Gail Dorn

Executive Chair

Gail Dorn is the youngest of 12 children, and her 6 brothers and 5 sisters think highly of her, or at least they say so in public. Her first job, at 12 years old, was working off tuition at her local Catholic grade school. She and her husband are proud graduates of 16 years of Catholic education, and they have five children.

Gail spent her entire career working for Target and served as company spokesperson, Target Foundation director and marketing and PR warrior. She started at Target when they were a small Midwestern retailer, before they became Tar-chaaaay.

Gail loves Catholic education and wants Catholic schools to grow in excellence and enrollment here in the Twin Cities and around the country. When she grows up, she wants to be a school librarian.

Brian Ragatz

President

CSCOE BIO
Brian oversees CSCOE’s operations and mission to enhance excellence, enrollment and development.

WHY CSCOE?
“At CSCOE, there’s a wonderful entrepreneurial culture. We’re always working on reinventing ourselves to better serve our Catholic grade schools. We encourage our principals and teachers to do the same and take a chance on a new initiative to drive excellence. We’re here to help — let’s go!”

MISSION MOMENT
Brian is proud of CSCOE’s Believe and Read literacy program. As a former Catholic school principal, he saw the need for additional reading support and understands the incredible impact the program makes on a child’s ability to learn to read and then, read to learn.

CURRENT INITIATIVE
“We want to push out a mental health initiative to provide resources and new opportunities for students, teachers, principals and parents. I believe that when parents and staff work together, kids are successful 100 percent of the time. That’s why we want to provide the entire school community with what they need to learn and grow together.”

ABOUT BRIAN
Brian is a product of Catholic education from kindergarten through college, attending St. Joseph’s School in West St. Paul, St. Thomas Academy and St. John’s University. He received a master’s in education administration from St. Mary’s University and an educational specialist degree from the University of St. Thomas.

Brian has nearly 20 years’ experience in Catholic education. He taught middle school history and religion for five years at Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul and has been a Catholic school principal for the last 13 years, most recently at St. Odilia in Shoreview.

While serving his school communities, Brian was promoted as a second lieutenant in the Minnesota National Guard, serving as a chaplain candidate. He also served as an adjunct instructor for St. Mary’s University and the University of St. Thomas graduate educational leadership programs. He enjoys coaching his son’s sports teams, and Friday pizza and movie nights with his family.

Michael Cole

Global Business Educator for L’Oreal

We want to ensure the best educational opportunities for our students.

Father Kevin Finnegan

Pastor at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church

We want to build upon the legacy of Catholic schools so that they can help students grow a deep sense of faith for generations to come.

Steve Hoeppner

Vice President, Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation

We want to help all of our schools so more families can experience a Catholic-school education.

Steven Ryan

Partner-in-Charge at Taft

We want to make available to children throughout the Twin Cities the unique combination of faith, virtue and knowledge that Catholic schools can offer.

Michelle Schlehuber

Title I Reading Teacher

Kathy Schneeman

Catholic Author and Community Volunteer

We want to nourish future leaders who are respectful and crave knowing, loving and serving God.

Anita Arockiasamy Wills

Former Director of Enrollment Management for Visitation School

Robert Wollan

Former Global Managing Director for Accenture Strategy

Gail Dorn

Executive Chair

Gail Dorn is the youngest of 12 children, and her 6 brothers and 5 sisters think highly of her, or at least they say so in public. Her first job, at 12 years old, was working off tuition at her local Catholic grade school. She and her husband are proud graduates of 16 years of Catholic education, and they have five children.

Gail spent her entire career working for Target and served as company spokesperson, Target Foundation director and marketing and PR warrior. She started at Target when they were a small Midwestern retailer, before they became Tar-chaaaay.

Gail loves Catholic education and wants Catholic schools to grow in excellence and enrollment here in the Twin Cities and around the country. When she grows up, she wants to be a school librarian.

Brian Ragatz

President

CSCOE BIO
Brian oversees CSCOE’s operations and mission to enhance excellence, enrollment and development.

