St. Ambrose Academy welcomes Mr. Phillip Pinell to our school as a new Latin teacher! 

Originally from Houston, TX, Phillip attended the University of Houston where he studied Political Science and Philosophy. While there, he discovered a love of the liberal arts, especially the texts with which they engaged in classes. This interest in Greek and Roman thought inspired him to pursue post-graduate studies, which led him to UW-Madison, where he will complete his Ph.D. in Political Theory in 2025.

Phillip’s passion for learning is an asset to St. Ambrose students. He looks forward to “uncovering things about human history that only those who lived it witnessed, then dusting it off and presenting it to a new generation.” 

As a teacher, Phillip believes in “teaching subjects with a purpose in mind. As the language of the Church, Latin allows us to keep the legacy of the saints and the ancient Church alive.”

He is likewise no stranger to another hallmark of the St. Ambrose classroom, the Socratic method: “what I found beneficial in my own education was not telling student answers, but asking them questions that helps them realize they already have answers”. Phillip values this format for being “an active use of the brain rather than being a passive recipient of information” and we couldn’t agree more as we see the fruits of this method as students continue to mature through the St. Ambrose curriculum.

When not teaching or pursuing his own advanced degree, Phillip enjoys revisiting the Greek classics, especially Plato, practicing Spanish whenever he can, and volunteering at Our Lady of Guadalupe Pastorate in Madison. Of particular note, he also eagerly anticipates his marriage to his fiancée Kateri in December 2024!

Welcome, Phillip, to the St. Ambrose Academy community!