Our Faculty & Staff

Dr. Brake took the helm at SMA in August 2018. Besides overseeing the entire mission of the school, he teaches History, Philosophy, Literature, Political Science, and Economics. He is also Head Coach of the Girls Basketball team.

Mr. Beers joined the SMA faculty in 2020.  He recently discerned a vocation at the Saint Benedict Monastery in Norcia, Italy and previously helped develop the curriculum for the Mother of Divine Grace home school program.

Mrs. Keefe has taught Literature at SMA since 2015.  Her two oldest sons, Ben and Charlie, graduated from SMA in 2018 and 2020, respectively.  Her third son, Daniel, is a freshman at SMA.

Ms. Kovacs joined the SMA faculty in 2020.  She is is a recent graduate of the Dominican School of Theology and Philosophy where she worked as an Academic Librarian and Art Archivist, and also taught Art History to local home school students.

Mr. Moe began teaching Theology at SMA in 2014, and is now the Department Chair.  He also serves as the school’s Director of Vocations and Catechesis.

Mr. Peck joined the SMA faculty in 2020, following a 20-year career at Traverse City St. Francis.  He teaches a variety of Social Science classes and is Head Coach of the Volleyball team.

Mr. Radatovich began his career at SMA in 2019. He teaches a variety of Humanities classes, is Assistant Coach of the Volleyball team and is a contributing member of the school’s marketing team.

Mr. Whitmore joined the SMA Faculty in 2018, teaching courses in Literature and Theology while also serving as the school’s Latin Master. He is also Head Coach of the Boys Basketball team.

Mr. Zehnder joined the SMA Faculty in 2020, teaching Choral and Instrumental Music, as well as science classes. He is an accomplished violin player and an authority on Classical Catholic education.

Mr. Alvarado joined the SMA faculty in 2020.  He has more than 35 years of wide-ranging experience as a professional educator.  He founded and has led Straight ‘A’ Academy, a provider of tutoring and test preparation services, since 2007.

Ms. Larson joined the SMA faculty in 2020.  She is an Adjunct Professor of Spanish, Arabic, and Communications at NCMC in Petoskey.  Prior to her teaching career, she held diplomatic posts for the Danish Embassy in the Palestinian Authority.

Mrs. Nolan has been involved with SMA since 2013, filling various roles at the school since that time.  She currently teaches Drama and Oratory.  Her son Seamus graduated from SMA in 2020 and her son Liam is now a junior at SMA.

Mr. Rudnicki joined the SMA Staff in 2018.  He has more than 20 years of coaching experience, most recently in Colorado, where he helped build a national-caliber running program.