WHY CSCOE?
“At CSCOE, there’s a wonderful entrepreneurial culture. We’re always working on reinventing ourselves to better serve our Catholic grade schools. We encourage our principals and teachers to do the same and take a chance on a new initiative to drive excellence. We’re here to help — let’s go!”

MISSION MOMENT
Brian is proud of CSCOE’s Believe and Read literacy program. As a former Catholic school principal, he saw the need for additional reading support and understands the incredible impact the program makes on a child’s ability to learn to read and then, read to learn.

CURRENT INITIATIVE
“We want to push out a mental health initiative to provide resources and new opportunities for students, teachers, principals and parents. I believe that when parents and staff work together, kids are successful 100 percent of the time. That’s why we want to provide the entire school community with what they need to learn and grow together.”

ABOUT BRIAN
Brian is a product of Catholic education from kindergarten through college, attending St. Joseph’s School in West St. Paul, St. Thomas Academy and St. John’s University. He received a master’s in education administration from St. Mary’s University and an educational specialist degree from the University of St. Thomas.

Brian has nearly 20 years’ experience in Catholic education. He taught middle school history and religion for five years at Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul and has been a Catholic school principal for the last 13 years, most recently at St. Odilia in Shoreview.

While serving his school communities, Brian was promoted as a second lieutenant in the Minnesota National Guard, serving as a chaplain candidate. He also served as an adjunct instructor for St. Mary’s University and the University of St. Thomas graduate educational leadership programs. He enjoys coaching his son’s sports teams, and Friday pizza and movie nights with his family.

Mike Halloran

Vice President of Development and Operations

As a product of Catholic education and a proud Catholic school parent, Mike is committed to Catholic education and is grateful for the opportunity to make an impact as Vice President of Development and Operations for CSCOE.

Mike has more than 25 years of leadership in advancement for nonprofit and for profit organizations. He has secured more than $300 million in capital, endowments and operational support for diverse organizations, including educational institutions, churches, foundations, and government and community organizations. During his 11 years with the University of Minnesota, Mike acquired the philanthropic support necessary to fund 25 sports and 730 student-athletes, raising millions for the athletic program’s annual fund, capital projects and endowments.

Mike’s commitment to making a difference extends beyond work hours. Mike, his wife Danette, and their twin daughters enjoy volunteering together at their parish of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and School in Edina, MN. Mike also serves as the Chair of the Development Committee on Ascension Catholic Academy’s Board of Directors.

When he isn’t doing great things in his community, you can find Mike fishing, biking or running with his family. And, during basketball season, you can address him as “Coach”, as he is the proud coach of his daughter’s basketball team.

Ben Tierney

Director of Excellence

CSCOE BIO
Ben pays careful attention to the amazing work and unique needs at each of our Catholic schools. He oversees development of world-class, tailored solutions and ensures their availability to schools and educators. He also encourages schools to celebrate their successes!

WHY CSCOE?
“CSCOE is serving schools like no other organization in the country. Its opt-in, entrepreneurial and innovative approach dovetails perfectly to my own leadership style and what I believe will support our schools to continue their excellence well into the future.”

MISSION MOMENT
“I get to work with amazing Catholic educators every day — I can’t imagine anything more worthwhile than that. I learn from them, and I get to dedicate my waking hours to helping them elevate their schools as exceptional places for students to learn and grow. To top it off, I get to work with incredibly driven and dedicated team members at the CSCOE office who continually push me to be the best I can be.”

CURRENT INITIATIVES
“I’m excited to work with a phenomenal group of middle school educators as we explore ways to make Catholic middle schools the premier place for adolescent students to learn, grow and thrive in their faith life and academics. We continue to build strong relationships with, and fine tune programs such as Believe and Read and Peace of Mind to ensure they have a long-lasting impact for Catholic schools and their students.”

