Lower School
Building A Strong Foundation
In our Lower School, we build strong foundations through observation, memorization, and sequencing. Students in Grades K-5 develop concrete skills in all subject areas while cultivating wonder and inquiry. Our curriculum integrates Catholic faith throughout, helping students discover the unity of all knowledge rooted in Truth—Goodness—Beauty. We teach children how to think, not what to think.
Lower School Approach
Our Lower School approach encompasses not only what we teach, but how we teach and how we form the whole child. Through age-appropriate methods, rigorous academics, and intentional character formation, we prepare students for a lifetime of learning rooted in Catholic truth.
How We Teach Young Minds
Our Lower School follows the principle of teaching a child how to think, not what to think. Students in Grades K-5 learn through observation, memorization, and sequencing—methods perfectly suited to young minds that naturally love to absorb and retain information.
This approach builds foundational knowledge through concrete learning rather than abstract concepts. We encourage wonder and inquiry while immersing students in truth, goodness, and beauty. Every lesson is designed to lay the groundwork for deeper thinking and analysis that will come in later years, creating a solid foundation upon which all future learning can build.
What To Expect
Our curriculum builds essential knowledge across all subjects with a Catholic worldview. In Religion, students encounter Scripture, doctrine, and heroic examples through Old Testament studies, Baltimore Catechism, saints’ lives, sacramental preparation, virtue development, and liturgical year celebrations.
Language Arts develops through phonics, usage and patterns of language, dictation, copy work, narration, discussion and conversation, and poetry. Our concrete approach to Arithmetic covers all operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals, with times tables mastery through spiral and incremental learning.
We integrate History and Literature through holidays, family history, explorers, founding of the U.S., and the modern era, with literature texts that align with historical eras, PA state history, and geography of regions. Science emphasizes wonder and inquiry through hands-on, unit-based learning covering weather, animals, plants, farming, general science, and nature studies. Latin foundation includes oral prayers, Greek and Latin root words, vocabulary, and first conjugation and declension.
Building Virtue and Character
Character formation happens naturally through age-appropriate virtue development. Children ages 4-7 learn obedience, sincerity, and order. Students ages 8-10 develop modesty, moderation, simplicity, sociability, friendship, respect, and patriotism. As they continue through ages 8-12, they cultivate fortitude, perseverance, industry, patience, responsibility, justice, and generosity. These virtues become the foundation for strong character and faithful living.
Our Fine Arts program introduces various media, skills, and techniques appropriate for each age group while incorporating the liturgical year throughout. Fine Music includes rhythm and music theory, nursery songs, folk music, patriotic songs, seasonal and religious songs and hymns, chant, study of composers and genres, and group and choral singing. Physical Education develops skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Here to serve.
Jennifer Butkovich
Kindergarten Teacher
Jennifer Butkovich is a native of Lancaster, PA. She spent 20 years moving around the US while her husband Robert was in the Air Force. The Butkovich Family happily moved back to PA in 2017. Mrs. Butkovich found The Regina Academy in 2021 and loves her role teaching Kindergarten.
“Mrs. B” graduated from Marywood University with a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and she has a passion for children’s literature. If you visit RASJB you will see “Mrs. B’s” students praying, playing, and working together in an organized, peaceful, and loving classroom.
Mary Pat Meyer
First Grade
Mrs. Meyer is a Long Island, NY native who earned her B.A. from Molloy University and her M.Ed. from Franciscan University. Over the past three decades, she has taught in a wide range of educational settings, including both public and private schools in Pennsylvania, developing a broad expertise in elementary education. Now in her fifth year at Regina Academy at St. John the Baptist, Mrs. Meyer brings warmth, dedication, and a commitment to helping each child reach their fullest potential. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and a close circle of cherished friends.
Selena Radzai
Second Grade Teacher
Mrs. Radzai has been working in the field of education since 2006. She pursued the role of substitute teacher (daily, building-wide, and long-term) with local districts which has given her experience across multiple grade levels and academic disciplines. Mrs. Radzai has a bachelor’s degree in biology/chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and completed her education courses at Delaware Valley University. She has a deep love for family life as well as helping others in need. Her interests include fitness training, long walks with her dog, and taking in sunsets at the beach. She and her husband have two children, and they are parishioners at St. Isidore’s Church in Quakertown.
Rose Litschauer
Third Grade Teacher
Rose Litschauer has been teaching most of her life. She has worked primarily as a Special Educator, creating programs for students who may benefit from extra educational support, as well as sensory, behavior, and communication needs. Her background in neuro-development has deepened her passion for helping every type of learner. Rose has taught in schools, as a private tutor, and transitioned people from institutions to independent living.
Rose enjoys making art, gardening, animals, and being outdoors as much as possible. She integrates her interests and experiences into the classical classroom. Rose loves teaching the 8-9 year old because the third grader is still in the age of wonder and curiosity, and enjoys learning. Rose loves teaching mostly because she learns from her students, who open her eyes to new ways of viewing life and all its parts.
Andi Leroy
Fourth Grade Teacher
Although Mrs. Leroy has been drawn to the front of the classroom for most of her life, it took her many years to find her way into an elementary school classroom. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, a Master of Science degree in training and organization development from Saint Joseph’s University, and a Master of Arts degree in elementary education from the University of Phoenix. Before discerning her call to teach at the elementary level, she worked as an environmental engineer, a learning professional in a Fortune 500 company, and management consultant. Her teaching experience includes 15 years teaching adults, a year teaching advanced eighth grade math here at the Academy, and 7 years teaching fourth grade. Mrs. Leroy is grateful that the Holy Spirit led her to this classical Catholic academy community, where she can openly share her faith with everyone she encounters. Knowing that she and her students journey closer to Heaven each day brings her immense joy.
Annamarie Boyer
Fifth Grade Teacher
Ms. Boyer was raised Catholic in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She earned her bachelor’s degree in management: Organizational Leadership from Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and has worked in the Allentown Diocese as a Substitute Teacher and an Instructional Assistant.
In those years, she developed a deeper appreciation for the Catholic faith and its impact on the students’ education. Ms. Boyer is passionate about teaching in a Christ-centered institution that fosters a love of learning in students and helps them become accomplished, well-rounded individuals who know, love, and serve the Lord. She is excited to enter into the position of Fifth Grade teacher this year at Regina Academy at St. John the Baptist.
Ms. Boyer is a life-long learner and committed to pursuing the true, the good, and the beautiful in every new day that Christ has blessed her with. She lives in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania where she is an active member of her parish. Outside of work she enjoys organizing opportunities for fellowship among her parish’s young adult community, cooking, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.
Mrs. Luna holds a B.A. in Modern Languages and a Master of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language from Seton Hall University. She is passionate about guiding young children through their first school experiences, helping them grow into confident, courteous, and joyful learners—instilling in them a deep respect for one another and a sense of reverence and awe for God and His creation.
Before pausing her career to raise her three children, Mrs. Luna taught in several preschools across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She later returned to the classroom at the Regina Academy at St. John the Baptist (RASJB), where her own children were students. There, she became a certified Montessori educator for children ages 3–6 and was instrumental in launching RASJB's Montessori preschool program.
A devoted parishioner and Eucharistic Minister at St. John the Baptist, Mrs. Luna brings both faith and joy into every aspect of her work. In her free time, she enjoys cultivating her butterfly garden—drawing on the wealth of knowledge she gained from Mrs. Elsner's beloved nature walks.