St. Agnes offers Specials classes once each week. Physical Education (P.E.), Art, Music, Library and Technology add to St. Agnes’ robust curriculum.
Meet our Specials Teachers
Mrs. Alissa Gorissen, Art
Alissa Gorissen began teaching at St. Agnes in 2018. She attended Dickinson College and earned a BA in Art History/Fine Arts. Prior to having two children she worked at a commercial interior design and architecture firm for 6 years. Mrs. Gorissen loves sharing art with her own children and is now excited to pass along her passion for art to the students of St. Agnes.
Mr. Paul Guevara, P.E.
Mr. Guevara has worked as a substitute teacher at St. Agnes and is began teaching at St. Agnes full time in 2018. He earned his B.A, in History, Political Science and Spanish. Mr. Guevara has worked in Arlington Public Schools for more than 7 years as a School Resource Officer. Mr. Guevara is a retired Arlington County Police Officer. He worked as a police detective/officer for 22 years. He is an enthusiastic lacrosse coach (high school varsity and JV both boys and girls) at St. John’s College High School, W&L High School and Sacred Heart Academy in New York. He has also coached boys and girls youth soccer, softball, and lacrosse. After being a St. Agnes parent (of two college students) and retiring from the police department, he is excited to be able to return to the St. Agnes community as a teacher and combine his experience in working with kids and his love of sports.
Mrs. Kristen Filpi, Technology
Mrs. Kristen Filpi began teaching at St. Agnes in 2012. She earned her B.B.A. in Information Systems from Radford University, and a Master of Science in Information Management from Marymount University. Prior to her career in education, Mrs. Filpi worked at Student Loan Marketing Association as a Systems Support Analyst and Programmer/Analyst and stayed home for ten years to raise her four children, who have all graduated from St. Agnes. Mrs. Filpi likes to travel with her family and take her dog, Roxie, for walks.
Mrs. Edna Rienzi, Library
Mrs. Edna Rienzi began teaching at St. Agnes in 2023. She earned her A.B. in Politics from Princeton University, her M.A. in Political Science from Yale University, and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. Prior to becoming the librarian at St. Agnes, Mrs. Rienzi taught middle school English for several years. And prior to entering the field of education, Mrs. Rienzi worked as a nonprofit program director and as a lawyer. She also stayed home for nine years to raise her three daughters. Mrs. Rienzi loves kids and she loves books, and nothing makes her happier than getting a child hooked on reading!
Mrs. Judy Smith, Music
Mrs. Smith began teaching music at Saint Agnes in 2010. She began her career in education at Our Lady Queen of Peace, in Washington DC, where she taught for 3 ½ years, before taking a hiatus to be a stay at home mom to her two children, Ben and Sara. She holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City and her Masters is from Catholic University in DC. Music has been her lifelong passion, having sung in choirs and on stage for as long as she could remember. Her mother used to joke that she sang before she could talk! Mrs. Smith considers herself very blessed to be to working with your children in a field that she loves.