ABOUT BEN
Ben loves to learn. He earned doctorate and master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction from the University of Minnesota; and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. John’s University in Collegeville. His teaching credentials come from San Jose State University in California. He graduated from Cretin-Derham Hall High School and St. Mark’s Catholic School, both in St. Paul.

Before joining CSCOE, Ben served as the director of curriculum and instruction, and the middle school director and lower school director at Visitation School in Mendota Heights for seven years. Prior to that, he was on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls in teacher education. He also held administrative and teaching positions at Minneapolis Public Schools, KIPP in North Minneapolis and Cretin-Derham Hall.

Outside of CSCOE, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife, Meg, and their children, Owen and Maren. You can find him biking, hiking, canoeing and catching frogs with his kids.

Kelly Refsnider

Director of Enrollment

CSCOE BIO
Kelly works to elevate awareness and interest of Catholic schools in the greater Twin Cities metro area to increase enrollment. She partners with representatives at individual schools to explore their unique needs and opportunities in order to provide exceptional guidance, tools and training. Kelly leads CSCOE’s enrollment team and initiatives, which support Catholic schools in a variety of ways. This includes developing and executing marketing and enrollment campaigns with the goal of welcoming more families into Catholic school communities.

WHY CSCOE?
“The support and resources that CSCOE provides to our archdiocesan Catholic schools to help them enhance excellence and increase enrollment are remarkable. Having worked in Catholic education for most of my career, I navigated many of the same challenges that our Catholic school leaders and representatives face. I also know the value and impact that professional guidance and partnership have in affirming and motivating teams, and driving successful outcomes.”

MISSION MOMENT
“Catholic schools provide an unmatched, transformational value to students, their families and the greater community. I feel sincerely blessed to be a part of the incredible CSCOE team, which is committed to helping Catholic schools best achieve their mission."

ABOUT KELLY
Kelly graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul with a degree in communications. She minored in family studies. Following a role in development at the Minnesota chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Kelly spent nearly 20 years working at her high school alma mater, Totino-Grace High School in Fridley. During her tenure, she served as director of public relations, alumni relations, special events, communications and marketing.

Kelly and her husband have “two witty, wise and wonderful sons, and a very spoiled dog, Gus.” They’re parishioners at St. Odilia in Shoreview, where her sons attend school. Fun fact: They are the fifth generation in her family to benefit from a Catholic education in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

They spend their free time at football, wrestling and track events; enjoying the outdoors; and watching comedies. They have (mostly) friendly competitions in all areas of family life, from yard games to who loads the dishwasher correctly.

Emma Creger

Enrollment Manager

CSCOE BIO
As enrollment manager, Emma helps develop and implement CSCOE’s annual strategic enrollment plan, including messaging, preschool growth initiatives, social media strategy and digital marketing. She also works with individual schools to develop enrollment and marketing plans, provide feedback to enhance plan effectiveness, and when needed, support implementation.

WHY CSCOE?
“Before joining CSCOE, I was fortunate enough to teach within the Catholic school system for eight years. During that time, I saw first-hand the impact that Catholic education has on students and their whole development. Not only does this include their academic development, but also their spiritual development. Throughout my time teaching, I experienced CSCOE’s support, so I was excited to join the team and the continuous pursuit of excellence!”

CURRENT INITIATIVE
The expansion and refresh of Faithful Beginnings preschool materials for schools.

ABOUT EMMA
Emma has a bachelor’s degree in communicative sciences and disorders with minors in early childhood education and nonprofit marketing communications. She also earned a master’s degree in teaching. She taught at St. Odilia School in Shoreview for eight years and then worked in admissions for a local university before joining CSCOE. She’s a member of St. Odilia Catholic Church, where she volunteers in the Sunday School and Family Faith programs.

Outside of CSCOE, Emma spends time with friends and family, including the “sweetest golden retriever Mazie.” She also loves traveling and the great outdoors — camping, kayaking, hammocking and skiing. She has traveled to the Dominican Republic, where she taught students English, and to Guatemala, where she helped build a kitchen for a nursing home.

