Advisory Board

Diane J. Martinez is a graduate of Our Lady of the Rosary School and Pius X High School ’78. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Long Beach, then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She spent over 30 years of her teaching career in the classroom and also served as a Reading Resource Coach.
She served as Mayor and a City Council Member for the City of Paramount from 1994 - 2019. During her term in office, she also served as President of California Contract Cities Association representing 70 cities with more than 7 million residents. She was recently appointed to Lakewood Regional Medical Center Governing Board and also serves on the Los Cerritos YMCA of Greater Long Beach Board. In her spare time, she enjoys playing golf, traveling, reading and attending Country music concerts. Ms. Martinez is honored to be on the board to support her Alma Mater.

Greg Breen was born in Los Angeles and Catholic schools are part of his upbringing having attended Cathedral Chapel for elementary school and Loyola High School (Los Angeles). He has a vast career which includes tax accounting at Pricewaterhouse Coopers and teaching as an adjunct professor at Golden Gate University. He has served as a member with the Hermosa Beach City School District and currently serves as a board member with Art Division and the Hermosa Beach Little League. He Holds a Bachelor's Degree from Claremont Men's College and a J.D. from UCLA.

Regina Dell'Oro was born in Mexico City, and lived there mostly as a child.  She moved to Washington D.C. with her parents at the age of 11 years old.  She attended Georgetown University where she pursued a Doctorate in Philosophy.  Her doctoral dissertation was published as a book by Peter Lang press; The title of the book is From Existence to the Ideal; Continuity and Development in Kant’s Rational Theology.  While at Georgetown she met her husband, Roberto Dell’Oro, and together they began their family with two children.  She has taught Philosophy and Spirituality at the collegiate level at numerous university's including:  American University, De Sales School of Theology, George Washington University, Georgetown University.   Her academic career came to a halt after her son was diagnosed with autism.  This circumstance motivated her to become trained in Applied Behavior Analysis by the C.A.R.D Center where she devoted many hours working with her son and other special needs children.  She eventually moved to California where she became involved with American Martyrs Parish in Manhattan Beach, starting a ministry for kids and families with special needs.  Mrs. Dell'Oro is fluent in Spanish, English, Italian, French and can read German.  

Kevin Ellis is a 24-year employee of the City of Downey Recreation Department. He currently serves as Recreation Supervisor and oversees the City’s athletics fields and gymnasiums. As a professional member of both CPRS (California Park & Recreation Society) & SCMAF (Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation), he has served on countless committees and boards relating to strengthening communities through collaboration. As a Recreation Supervisor, Kevin serves as a liaison to the school district and youth sports groups, and the city. From 2016 to 2020 Kevin served on the PMA board.

Jeanie McHatton graduated from Pius X High school in 1964.  She has been involved in education for over 45 years.  During her college years at CSULB, she was an instructional aide for Long Beach Unified School District.  She began her teaching career in the Norwalk-La Mirada School District, where she was a Kindergarten Teacher, Reading Resource Teacher and Assistant Principal.  Additional leadership roles include Assistant Principal with the Paramount Unified School District, Principal with the Whittier City School District and Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Whittier Union High School District.  In retirement, Mrs. McHatton remains active in education serving as the Director of Student Teaching for Whittier College and substitute teaching for ABC Unified School District.  In addition she is currently a member of the ABC Unified School District’s Strategic Planning Committee and involved with the Band Boosters and on the School Site Council at Gahr High School in Cerritos.  She has been active at Cerritos College for over ten years, serving on the Foundation Board and was appointed to the Cerritos College Board of Trustees in June 2011, where she served for a year and a half.  In her spare time, Mrs. McHatton loves traveling with her husband and grandkids, and shopping.

Ray Rivera graduated from Pius X High School in 1972 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts, Teaching Credential and Masters’ Degree in Educational Administration from Cal State University, Long Beach. Mr. Rivera worked as an elementary school teacher for 6 years before beginning his 28 year career as a school administrator. He became a school principal at the age of 33 and served for 24 years as a principal at five different schools in the Long Beach and Montebello Unified School Districts. Mr. Rivera’s final assignment was as principal at Suva Intermediate School in Montebello Unified, retiring in 2012.  Mr. Rivera spends his spare time playing golf, serving as a consultant in Montebello, selling collectibles on Ebay and enjoying time with his grandchildren. Mr. Rivera is glad to reconnect with his high school alma mater and proud to be serving on the St. Pius X - St. Matthias Advisory Board.

John H. Smet  grew up in the Midwest having attended St. Martha’s Elementary School in Dearborn, Michigan. His leadership has been instrumental to the success and growth of PMA. As an initiative of the John H. & Cindy Lee Smet foundation, he and his wife established the Onward Readers and Onward Scholars program www.onwardscholars.org to provide marvelous opportunities for deserving students to grow in faith, in their academics, and in their lives through Catholic education inspires him to also serve on the Board of the Catholic Education Foundation of Los Angeles. Mr. Smet's past philanthropic work has included serving on the board of Habitat for Humanity. In his free time he enjoys gardening, energy saving, watching the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers win. He served as the founding PMA board chair (2013-2018) until stepping down from that role in 2018.  He is proud to partner with St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy community in providing a world class Catholic Education to our students. Mr. Smet received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Charlie Steinmetz serves as a board member at St. Pius X- St. Matthias Academy and is also president of the Steinmetz Foundation whose work supports numerous literacy and educational programs throughout Los Angeles. As a graduate of St. Bernard’s High School in Playa Del Rey he is a product of Catholic Schools and also serves on the Board of Catholic Education Foundation which helps supports scholarships for students attending inner city Catholic Schools. “We have turned struggling bottom-tier schools into real powerhouses,” he says. He is a firm believer of experiential learning and his contributions have brought many opportunities and partnerships to the St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy community including, UCLA, Oceans Institute, and Junior Achievement of Southern California to name a few. In his spare time he travels the world as an archeologist. Mr. Steinmetz holds an MBA from UCLA.