“Our middle school teachers have a genuine interest and respect for their students. They are willing and capable of implementing the innovative curriculum that is taught at both our Holy Family and Harper campuses. Unlike other school settings, our teachers include both Holy Family Academy teachers as well as adjunct Harper faculty. All are experienced in addressing the emotional, cognitive and social needs of adolescent students and have extensive experience and content knowledge in specific subject matters.
Our teachers receive ongoing “best practices” teacher
training, mentoring and coaching from Curriculum Consultant, Dr.
Emily Alford, Ed D. I am very proud to work
with such amazing middle school teachers!”
Dr. Gretchen Ludwig
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6th Grade Teacher -- Mrs.
Roberta Muran has previously taught 5th Grade at
another area Catholic school. Mrs. Muran has an endorsement
in middle school instruction and is the Academy's lead middle
school instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Business Degree
from Western, Illinois and a Master of Arts in Teaching from
National Louis University. She brings experience to the Academy
in developing programs in science, outdoor education, service
projects, and drama in addition to classroom instruction responsibilities.
Mrs. Muran is an accomplished musician who is involved in
the music ministry program at her home parish of St. Francis
de Sales where she has been a member for over 20 years. |
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6th Grade Teacher Assistant
-- Mrs. Pam Gannon graduated from Western
Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Elementary Education. She has dedicated her entire teaching
career to Catholic elementary education primarily focusing
in grades 4-6. Mrs. Gannon has also been active in outdoor
education programs and is a Eucharistic Minister. |
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7th Grade Teacher -- Mrs. Eileen Paparone graduated
from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree
in Secondary English Education. She is certified to teach 6th
through 12th grade Language Arts, Reading and Social Studies.
Mrs. Paparone previously taught at Joseph Academy, a therapeutic
day school for students with severe behavioral disorders. She
has also been a catechist for her local parish, Girl Scout troop
leader to her three daughters and Pre School Camp Counselor
for the Lake Zurich Parks Department. |
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7th Grade Teacher -- Mrs. Lisa Lancaster has
spent most of her teaching career in the Catholic schools. She
holds an Elementary Education Degree from The University of
Wisconsin – Madison and a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction
and Science Education from National Louis University. Mrs. Lancaster
has taught 1st and 4th grade a Chicago Catholic school, and
7th grade at Saints Faith Hope and Charity School in Winnetka.
She also worked as a middle school resource teacher at Westminster
Christian School in Elgin. Mrs. Lancaster has taught Sunday
school at her parish. She has always been very involved with
volunteer activities with her 3 children. |
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“Researchers have discovered that a school’s deepest influence on learning depends on the quality of the teacher. Students lucky enough to have teachers who know their content and how to teach it well achieve more. And the effects of a very good (or poor) teacher last beyond a single year, influencing a student’s learning for years.”
TIME Magazine, February, 25 ,2008 |
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8th Grade Teacher
-- Mrs. Elaina Portugal graduated with a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Northeastern
Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois. She also holds
a Master of Science Degree from National-Lewis University
with endorsements in science, language arts, social studies
and middle school teaching. Mrs. Portugal has taught in
local area public schools in grades 3-6, spending the majority
of her career teaching eight grade. |
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8th Grade Teacher Assistant
-- Mrs. Mary Scott has a Bachelor of Science Degree
in Accounting from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI and
a Master of Business from Indiana University Kelley School
of Business - Emphasis in Finance. She is a Certified Public
Accountant, and after 20+ years in Public Accounting and
Consulting, Mrs. Scott earned a Master of Arts in Teaching
- National-Louis University - Secondary Education - Mathematics.
She has endorsements in Middle School Education, Mathematics,
Business, Marketing, and Computer Education. She is a member
of National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and a member
of National Middle School Association. She has taught religious
education for 15 years and founded the St. James School Chess
Club. |
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Middle School Religious Education Instructor -- Mrs. Debbie Larson holds
a Bachelor of Science Degree from Illinois State University
and a Masters Degree in Special Education from Northeastern
University. Mrs. Larson has over 20 years of teaching experience
with the majority of that experience devoted to middle school
education. Mrs. Larson also
brings to the Academy prior experience as a high school English
teacher and librarian, which is very beneficial in preparing
our middle school students for the rigors of high school. Mrs.
Larson is active in her parish and is a Eucharistic Minister. |
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Middle School Science Instructor at
Harper College -- Mrs. Deb Short received a Bachelor
of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University,
and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University
of Virginia, with an emphasis in Rehabilitation Engineering.
After working in the engineering field for a number of years
and raising three children, Mrs. Short went into teaching
over 10 years ago. She taught foundational courses
in physics and chemistry, and math at the Covenant School,
a non-denominational PK-12 school in Charlottesville, Virginia. Mrs.
Short formed a Habitat for Humanity Club at the school, and
received a grant in 2008 for a service-learning initiative
involving Habitat and courses in Science and Spanish. She
and her husband are members of Holy Family, and involved in
the music ministry. |
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Middle School Spanish Instructor at
Harper College -- Mrs.
Jan Bahr graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Secondary
Education from Northeastern Il Univ., majoring in Spanish. She
holds certificates in both Elementary and Secondary Spanish
and has completed work for a Middle School endorsement. Mrs.
Bahr has taught in both parochial and public schools and most
recently taught Spanish in Des Plaines Elementary School Dist
62 for 23 years, 11 years at the in middle school level. |
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Middle School Math Instructor at Harper
College -- Mr. Mike Henry has a Bachelor in Science
degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs,
Colorado and a Master of Business Administration Degree from
Harvard University. In addition to teaching at Harper College,
Mr. Henry has also taught at the University of Maryland and
National Louis University. Mr. Henry is the husband of Jeanne
Henry, HFCA 1st Grade Teacher. |
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