Robert Behr

Director of Finance

CSCOE BIO
Bob manages CSCOE’s finance, accounting, human resources and information technology, as well as other administrative activities.

WHY CSCOE?
“My Catholic school roots go back to St. Peter’s grade school in Richfield (now Blessed Trinity) and include the University of Notre Dame. When I shifted my career focus to the nonprofit world, it was to St. Therese in Deephaven where I served as the director of finance and operations, which led me to CSCOE shortly after it was formed. It’s an honor to help schools assess where they need investment and resources.”

MISSION MOMENT
Robert notes that the most gratifying part of his role is writing grant checks that have a profound impact on our Catholic grade schools.

CURRENT INITIATIVE
“I am working to instill sound business practices into our Catholic schools, which will help strengthen them now and into the future.”

ABOUT BOB
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Bob spent 10 years as a U.S. Air Force officer before serving in financial management positions in a broad range of businesses – public and private, large and small. A dedicated biker and runner with 56 marathons under his belt, he is the father of three adult children and also has one grandchild.

Jessica Trygstad

Director of Communications

Jessica Trygstad first jumped on the CSCOE train in 2015 as the project manager of its magazine, and fell in love with CSCOE’s mission and work. She has witnessed the beauty of Catholic education through her work in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Office of Communications, and her children’s parish school, St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony. Her background in nonprofit marketing and communications, and eagerness to see Catholic schools flourish drive her work with CSCOE.

Aside from correcting the spelling or pronunciation of her last name (it’s not as difficult as it seems!), she spends her time with her husband, Eric, and their three daughters. Ever the thrill seeker, she enjoys baking and a good game of cribbage.

Sharon Wilson

Event Manager

CSCOE BIO
Sharon is responsible for any and all things related to CSCOE events, as well as managing special projects.

WHY CSCOE?
“I love our Catholic schools and our Catholic faith. There is an attitude of optimism at CSCOE, as well as a strong sense of teamwork and partnership with CSCOE staff and our schools.”

MISSION MOMENT
Two days after Sharon started as event manager, the CSCOE Bash turned into a virtual event. A quick pivot and a lot of creativity resulted in an amazing event, with supporters joining from all over the world to surpass the $500,000 goal.

ABOUT SHARON
A graduate of Hamline University and the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, Sharon taught at St. Dominic School in Northfield and worked in advancement at Bethlehem Academy in Faribault. She also served in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Office of Marriage, Family and Life. Sharon is a writer for WINE: Women in the New Evangelization and is a contributor to CatholicMom.com. Sharon is a parishioner of Divine Mercy in Faribault, where she’s a lector, Eucharistic minister and synod committee member. She enjoys cooking, reading, walks and spending time with her family and friends.

Breanna Walrath

Office Manager

CSCOE BIO
With her unofficial title as director of first impressions, Breanna supports CSCOE staff through her many skills and talents, and keeps the office organized and running smoothly. She also leads CSCOE’s preschool initiative — specifically, professional development through the Preschool Network of Excellence meetings and Preschool Academies.

WHY CSCOE?
“Catholic schools have become a huge part of who I am professionally and personally. It is so rewarding to help 78 schools through CSCOE and its innovative ideas and projects.”

CURRENT INITIATIVE
Breanna rolled up her sleeves and jumped right in to host the first Preschool Academy CSCOE has had IN PERSON since winter 2020.

ABOUT BREANNA
Before joining CSCOE, Breanna served in several roles at St. Odilia School in Shoreview: preschool teacher, STEM teacher and office assistant. She has also taught preschool and elementary students at St. Thomas More in St. Paul. (Breanna’s first Catholic school stint was as a student in two east-side St. Paul schools.)

She earned a degree in elementary education and geography from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

Breanna and her husband Jonathan, have three children: 9-year-old Ella, 6-year-old Weston and 2-year-old Oliver. They attend St. Odilia.

When not working at CSCOE, Breanna enjoys reading, playing with her kids, hanging out with her three sisters, doing puzzles, playing in Canva, and organizing and minimizing EVERYTHING (making her the perfect office manager!).

