Meet Our Team

Fr. Rich McAuliff, S.J.

Director of YCHS
director@ychs.net

Fr. Rich McAuliff, a Jesuit from the U.S. Northeast Province, has served in Micronesia for more than 30 years—in the Marshall Islands, in Chuuk, in Palau, and now in Yap, as Director of Yap Catholic High School. Fr. Rich also serves as the Vicar of Yap and is highly active in pastoral ministry.

Michael Wiencek

Principal of YCHS
principal@ychs.net

Michael Wiencek returns to Yap Catholic High School for his seventh year as principal. Mr. Wiencek first came to Yap in 2012 when he was a member of the YCHS Volunteer Teacher Program for two years. After a year teaching at Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, he returned to Yap to continue to help the school achieve its mission of educating students to live their faith in the service of God and others. In addition to being principal, Mr. Wiencek also teaches Junior Chemistry and Senior Calculus, as well as supplemental math to the underclassmen. He is excited to work with the faculty, staff, students, families, and supporters of YCHS to continue building a community of academic achievement and faith formation.

Gilippin Pongliyab

Vice Principal of YCHS

Gilippin Pongliyab, known to her students as Ms. Gail, found one of her true passions as a teacher at the Yap Catholic High School. Born and raised in Yap, Micronesia, Ms. Gail ventured far from home to gain new experiences and ideas after high school. In 2005, she acquired a BA in English from the University of California, Northridge. Since 2013, she’s had the fortune of working with dedicated staff and faculty at Yap Catholic High School. Ms. Gail teaches Literature to the Freshman and Senior classes. She also supervises the Yearbook Club. Starting in School Year 2021-2022, Ms. Gail is also the Vice Principal of YCHS. 

Brian Southwick

Director of College Counseling
college@ychs.net

Entering his fifth year with Yap Catholic High School as Director of College Counseling, Brian Southwick is excited and humbled for the opportunity to continue to prepare students at YCHS for their journey towards a post-secondary education. Prior to joining the school, Mr. Southwick served as Scholarship Coordinator for the State of Yap for almost eleven years. Born and raised in California, but calling Yap home for the last fifteen years, Mr. Southwick lives with his wife of twenty years and two children. In addition to college counseling duties, he teaches two classes: Freshmen Algebra I and Junior Algebra II.

Jermin Laamang

Director of Finance

Ms. Jermin joined Yap Catholic High School last school year as the Director of Finance. The new position was created the summer of 2021 to assist the school's growing financial responsibilities. As the Director of Finance, Ms. Jermin is responsible for the school's accounting & bookkeeping, tuition payments, and other administrative duties.

Emma Gilyan

Staff

Ms. Emma joined the YCHS team in July of 2020. She’s excited and humbled by the opportunity to be working with YCHS and contributing to the high school her daughters are attending. Ms. Emma had been working with the Yap State Government for 7+ years before joining YCHS, and brings with her more than seven years of experience for the Administrative Assistant position. For the first semester of School Year 2022-2023, she will be on maternity leave; in the meantime, the YCHS community wishes her luck and rest!

Joshua T. Libyan Tun

Faculty

Joshua Libyan Tun is excited for his fifth term at Yap Catholic High School after joining the team in 2018. Teacher Libyan teaches Civics & Geography to the Freshmen, Biology to the Sophomores, Algebra II Honors & Trigonometry to the Juniors, and Precalculus to the Seniors. He will be continuing with facilitating extracurricular activities with school clubs in AV, journalism, yearbook and debate. As Director of Development, Teacher Libyan is responsible for the school's social media platforms and other administrative duties. “Mr. Teacher” is looking forward to engaging and challenging YCHS students once again for another successful school year.

Demetria Mtag

Faculty

Demetria Mtag is from the Island of Yap. She graduated from Yap Catholic High School in the year of 2016. After two years at Creighton University, she is taking time off from college to save up money and be with her family before continuing with her college career. Miss Demi teaches Sophomore Math (Geometry and Geometry Honors) and Junior Literature. 

Teresita Laarwon

Faculty

Teresita Laarwon was born and raised on this beautiful island of Yap. She feels blessed to be a part of the YCHS family this school year. She is looking forward to the many great things that are in store for YCHS this year. She is confident that the school community will continue to thrive and the students will continue to succeed in all that they do, at school and where ever they may go. Miss Teresita is teaching Freshman Introduction into Catholicism, Junior Morality, and Senior World History. She also supervises the Campus Ministry Club. 

Saralyn Wuyoch

Faculty

Saralyn Wuyoch is an alumna from the second graduating class of Yap Catholic High School. She received her Associate of Arts Degree in Pre-Teacher Preparation at the College of Micronesia - FSM. Miss Sara returns to YCHS as the English Language Arts teacher to the sophomores and seniors. She also manages the Health & Nutrition elective course for the seniors.

Cyril Moofel

Staff

Cyril Moofel, a YCHS graduate from the class of 2019, is now back on Yap after two years of attending the University of Guam in pursuit of his degree in engineering. He is taking some time off from college to work and to save up money while spending some time here with his family before he leaves again to continue his college career. Cyril, known as Mr. CJ on the YCHS campus, is currently the "Assistant Administrative Assistant" while Miss Emma is on maternity leave; he also covers Art class for the sophomore class. 

Jalani Gootinmutnguy

Faculty, Counselor

Jalani Gootinmutnguy is an alumna of YCHS and a member of the Class of 2017, and is finally back in Yap after she graduated from the University of Scranton in May 2021 with a Bachelors of Science in Counseling and Human Services with a focus on mental health counseling. Miss Jalani is teaching English Language Arts for the juniors and Physics for the seniors. On top of her classroom duties, she is also the student counselor of YCHS. 

Sebastiana Tinagpitin

Faculty 

Sebastiana Tinagpitin completed the Foundation Arts Programme at the University of the South Pacific in 2017, followed by earning her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce in Tourism & Hospitality Management at the University of the South Pacific in 2021. She is teaching Earth Science to the freshman class, and Micronesian History & Government to the sophomores. She’s looking forward to 2023 when she will further her education by pursuing a Master’s degree in Climate Change from the University of the South Pacific. In the meantime, Miss T is quite happy to be part of the YCHS community.

Marino Angeloni

Faculty, Counselor

Marino Angeloni is from Scranton, Pennsylvania in the United States and has just come to Yap this August as a volunteer teacher. He is so grateful to be a part of the YCHS Community, and looks forward to being with his students. Mr. Angeloni loves the TV show Survivor and will socialize about nearly anything! He will be teaching English Language Arts to the freshman class and Religion to both the sophomore and senior classes, Jesus of History Christ of Faith & The Magis: Exploration of Ignatian Spirituality, respectively. Mr. Angeloni graduated from The University of Scranton with a Bachelor's Degree in Counseling and Human Services in May 2022.

Julie Maher

Faculty

Julie Maher arrived in Yap this past summer as a volunteer teacher for the school year 2022-2023. She's the homeroom teacher for the junior class, and is teaching Civics & Geography, Literature and US History to the freshmen, sophomores and juniors, respectively. On top of her teaching duties, she is also the co-coach for the women's volleyball team. She looks forward to a successful year. 
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