St. John’s English Department combines tradition and innovation to provide a rigorous and enriching English curriculum for our students. We embrace the challenge to prepare young men and women for the world through language development, critical thinking, persuasion, and empathy. We provide our students with a variety of texts—never fearing the canon, and never beholden to the conventional. We practice close reading of these texts as we analyze themes and character development that emphasize pattern recognition and inference. Students engage in compelling discussions to shape and explore their ideas. With our structured writing curriculum, students master how to craft an argument supported by textual evidence and critical research.
 
No matter the task, the English faculty of St. John’s calls on our students to be mission minded. Our students are directed to consider their contribution to society. We work to ensure they will be reflective and action-oriented young women and men.

Course Offerings

  • English 9
  • Honors English 9
  • English 10
  • Honors English 10
  • English 11
  • Honors English 11
  • AP Language and Composition
  • English 12 - The Hero's Journey
  • English 12 - Literature on Stage and Screen
  • English 12 - Minority Voices in American Literature
  • Honors English 12
  • AP Literature and Composition

Course Requirements

At least one full credit of English is required of every student all four years. To fulfill their senior English requirement, students may select any of the following five options:
 
  • English 12 - The Hero's Journey
  • English 12 - Literature on Stage and Screen
  • English 12 - Minority Voices in American Literature
  • Honors English 12
  • AP Literature 

Extracurricular Opportunities

The Literary Magazine publishes poetry, short stories, creative narratives and essays, art and photographs. Submissions are open to all students, and the best pieces will be chosen for publication. Spots are open for student representatives in all grades to endorse the magazine and encourage submissions school-wide. Also, student editor positions are available for interested juniors or seniors.

English Faculty

List of 13 members.

  • Photo of Peter Thomas

    Peter Thomas 

    Department Chair, English; English 9, English 12 - The Hero's Journey
    202-363-2316 x1927
    College of William and Mary - B.A.
    College of William and Mary - M.A.
  • Photo of Gina Brillante

    Gina Brillante 

    English 9, Honors English 12
    202-363-2316 x1913
    St. John’s College - B.A.
    Johns Hopkins University - M.A.
  • Photo of Christopher Dunckel

    Christopher Dunckel 

    English 9, English 12 - Literature on Stage and Screen
    202-363-2316 x1970
    University of Miami - B.A.
  • Photo of Marie Gelso

    Marie Gelso 

    Director of the Writing Center; English 9, AP Language and Composition
    202-363-2316 x1910
    University of Maryland - B.A.
    American University - M.A.T.
  • Photo of Cranston Gittens

    Cranston Gittens 

    Minority Voices in American Literature
    202-363-2316 x1914
    Campbell University - B.A.
    University of South Florida - M.A.T.
  • Lindsay Goodman 

    English 9, Honors English 9
    202-363-2316 x1991
    James Madison University - B.A.
    Notre Dame of Maryland University - M.A.
  • Michael Keaney 

    English 10, Honors English 10
    202-363-2316 x1915
    State University of New York, Albany - B.A.
    City College of New York - M.A.
  • Photo of Cristina Paluch

    Cristina Paluch 

    English 11, AP English Literature and Composition
    202-363-2316 x1918
    Villanova University - B.A.
    University of Pennsylvania - M.Ed.
  • Photo of Kandace Rosser

    Kandace Rosser 

    Honors English 11
    202-363-2316 x1947
    Princeton University - B.A.
  • Photo of Michael Schaefer

    Michael Schaefer 

    English 10, Honors English 10
    202-363-2316 x1917
    La Salle University - B.A.
    State University of New York at New Paltz - M.A.
  • Photo of James Stanphill

    James Stanphill 

    English 9, Honors English 9
    202-363-2316 x1934
  • Photo of Mindy Urick

    Mindy Urick 

    Head Girls' Lacrosse Coach; English 10
    202-363-2316 x1911
    Georgetown University - B.A.
  • Photo of Alyssa Williams

    Alyssa Williams 

    English 10, English 11
    202-363-2316 x1912
    University of South Florida - B.A.
    University of South Florida - M.A.