St. Ambrose Academy welcomes Ben Pike to our team as a new math teacher!

Originally from Waunakee, Ben attended public schools in the area (with his twin sister!) before pursuing a math degree and a music minor from UW-Whitewater. After some time working in auto sales and insurance, Ben began to substitute teach in Waunakee and worked as an independent math tutor.

Ben is an active member of St. John the Baptist, part of the St. Maximilian Kolbe Pastorate. He has previously served as the Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus and currently serves as the Warden. Outside of professional pursuits, you can find Ben reading, watching movies, and golfing. He also enjoys playing French Horn during summers in the Waunakee Community Band.

Though he did not experience Catholic education firsthand, Ben has come to see great value in what Catholic education offers, saying “I was drawn to Catholic education when I learned about the Chesterton Academy being established in Sun Prairie and going through “Catechism in a Year” with Fr. Mike Schmitz.” From these encounters, Ben “realized quality Catholic education is the best thing for the future of the church, not only for its virtue but also understanding the tradition and sacraments necessary for salvation.”

Being in a collaborative environment that establishes well-equipped young Catholics is at the forefront of Ben’s mind, thinking of his new role as a St. Ambrose teacher. “Considering the statistics of Catholic retention after high school,” he said, “we need to build a foundation for students to stand on when facing a culture that contradicts our beliefs. I’m looking forward to working at St. Ambrose with its shared values in the Catholic faith, smaller class sizes, and watching each student grow and learn in their own way at their own pace.”

We look forward to seeing the fruits of Ben’s passion for the subject of math and living out the Catholic faith in action in the St. Ambrose classroom!