their research into K-12 educational materials for teachers, students and the general public to use.
Mrs. Podchaski not only has a strong passion for science education she also loves to share her Catholic faith. She volunteered alongside her husband leading Immaculate Conception Church Annandale N.J. Youth Ministry Program. She has attended Youth Ministry Conferences at Steubenville University in O.H. and Theology of the Body courses at The Theology of the Body Institute in P.A.
She and her family are currently active parishioners at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, where she volunteers in teaching faith formation classes, participates in Vacation Bible School, cooks Youth Ministry Meals, and co-leads the Youth Ministries’ Lenten Living Stations of the Cross.
Jennifer Rawlings
ART, DRAMA, lITERATURE
Mrs. Rawlings holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, where she was actively involved in both the art and theater departments. She performed in productions such as "The Memorandum" and "The Way of the World" and contributed behind the scenes with set and lighting design for "Oklahoma" and "The Skin of Our Teeth."
After graduation, she pursued her passion for art and design in the professional world, creating computer-based training for JHT Multimedia, developing simulation environments at DME Corporation, and designing websites and print materials for Ticketmaster.
In 2000, Mrs. Rawlings embraced her vocation as a mother and later began homeschooling her four children. Since 2004, she has been deeply involved in building and supporting Christian homeschool communities throughout Central Florida.
Her educational philosophy centers on nurturing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—so that each student may grow in the knowledge and love of God, discover their God-given gifts, and become who God created them to be. Mrs. Rawlings is passionate about faith-integrated education and is committed to forming students not only academically but also spiritually and morally, in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
She is an active parishioner at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church, where she serves in the Liturgical Ministry as a lector and participates in the Ananias Intentional discipleship Community. When she’s not teaching or serving, she and her husband, Eric, enjoy relaxing at the beach, trying out local foodie spots, and riding bikes.
Jade Saba
MATH, SCIENCE
Mrs. Saba received her B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Central Florida (UCF) with a minor in Computer Science.
She was one of the liturgy coordinators for Catholic Campus Ministry for UCF and helped ensure Mass, Confession, and Adoration were available to students.
In July 2024, Mrs. Saba married her husband, Anthony, at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Jimmy Sartino
History, lITERATURE, eCONOMICS, pe
Mr. Sartino received his Bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL in 2002, where he also minored in Theology.
He taught in the Rockford Diocese for over twenty years, including fifteen years at Boylan Catholic High School and six years at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chesterton Academy in Rockford. He has led over fifty Kairos retreats which has given him valuable insight into the victories and struggles of teenagers and their interactions within families.
Mr. Sartino married his high school sweetheart, Katie, and together they have six children.
Staff
Alexis Currier
Administrative Assistant
Ms. Alexis “Lexi” Currier relocated to the Orlando area to be near family and immerse herself in a vibrant Catholic community. She received a classical Catholic education growing up and is passionate about sharing that same formation with the students of Chesterton Academy.
Lexi graduated (summe cum laude) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Lewis-Clark State College and brings a strong organizational and leadership background to her role. Her dedication to faith-based education, administrative excellence, and joyful service is central to her work.
Monica Mora
Receptionist, Secretary
Mrs. Mora grew up in Quito, Ecuador. She has six sisters and one brother, and attended Universidad Central de Quito. After getting married, she moved to Florida where she took courses at Broward State College.
She was co-owner and administrator of a construction company for ten years, and afterwards worked for eleven years as liaison for Allegro Music, serving schools in Orange and Seminole counties.
She has been married for 43 years and has three sons and two daughters. She attends Most Precious Blood parish (Oviedo) where she serves as a greeter and a catechist in the children's faith formation program.
Victoria Gomez
STUDENT SUCCESS COORDINATOR, DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
Ms. Gomez brings a rich international background and a deep commitment to classical Catholic education. Raised in a Catholic family, her faith has guided her life and vocation, shaping her dedication to serving students and their families.
The daughter of a professional musician, she spent her childhood traveling and living in multiple countries. While her father’s career took the family around the world, her mother provided stability through a deeply rooted Catholic faith. As a child, she sang in a choir directed by her father for Pope John Paul II during his South American tour—an experience that left a lasting impression on her faith and sense of the universality of the Church. Known for her warm, genuine care, she delights in sharing her faith in simple, everyday moments. She hopes others can experience the same joy and grace she has found. These formative years also nurtured her love for diverse cultures, multilingual fluency, and natural ability to connect with people from all backgrounds—qualities she brings to her professional life today.
During her years in South America, she traveled frequently to Cannes, France, and Orlando, Florida, serving as a buyer and translator for the world’s leading annual Duty Free conventions. These experiences strengthened her communication skills and broadened her understanding of international business and relationship-building.
A devoted mother, she homeschooled her daughter through ninth grade before discovering Chesterton Academy of Orlando. The school’s joyful pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty aligned deeply with her family’s values, making enrollment a natural transition. Her daughter is now in her second year at the school, reinforcing her confidence in its mission and her passion for welcoming new families.
In her dual role, she oversees student success initiatives while leading admissions, recruitment, and marketing efforts, drawing on her professional background in the financial services industry and her creative experience from Walt Disney World.
Outside the school, she serves her parish as a youth group core team member and confirmation catechist.
Dorina Hayes
EVENTS COORDINATOR
Mrs. Hayes is a proud mother of seven and grandmother to two, with a deep love for family and education. Originally from New York, she homeschooled all her children before relocating to Florida in 2021.
With a diverse background ranging from Breastfeeding Peer Counselor to Instructional Coordinator and Teacher, Mrs. Hayes brings a wealth of experience to her roles. A passionate advocate for life, she has delivered pro-life speeches over a hundred times in churches, schools, rallies, and even on the steps of the Supreme Court during the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Hayes is currently studying to become a certified Cybersecurity Analyst, a pursuit that complements her work in helping Chesterton Academy with its security and IT needs. When she’s not homeschooling, working, or studying, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children under the Florida sun.