Mathematics

Teaching runs in Jamie Auch’s family, as has been evident throughout his 16 years at Christ School.  

Mr. Auch is a third-generation independent school teacher and Math instructor. He was the head coach for Varsity Football in 2008 and 2009 and has assisted with multiple sports. 

Mr. Auch earned a B.A. in Art History and minor in Mathematics from Washington & Lee University (Va.), making him the product of a single-sex education from middle school through college.

In his free time, Mr. Auch likes to camp, bike, and kayak. He is also a big fan of vintage Volkswagen vehicles. Mr. Auch and his wife Christina have two daughters, Casey and Emma.

True happiness for Thomas Benton entails his head in the stars or his kayak floating down a whitewater river.

The Hendersonville, N.C., native is joining the Math Department this year. His biggest passions are paddling local waters and scientific pursuits in the areas of astronomy and astrophysics.

Mr. Benton received his undergraduate degree in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from UNC Asheville. While there, he received N.C. Space Grant funding for research in radio astronomy and for his work at UNCA’s Lookout Observatory. Mr. Benton later earned his master’s in the Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona.

He has taught in North Carolina and Arizona, most recently as a Math instructor at his hometown’s Hendersonville High School.

Mr. Benton has been an avid kayaker for nearly 20 years. When he is not at work or out on the water, Mr. Benton also partakes in woodworking, model-making, writing, and watching science fiction programming. He is married and has a young son.

Attentively meeting the needs of her students is the primary motivation for Stacy Graziosi P'25, a longtime educator at boarding schools.

She is a new addition to the Learning Resources Department and will live in South Carolina House with her husband, Math instructor Joseph Graziosi P'25. Their son is Elijah '25. 

Mrs. Graziosi was most recently at West Nottingham Academy in Colora, Md., as Director of the Chesapeake Learning Center and Coordinator of STEM Peer Tutoring. Mrs. Graziosi is entering her 15th year of teaching, including Math, English as a Second Language (ESL), Literature and Composition, and Health.

Ms. Graziosi has also previously been an assistant athletic director, campus blood-drive coordinator, and a dorm parent. Prior to teaching, her experience was that of a health educator, administrator, program director and counselor providing education and support services to those in need.

Mrs. Graziosi earned her B.A. in Social Services from the New York’s State University and her master’s in Health Care Administration from Boston’s Simmons College.

Mrs. Graziosi has a passion for theater, music, singing, and sports. She spent many years performing community theater and was a member of the Treasure Coast and New Lyric Theater opera societies in Florida.

Boys need to be thinking one or even two steps ahead in an ever-changing world of technology. 

Matt Houston has given Christ School's students that advantage with his Engineering and Mathematics curriculum, after a decade in higher education. Mr. Houston was one of the faculty advisors for the school robotics team, which began attending competitions in the spring semester of 2023. 

Mr. Houston has been at Christ School since 2020 and was previously an Associate Professor at Middle Georgia State University for 10 years.

He earned his B.S. and master's degrees from Tennessee Tech University before going on to receive a Ph.D. in Math from the University of Georgia in 2018.

Mr. Houston's hobbies include reading, coding, tinkering with electronics, and traveling. He lives on campus with his wife, Melissa, who is a local artist. 

Like any seasoned houseparent, Carolyn Lowe-Thompson P’24 P’26 has proven to be a meaningful contributor at all hours. 

She and her family live in Cuningham House where they mentor the youngest Greenies in addition to Mrs. Thompson's positions as a Math instructor and assistant coach with the Greenie cross country and swimming programs.

Mrs. Thompson was the valedictorian of her high school, won a NCAA Division III national championship in the 10,000-meter run, and has taught, coached, or been a houseparent at schools in the Bahamas, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Virginia.

She was one of the founders of the Community School for Arts and Academics in Roanoke, Va., where she worked from 2013 to 2020. Mrs. Thompson has head-coaching experience in cross country, cycling, swimming, and track.

Mrs. Thompson earned her B.S. in Operations Research from Carnegie Mellon University and then a master’s degree in Education from the University of New Hampshire. She enjoys all outdoor activities, including training for triathlons.

Mrs. Thompson and her husband, History instructor Mark Thompson, have three children – Tyler ’24, Spence ’26, and Kaile.

Mike Mohney P'23 is renowned amongst the boys for arriving early to his classroom and staying as late as needed. 

The passion and personal care put into his positions as Mathematics Department chair and Director of the Outdoor Program were the catalysts to Mr. Mohney being named 2022-23 Christ School's Teacher of the Year. 

The 2023-24 academic year will be the 20th for Mr. Mohney at Christ School. 

Before his career in teaching, Mr. Mohney was a U.S. Navy officer specializing in nuclear power plants. Following the Navy, he worked as Engineering Manager for the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Salem County (N.J.). 

Mr. Mohney and his wife, Deidra, live on campus and are parents to Chapin '23. 

Hamid Najafi prides himself on being a results-driven, innovative professional with an excellent track record and has brought these qualities to Christ School as a Robotics and Engineering instructor.

Mr. Najafi was named Teacher of the Year for 2021-22. He was a faculty advisor for the new robotics team in 2023. 

Mr. Najafi has taught locally as an adjunct professor at A-B Tech Community College and Blue Ridge Community College, where he won the 2019 Extra Mile Award. His professional experience in engineering and as a manager dates back to 1983. From 2002 to 2010, he worked as a real estate developer, overseeing the construction of one of the first all-inclusive executive office suites in the county. 

Mr. Najafi studied at Clemson University (MSEE), Piedmont Management Institute, and Midwestern State University. He and his wife, Cindy, have been married for more than 40 years. They have two adult children, Dani and Christian.

Professional disc golf player Ken Tyburski can often be seen taking advantage of Christ School's nine-hole course to practice his craft. 

He teaches Math at Christ School, is a house parent in Harris House, coach in the Outdoor Program, and does public-address announcing for Greenie athletic games. Mr. Tyburski has been at Christ School since 2017 and has worked in single-gender education since 2006. 

Mr. Tyburski graduated from Georgia Tech in 1999 with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering – Cooperative Plan (a designation for undergraduates who worked three semesters in a professional organization while attending school). 

Mr. Tyburski turned pro in disc golf in August 2014. When he’s not busy directing tournaments, teaching clinics, and volunteering at local events, Mr. Tyburski likes to hike and camp in the Asheville area.