leadership
Mr. Matthew Manni
Headmaster
Mr. Manni is thrilled to serve as Chesterton Academy of St. Michael's inaugural Headmaster. He grew up in a large and loving Italian-Catholic household on Whidbey Island, where the beauty of the faith deeply infused his life from a young age. At Franciscan University of Steubenville, the study of philosophy captivated his heart and mind — the pinnacle of which was a senior thesis on Virtue Ethics.
From the inception of his career, Mr. Manni has pursued servant leadership — developing the strengths of his team and creating a culture of relational trust. Through the disciplines of science and mathematics, he has sought to instill wonder and awe of God's creation in his students. He has taught International Baccalaureate Chemistry, Biology, and Physical Science, and led STEM departments in both curriculum and operations.
In marriage to Lauren and as father to four daughters — Gianna Lucía, Isabella Rosalinda, Sofía Faustina, and Chiara Philomena — he has found radiant joy in his vocation. His hobbies include baking Italian breads and French treats, playing chess and basketball, and adventuring outdoors with his family.
"Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." — Saint John Paul II
Our Teachers
Faculty
Dr. Douglas LeBlanc
Humanities
Dr. LeBlanc was born and raised in the southeastern United States and first felt the calling to teach during his homeschooled high school years — an experience that deeply informs his work at CASM. He holds a BA and MA in English and a PhD in Humanities, and has worked as a humanities instructor in classical Catholic education for over a decade. His academic research has been published by institutions including Oxford University. Sharing the good, the true, and the beautiful with his students brings him great joy.
Mr. Aric Nesheim
Music & Arts
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Nesheim holds a BA in Humanities from Western Washington University with an emphasis in history and religion. After a career in audio engineering and music production in Seattle, he became Catholic in 2013 — in no small part due to G.K. Chesterton himself. He has served his local parish as cantor, catechist, and music director since 2015, and brings that same love of beauty and worship into the classroom.
Mrs. Ivana Ackermann
Latin & Old Testament
Born in Zurich, Switzerland, Mrs. Ackermann holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and a BA in English-Linguistics from Boise State University. She was a founding faculty member at Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame in Spokane and is also an adjunct faculty member in Religious Studies at St. Martin's University. During graduate studies, she spent two years living and teaching at the Oakland Catholic Worker.
Mr. Sean Patterson
Theology & Literature
Mr. Patterson was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He holds a BA in Catholic Studies, English, Philosophy, and Theology from Saint Louis University (2025), where his faith grew through study under Jesuits, Dominicans, and many devout mentors. After much prayer and discernment, he was introduced to Chesterton Academy of St. Michael, where he is grateful to form students for lives of virtue and service.
Mr. Sean Swalling
Mathematics
Mr. Swalling was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. He holds a BS in Mathematics from Washington State University and an MAT from the University of Portland through the Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education. During his undergraduate studies he deepened his faith through involvement in the Catholic student center, and has since taught mathematics at classical Catholic schools in the Pacific Northwest. He hopes to guide his students in seeing the divine hand at work in the patterns and beauty of mathematics.
Administrative & Support Staff
Mrs. Colleen Gabalis
Office Manager
Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Mrs. Gabalis holds a BA in History from Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she also met her husband Leo. She and Leo settled in the Seattle area to raise their five children in the beauty of the Catholic faith. Mrs. Gabalis enjoys entertaining, gardening, and teaching marriage preparation with her husband alongside her work at Chesterton Academy.