Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Message from the Board

Dear Friends,

 

Since the inception of Saint Joseph Academy (formerly Sierra Madre Academy) in North San Diego in September 1995, the school has endeavored to assist in the mission of the Church by serving the spiritual and academic needs of Catholic families. Saint Joseph Academy has always recognized the role that parents must fulfill as the primary educators of their children. The school strives to support this obligation by providing an environment where students can develop a well-formed conscience based on the traditional moral values held by the Church and a strong commitment to live in accordance with those values. Students who graduate from Saint Joseph Academy will be well prepared to go forth into society as strong witnesses and disciples of Christ.

 

With the support of parents, the school provides an excellent curriculum along with the finest spiritual formation based on strict adherence to the teachings of the Catholic Church. This is a classical education that is devoted to blending faith and reason through the cultivation of both the moral and religious aspects of character along with intellectual excellence. The focus is to nurture and form the whole child: intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and emotional.

 

Subjects of study are presented not only as knowledge to be attained, but also values to be acquired and truth to be discovered. Depth is given to the students' ability to reason which enhances their ability to make distinctions and good judgments. Students are taught to recognize truth, goodness and beauty, and to discern these from the false, the evil, and the sordid. They are instilled with the essence of the Faith, loyalty to the Church and an active love and desire to serve God. Only with this well-rounded education, based on truth, can we prepare our children to take up their lives as responsible, competent, charitable and professional young men and women who are committed to live by Christian principles.

 

From Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade, Saint Joseph Academy provides an academic foundation that will enable students to further their lives and careers. However, education is not just a tool or a stepping stone to the next social level or to the riches of the world. Rather, the knowledge gained must prepare the soul for its ultimate destiny of eternal life with God in heaven.

 

The goals of Saint Joseph Academy are lofty, yet for the last 30 years the parents, administrators and faculty have labored to bring them to fruition. The success has been tremendous. We look forward to continuing to fulfill our goals and hope that you will join us on our journey. 

 

Sincerely in Christ,

 

The Board of Directors of Saint Joseph Academy

Board of Directors

Deacon Frank J. Mercardante, Chairman of the Board
Deacon Frank Mercardante has served on the Board of Saint Joseph Academy since 2013 and was appointed Chairman of the Board in 2015. He has served the Church as a permanent deacon since 1987, having been ordained by San Diego Bishop Leo T. Maher in 1987.  He currently lives and serves in several parishes in the San Bernardino Diocese and the Ordinariate Chair of Saint Peter’s parish in the area. His diaconal ministries include working with tribunals on marriage cases, preparing couples for marriage, establishing and teaching in OCIA programs in various parishes, preaching, counseling, baptizing, and more.
 
Deacon Mercardante worked over 50 years in the financial services industry.  During his career he started, managed, and sold financial institutions of all sizes, including a $2.6 billion bank in Sacramento, CA., and a $6.5 billion thrift in the Midwest.  He has engineered the turnaround of multiple troubled financial institutions, saving shareholders and taxpayers millions of dollars.  He has also started, managed and or sold numerous mortgage, escrow, title, trust, insurance and computer servicing businesses.
 
Deacon Mercardante has served on numerous not for profit Boards including New Haven Youth and Family Services, Tri-City Hospital Foundation, Catholic Charities of San Diego, Casa de Amparo, Poinsettia Theatre for the Performing Arts, Western Independent Bankers Association, and John Paul the Great Catholic University, and others. In addition to Saint Joseph Academy, he currently serves on the Advisory Board the Culture of Life Family Services.
 
Deacon Mercardante resides in Temecula, Ca. with his wife of 53 years.  He has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Paula S. Brock 

Ms. Brock was the Chief Financial Officer of San Diego Zoo Global for 20 years. In that capacity she oversaw the financial management of SDZG, and was instrumental in developing and implementing numerous financial reporting and strategic planning concepts, initiatives, systems and financing plans. Prior to joining SDZG, Ms. Brock was the founding partner in Brock, Tibbitts & Snell, An Accountancy Corporation, specializing in due diligence and securities work. She served as Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Officer at ITT Residential Capital Corporation, and was Senior Audit Manager with KPMG. Mrs. Brock serves and has served on numerous boards, nationally and internationally, and is an affiliate of the Augustinian Order. Three of her ten grandchildren currently attend Saint Joseph Academy.

