Curriculum Development Support

The following people have been, and continue to be, instrumental in developing the Kolbe Academy Home School curriculum. From literature to history to science, all continue to be a blessing to the growth of our program.

Abigail Palmer

Abigail Palmer was born in Denver, CO and raised in both Colorado and Billings, Montana. Out of a deep desire to go to Rome and to explore the big world outside of the Big Sky State, she decided to attend University of Dallas. After four years and a very rewarding semester in Rome, Abigail graduated with a B.A. in Classics in 2001, concentrating in Greek. She is a member of Eta Sigma Phi, the American Classical League, and Phi Beta Kappa.

After two years of teaching in Kolbe’s Day School from 2001-2003, Abigail decided to go back to graduate school at the same time as meeting her future husband, John. In the summer of 2003 she and John married, and in the fall of 2005, Abigail received her M.A. in Classics from Fordham University. The couple then returned to St. Helena, where they live now, and Abigail then continued her work with Kolbe Academy as a full time academic advisor. Abigail now continues to aid Kolbe Academy with curriculum development on occasion while caring for their two sons.

Amy Ettawageshik

Amy hails from Traverse City, a tourist haven in northern Michigan. Amy was home schooled until eighth grade, and then attended St. Francis and Traverse City Central High Schools, before returning home for her senior year to home school.  Interested in pursuing a liberal arts degree, Amy attended The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Nashua, NH, and Franciscan University of Steubenville before completing her A.A. in Liberal Arts at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. In 1999, Amy completed her B.A. in English Language & Literature at the University of Dallas in Irving, TX. Amy met her husband over the Christmas break of 1997, and they married in January of 2003. They are settled in Traverse City where they are raising their four children. Since graduating from college, Amy has worked on obtaining her teaching degree, and worked as a tutor both for home and at school students, until beginning her work with Kolbe Academy in December of 2005.

Kathryn Landreneau

Kathryn grew up in Maine where she was home schooled for the majority of her childhood. She graduated from Kolbe Academy Home School in 2001 and was a National Merit Finalist. She went onto the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in English. Kathryn met her husband while in college, and later moved to Thousand Oaks, California, where he currently is pursuing his Law degree at Pepperdine Law School. They have three children.

Jennifer Alba

Jennifer is a registered nurse at UCSF Children's Hospital and works in pediatric cardiology.  She graduated  from Kolbe Academy's Day school and went onto receive her B.S. in nursing from the University of San Francisco in 2006.  She has been instrumental in developing Kolbe's Biology and Anatomy & Physiology courses.  Her and her husband, Vince, have two little girls.

Sofia Livorsi

Sofia Livorsi earned her M.Ed. in elementary education from Loyola University in Chicago and also holds a history degree from Rice University in Houston, TX.  She spent four years teaching fourth grade in Catholic schools in both Chicago and Houston.  As a teacher she particularly emphasized skill development in writing, public speaking, and conflict resolution.  She also implemented a classroom economic system that rewarded students for good behavior and academic success. Sofia is now a stay-at-home mom to her two children and live in Indianapolis, IN.