Jenny Haller

Principal Outreach Coordinator

CSCOE BIO
Jenny is a sounding board and problem solver for Catholic school principals. She regularly connects with them to hear their ideas and challenges. This outreach supports school leaders directly and also helps CSCOE continue our bottom-up approach.

WHY CSCOE?
“When CSCOE emerged, they were a beacon of HOPE. The entrepreneurial spirit and ‘can do’ mindset of this team fuels our schools and positions our principals to lead the mission that God has set before us — to lead more souls to Christ through exemplary formation in faith, knowledge and service.”

MISSION MOMENT
CSCOE’s new principal mentor program includes visits to each school to extend an official welcome and share CSCOE’s mission and how it supports the wonderful work of Catholic schools. Meeting principals, thanking them for their service and sharing the array of support we offer is a blessing.

ABOUT JENNY
Jenny recently served as principal of St. Michael Catholic School in St. Michael, with a total of 16 years as a Catholic school principal. She has worked as a national educational consultant in school improvement initiatives, served as the curriculum development coordinator for a large school district, and taught at all levels from primary grades through graduate education. Jenny graduated from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University with a degree in elementary education, and earned advanced degrees from St. Cloud State University and St. Mary’s University. An active parishioner at St. Michael Catholic Church, she enjoys flower gardening, outdoor activities, travel and spending time with her granddaughter.

Helen Dahlman

CSCOE Growth Team

CSCOE BIO
Helen oversees everything under the excellence umbrella, including assessments, special programs, professional development for principals and teachers, and task forces which help determine what resources schools need.

WHY CSCOE?
“Having worked in schools where you feel under resourced, under appreciated and under fire, it’s so gratifying to be with an organization that helps children meet their full potential by seeking to affirm, support and resource our schools and their leaders.”

MISSION MOMENT
CSCOE hosts an annual two-day leadership conference for school principals, giving them time away from their buildings to come together to learn and share ideas, relax and enjoy each other.

ABOUT HELEN
An education graduate of the College of St. Catherine with an elementary administration master’s and education specialist degree from the University of St. Thomas, Helen’s first teaching position was at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. She’s been a parish religious education director and school principal, retiring in 2015 as president of Risen Christ School in Minneapolis, the first Catholic dual immersion school in Minnesota. Helen serves as a lector and eucharistic minister at St. Maximilian Kolbe in Delano. She loves to travel and spend time with her four grandchildren and their parents, including a son who is a Catholic school teacher and a daughter-in-law who is a Catholic school principal.

Dr. Nes Rotstein

CSCOE Growth Team

CSCOE BIO
Since 2015 Nes, an original founder of CSCOE, has been responsible for developing the organization’s strategic vision and business plan, including a clear articulation of its mission.

WHY CSCOE?
“Catholic education has been shown to produce the best academic outcomes in the United States. Unfortunately, it has been in decline over the last few decades. I believe that CSCOE is one of the best ways to solve that problem.”

MISSION MOMENT
Transferring best business practices and competencies to improve Catholic school operations. Delivery of the first Spanish radio program in the Twin Cities to promote Catholic education.

CURRENT INITIATIVE
“I am focusing on what the CSCOE of the future will look like.”

WHO IS NES?
With a PhD in polymer physics from the University of Minnesota, Nes spent several years as a senior executive at Dow Chemical Co. He also worked at hedge fund Whitebox Advisors. During his career he established a track record of success in helping management teams develop and execute strategic business plans. Separately, Nes was involved in a capital campaign at his parish, Holy Family in St. Louis Park, which raised $5 million for a building expansion of Holy Family Academy. He is currently involved with Teach for Christ, does Latino outreach and serves in nonprofit Boards. Nes enjoys fitness, international travel, and dance. He teaches hip-hop dance classes at Chesterton Academy. Nes is the parent of two adult children, and his wife Emily is executive director of the Global Network of Chesterton Schools.