Christopher Check

Christopher Check is president of Catholic Answers (Catholic.com), the largest lay-run Catholic apologetics and evangelization organization America. Before joining Catholic Answers, Chris served for two decades as Executive Vice President of the Rockford Institute, publisher of Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture. Before that, he served for seven years as a field artillery officer in the United Sates Marine Corps. Chris holds a degree in English Literature from Rice University.

 

He writes and speaks at home and abroad on Catholic heroes and villains and is the creator and voice of The Lepanto Lectures, a series of audio recordings on glorious and tragic events in Church history about which Fr. Peter Stravinskas declared: “Christopher Check has performed a valuable service in providing historically reliable information on certain neuralgic topics, often used to discredit the Church. Each lecture is presented in an engaging style and full of facts geared to make an intelligent response to various ‘black legends.’ I recommend these talks most enthusiastically.” 

 

Chris and Jackie met in San Diego in 1988 and were married at the chapel at NTC (now Liberty Station) on May 18, 1991, before beginning their life in the Midwest, where they raised their four sons, Nicholas, Alexander, John Paul, and Nathanael. The Checks returned to San Diego in 2013. For twenty years, Jackie and Chris have been breeding and showing in the AKC, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, famed companions of the Stuart Kings. Their kennel is named “Top Meadow Cavaliers,” after G.K. Chesterton’s Beaconsfield Estate. Jackie is the expert. Chris is the unpaid kennel help.

Amy Clow

Amy Clow has had children attending Saint Joseph Academy since 2008 and joined the board in 2016. Amy was a small business owner, who employed many SJA students as part-time staff. Amy received her R.N., B.S.N. from Point Loma Nazarene University and worked as a Pediatric Intensive Care nurse. Amy currently provides patient care for the elderly.


With her husband, Marty, they are blessed with eight children - Corey (graduated SJA 2013), Timothy (2015), Madison (2017), Alyssa (2019), Emma (2022), Noah (2023), Joshua (10th), and Christian (8th).


Amy has participated in the SJA Parent Association, worked on the gala committee, and the Booster Club. She annually helps plan and chaperone the San Francisco Pro-Life walk. She assists the school in many activities including team Mom for sports teams, bake sales, driver for activities, and organizes fundraisers.

Barbara De La Torre 

Barbara De La Torre was one of the two original founders of Saint Joseph Academy (previously Sierra Madre Academy) in 1995. She served as Chairman of the Board until 2013 and currently serves as Secretary.


Barbara received her R.N., B.S.N. from California State University, Long Beach and worked (part time) as a nurse until 1997. She served on several committees in the city of Oceanside to affect change in policy during this time.


Barbara continues to be active at Saint Joseph Academy in marketing and program/curriculum development. She serves as adviser for the SJA High School "Crusaders for Life" club and assistant for the "The Great Outdoors" club.


Barbara and her husband, David, are blessed with eight children: Vince, Joe, Tony, Julie, Mary, Johnny, Clare and Sara. They are also blessed with six grandchildren: Mateo, Marco, Hannah, Isa, Wes and Jackson. Seven of their children graduated from Saint Joseph Academy and their eighth is currently a Junior in high school.

Bushra Jonna

Joseph P. Lisiecki III

Joseph and his wife Carolyn have three children who graduated from Saint Joseph Academy. Joseph and Carolyn have been SJA Parents since 2015. Joseph joined the board in 2022.


Joseph is the Hearing Office Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Hearings Operations located in Orange, California. Prior to his appointment, Joseph was in private practice for 12 years. Joseph also served in the United States Marine Corps(Active and Reserve) for 30 years, retiring at the rank of Colonel.

John Masnica

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