Faculty and Staff

School Administration

 

Fr. Mike Nacius, Pastor

Mr. David Wieters, Principal

Mrs. Kathy Thompson, Assistant Principal

Mr. Bradley Doherty, Dean of Students

Mrs. Sue Barkhausen, Special Services

Mrs. Catherine Homan, Social Worker

Mrs. Cindy Pacewicz, School Nurse

Mrs. Patricia Lucas, PGC Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Debbie Liden, UGC Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Mandy Castle, Admissions Coordinator

Mrs. Rebecca Quackenbush, Business Manager

Mrs. Cindy Luetje, Tuition and Fees Coordinator

Ms. Mary Catherine Nelson, Marketing and Development Director

Primary Grade Center Faculty

 

Principal

 

Mr. David Wieters

• Bachelor of Arts Degree in History/Secondary Education and a minor in Physical Education - Loras College
• Master of Arts in Educational Leadership - Aurora University
• Principal at St. Peter Elementary School in Kenosha, WI; St. Francis de Sales Parish School in Lake Geneva, WI; and Catholic Central High School in Burlington, WI prior to SOSM
• Over 30 years of teaching and educational administration experience

PGC Assistant Principal

 

Mrs. Kathy Thompson

• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education - University of Michigan
• Master of Arts in Education - Barat College
• Master of Arts in Educational Administration - National Louis University
• 25 years of teaching and educational administration experience

UGC and PGC Director of Special Services

 

Mrs. Sue Barkhausen

• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education - DePauw University
• Masters of Arts in Learning Disabilities/Behavior Disorders - National Louis University
• Endorsements in Elementary/Secondary Education
• LBS1 Certification
• Over 30 years of teaching experience

Pre School

Mrs. Gosia Kalinowski

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology - Dominican University
• Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education - Dominican University
• 12 years of teaching experience

Mrs. Halley Hagerty

• Associate's Degree from Florida State College at Jacksonville
• Bachelor's Degree from Towson University
• Lead teacher for the two-year-old class at Playtime Child Care & Learning in Virginia

 

Mrs. Shelley Cummings

• Master of Education Degree - Loyola University and The Erikson Institute
• Bachelor of  Arts in Early Childhood Education and Human Services - Kendall College 
• 2 children alumni of the School of St. Mary
• 20+ years of experience in Early Childhood Education

Kindergarten

 

Mrs. Mylette Hodges 

• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education -from Emporia State University
• Masters in Education from Barat College 
• over 15 years of teaching experience
• Has a child who is an alum of the School of St. Mary

Mrs. Anne Casey 

• Bachelor of Arts in Journalism - Marquette University
• Master of Arts in Teaching - National Louis University
• 22 years of teaching experience
• 2 children alumni of the School of St. Mary

1st Grade

 

Ms. Natalie Agostinelli

• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Butler University
• Student taught in 2nd grade at Washington Township, Indianapolis and 4th grade at Union Elementary, in Zionsville, IN

 

2nd Grade

 

Ms. Ashley Rylander

• Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education - Illinois State University
• Masters of Education with a Reading Specialist endorsement - DePaul University
• Previously taught at St. Louis de Montfort School in Oak Lawn
• Worked as an Academic Support Specialist in Hometown Elementary School
• Resource Teacher at the School of St. Mary for 4 years

Mrs. Carol Teitz

• Bachelor of Science - Southern Illinois University
• Teaching certificate from Trinity International University
• Teacher and teachers' aide at Oak Grove School District in Green Oaks, Illinois
• Both a teacher and Title I instructor at Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake
• Taught 2nd grade at St. Anastasia Catholic School in Waukegan for three years.

3rd Grade

Mrs. Laura Swartzle

• Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education- DePaul University
• Working on Master's Degree through Carthage College
• Taught at St. Peter in Skokie, Washington School in Mundelein
• Taught at Our Lady of Humility in Beach Park

PGC Art Teacher

Mrs. Shannon Lee

• Bachelors of Fine Arts in Art Education - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• 5 years of teaching experience

• Art teacher at the School of St. Mary for 4 years

PGC Library Teacher

 

Ms. Michelle Adamski

 

PGC Spanish Teacher

 Ms. Maria Gonzalez

• Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education
• Masters degree in Education with a specialization in Educational Planning and Management
• Masters degree in Early Childhood Education

PGC Music Teacher

 

Ms. Lydia Jeon

• Bachelors of Music Degree - Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University
• Masters of Music Degree - Northeastern Illinois University
• Previously taught music at St. Stanislaus Kostka School, the New Music School, the Montessori Academy of Chicago and the Northbrook Park District

PGC Reading Specialist

 

Mrs. Christine Zitko

• Bachelors Degree in Education from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)
• Masters Degree in Education from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)
• Advanced Certificate in Reading from the University of Ilinois (Urbana-Champaign)
• Previously taught at Urbana Middle School. The Upward Bound program through the University of Illinois and at Churchill School in Homewood, IL as the reading specialist. 

