We are a parish family; we are a school family. Saint James offers a student to teacher ratio and student to sister ratio that cannot be matched. Our dedicated teachers are committed to helping our students learn and to leading them closer to Christ. We work together, we study together, we pray together, and we play together. We are truly family.
PASTOR
FR. JOSEPH TOTTON
Ordained in 2004, Father Totton has served in several parishes in various parts of the diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph. He previously served as parish priest at Saint James Catholic Church from 2006 until 2012.
Father Totton has served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserve. His chaplain duties have taken him to various corners of the world, including: Rhode Island; Diego Garcia (Indian Ocean); Bahrain; Pearl Harbor; San Diego and Gulfport, Mississippi.
In January 2020, Father returned to Saint James Catholic Church as parish priest, a rare experience which he describes in the following words: "The Lord has called me to return to this portion of His Vineyard and has given me the unique opportunity to witness the fruit borne by seeds sown years ago!" 
In his spare time, Father Totton plays recreational Ice Hockey, as an original member of his team, The Grape Apes!
DEAN OF STUDENTS
MR. JAMES HOSLER
I am beyond excited to begin working as the Dean of School at St. James Catholic School. I studied Latin, Classics, and teaching at Florida State University, where I met my wife and we began our family. I moved to St. Joe 12 years ago. I have taught Latin at Central High School since then, and my family has grown and spread its roots in this community and as parishioners of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Over this next year, in addition to serving as your Dean, I will be completing a degree in educational administration at the University of Missouri-Columbia. There are great things coming under the new academy model for the Catholic schools in this city, and there are also so many shining traditions to maintain. Our school, with a focus on both Jesus Christ and academic excellence, has such a unique chance to help families form their children with positive life-long habits of faith and learning. I look forward to meeting each of you, and to working in every way I can to ensure great things continue to happen every day at St. James.
SECRETARY
MRS. KATELYN HELSEL
Katelyn Helsel attended the University of Central Missouri for two years. She and her husband Dusty, have four boys, Tripp, Pax, Tag, and Jett, all of whom attend Saint James School. Katelyn stayed at home raising her boys for thirteen years. Her father graduated from Saint James School, as did Katelyn and her three sisters.
Preschool
Check out our 3-year-old – 5-year-old preschool program.
Contact us to inquire about multi-day options.
LEAD PRESCHOOL TEACHER
MRS. CHRISTINA GREEN
Christina Green was the preschool aide last year and is excited to be lead preschool teacher this year. She really enjoys teaching preschool and all the adventures that come with it. She and her husband Jeff have six kids, four of whom graduated from St. James. She has two who still attend St. James, Josh in 5th grade and Emma in 1st grade.
Elementary
K – 5th
KINDERGARTEN
MS. BRANDY FLORES
Ms. Brandy Flores graduated from Missouri Western with a degree in Elementary Education and an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. This will be her 22nd year teaching Kindergarten in the Catholic schools. She taught at St. Patrick for six years before coming to St. James. St. Patrick is her home parish, but she LOVES it here at St. James. Ms. Flores has two amazing children in our Catholic schools. Her daughter, Olivia, is a junior at Bishop Leblond. Her son, Brooks, is an eighth grader here at St. James.
1ST GRADE
MRS. BRENDA LISTER
Mrs. Brenda Lister graduated from Missouri Western with a BS in Elementary Education and an emphasis in reading. This is her 21st year of teaching at St. James. She has three daughters and six grandchildren.
2ND/3RD GRADE
MRS. RACHEL COTTER
Mrs. Rachel Cotter graduated from Central Missouri State University (now known as the University of Central Missouri) with a degree in Elementary Education and a degree in Early Childhood Education. She received her Masters in Education through Baker University. She has taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, a 2/3 combination, a 3/4 combination, 4th grade, and 6th grade in her teaching career. She and her husband, Bill, have four children: Jonah, Matthew, Hannah, and Moira. Moira is in fourth grade at Saint James.
4TH/5TH GRADE
MS. CAROL ANDERSON
Ms. Anderson earned her degree In Elementary Education from Missouri Western. She earned her Master’s Degree in Reading from Northwest Missouri State University. She retired from the Buchanan County R-IV School District after 28 years of teaching. This is her 2nd year at St. James. Ms. Anderson comes from a family of 15 children.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
6th – 8th
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE
MR. ROBERT RZEPKOWSKI
Robert Rzepkowski (Mr. Bob) received his BSA (Agriculture) from the University of Georgia having studied both Animal and Dairy Sciences. He received his MS from Michigan State University in Animal Husbandry. He served as a US Peace Corp Volunteer in Paraguay, South America, working at the College of Veterinary Science dairy as well as with local peasant farmers to improve animal health, livestock production, and nutrition.
MIDDLE SCHOOL THEOLOGY
MRS. JOLEEN ABERER
Mrs. Aberer is our middle school theology teacher. She is the wife of Michael and mother of seven, six of which have graduated from St. James. Her youngest, Julia, is a current seventh grader in our school. She has ten grandchildren (so far), the oldest are also enrolled in our school. She graduated from Missouri Western with a degree in elementary education in 1994. She has previously taught 1st grade and middle school Science and English as well as years of substitute teaching when needed.
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH AND ENGLISH
MRS. JASMINE KIMMEL
Mrs. Kimmel is excited to join St. James this school year. She has a BA from Saint Louis University, and an MLIS from Florida State University. Originally from Dallas, TX, Mrs. Kimmel is enjoying learning all about living here in the Midwest. She has 5 sons, and spends much of her free-time with her family.
RELIGION
SR. MARY MAXIMILIAN, CK
Sister Mary Maximilian is a School Sister of Christ the King from Lincoln, NE (www.cksisters.org). She wanted to be a Sister and a teacher since 2nd grade, just like her 2nd grade teacher. She entered the community in 2001 and has been teaching for 15+ years, primarily in 2nd grade. She currently teaches 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade religion here at St. James and works as a catechist in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium. She was one of the original 3 Sisters to first come to St James in 2005 when she was studying at Benedictine College and she is thrilled to be able to share the treasures of our faith with His little ones.
CATECHIST
SR. MARIE CARITAS, CK
Sister Marie Caritas is a member of the School Sisters of Christ the King. She is trained in Levels I and II of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and enjoys her weekly atrium sessions with PreK and First Grades. Sister recently graduated with her Masters in School Leadership from Benedictine College.
SPECIALS
PE, Art, Music
ART AND LIBRARY
MRS. EMILY PRENDERGAST
Mrs. Prendergast attended Northwest Missouri University for 1-1/2 years before becoming a wife and mother of five. She has taught at Saint James for 24 years. During this time, she has taught PE, technology, and has been a para in both preschool and kindergarten. The position she enjoys most is being librarian and teaching art, which she has been doing for the last several years. She enjoys reading and trying new art techniques she can share with students. She also loves her six granddaughters.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
MR. TREYTON MULL
Mr. Mull graduated from St. James and is happy to be back in our school teaching PE. He is currently studying at Missouri Western.