Upper Grade Center Faculty

 

Principal

 

Mr. David Wieters

• Bachelor of Arts Degree in History/Secondary Education and a minor in Physical Education - Loras College
• Master of Arts in Educational Leadership - Aurora University
• Principal at St. Peter Elementary School in Kenosha, WI; St. Francis de Sales Parish School in Lake Geneva, WI; and Catholic Central High School in Burlington, WI prior to SOSM
• Over 30 years of teaching and educational administration experience

UGC Dean of Students

Mr. Bradley Doherty

• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education - University of Southern Indiana
• 6 years of teaching experience in Catholic schools
• Previously taught at Saints Francis and Clare in Greenwood, IN

UGC and PGC Director of Special Services

4th Grade

 

Mrs. Kristina Lowery

• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education-Purdue University
• Endorsement in Reading
• Master of Science degree in Literacy Studies-University of Wisconsin
• 11 years of teaching experience and 9 of which at the School of St. Mary

 

Mrs. Sarah Rouse

• Bachelor Degree- College of Charleston, SC
• Master of Arts in Teaching- Fontbonne University, MO
• Student taught at Lake Michigan Catholic Elementary in St. Joseph, MI
• 3 years of teaching experience

5th Grade

 

Ms. Katie Darraugh

• Bachelor of Arts in Spanish-University of Virginia
• Master of Teaching in Elementary Education-University of Virginia
• Certification in ESL/Bilingual Education-National Louis University
• Middle School Endorsement
• 6 years of teaching experience

Ms. Martha Stride

• Alum of School of St. Mary
• Graduated with a degree in Elementary Education- High Point University, NC
• Previous taught at Embers Academy in Niles

6th Grade Social Studies and English/6th Grade Homeroom

 

Mrs. Margaret Hogan

• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education-Saint Mary’s College
• She has three children who are Alums of School of St. Mary
• 9 years of teaching experience

6th/7th Grade Science/6th Grade Honors Reading and Vocabulary/6th Grade Homeroom

 

Mrs. Margaret Tazioli

• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Psychology- Barat College
• Endorsements in General Science, Social Science, and Middle School
• Master of Arts in Reading, -Northeastern Illinois University
• Certified Reading Specialist
• Graduate work in Gifted Education
• Certified Catechist
• She has two children who are Alums of School of St. Mary
• 28 years of teaching experience at School of St. Mary

5th through 8th Grade Math/5th, 7th, 8th, Grade STEAM/Athletic Director

 

Dr. Maribeth Carlini

• Bachelor’s Degree from Barat College
• Master’s Degree in Education in Math and Science from the American College of Education
• Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University
• Doctorate in Educational Policy from Illinois State University
• Taught Middle School Math and Science at St. Francis Xavier School in Wilmette, Edgewood Middle School in Highland Park
• Served as the Curriculum Coordinator for the Des Plaines School District #62.
• Worked for the Illinois State Board of Education and taught at the university level at Dominican University and Northeastern Illinois University
• Taught "Teaching Elementary and Middle School Math Methods" while at Dominican University

Middle School Reading, STEAM/7th Grade Homeroom

 

Mrs. Jennifer Bobay

• Bachelor's Degree Education major with an endorsement in science from Indiana University
• Northeastern University and Concordia University coursework towards Educational Leadership
• Has previously taught at: St. Francis Xavier in Wilmette, Attea Middle School, Glenview
  Andersen School, Chicago Northwest Middle School, Chicago St. Matthias School, Chicago
• Success for All Reading Facilitator 

7th/8th Grade Math, 7th/8th Religion, and 6th/7th Social Studies, 8th Grade Homeroom

Ms. Amy Baniewicz

• Bachelor of Arts in History and Bachelor of Science in Math Education
• Three+ years teaching experience at School of St. Mary's

 

8th Grade Science Teacher/8th Grade Reading Honors Teacher/UGC STEAM Facilitator 

 

Mrs. Megan Wittekind

• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University

7th and 8th Grade English, 8th Grade Religion/8th Grade Homeroom

 

Mrs. Mary Pat Fox

• Bachelor of Arts in English Secondary Education - University of Illinois
• Minor in Speech Communication
• Certified Catechist
• 31 years of teaching experience

UGC Learning Resource Specialist

 

Ms. Brittany Nieman

UGC & PGC Physical Education Teacher

 

Mr. Jimmy Knotek

• Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Sports Management - Carthage College
• Teaching certification and degree in Physical Education - North Park University
• Previously worked at Elm Park Middle School
• Football and Baseball Coach at Highland Park High School

UGC Music Teacher

 

Mr. Randy Manges

• Bachelor of Music in Church Music and Organ - Westminster Choir College
• Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts course work - University of Oklahoma
• Kodaly Music Education certificate - Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, WI.
• 17 years of teaching experience

 

UGC Art Teacher

 

Mrs. Tina Moulton

• Bachelor of Arts in Art and Education - Dominican University
• She has one daughter who is an Alumna of the School of St. Mary
• 32 years of teaching experience

PGC and UGC School Nurse

 

Mrs. Cindy Pacewicz

 

PGC and UGC School Social Worker

 

Mrs. Catherine Homan

• Bachelor’s Degree - St. Norbert
• Master of Social Work Degree - Univerysity of Illinois-Chicago
• Previously worked as the Social Worker at Viking Middle School in Gurnee
• Program Assistant/Teacher's Aide at Everett Elementary School