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Middle School Faculty and Staff

“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. and Mrs.Julie Hoeper, Curriculum Resource Support. I am very proud to work with such amazing middle school teachers!”

                        
Dr. Gretchen Ludwig

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.
6th Grade Teacher Assistant -- Miss Lindsay Lazarus holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration with minors in Marketing and  Human Resources, from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois and a Teaching Certificate from Roosevelt University. Miss Lazarus is in the process of completing her Masters Degree in  Secondary Education with emphasis in Business and Math also at Roosevelt University.

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.
 
“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 
 
8th Grade Teacher -- 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 at another area Catholic school.  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.

8th Grade Teacher -- Mrs. Bett Canning holds a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University and a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee. Mrs. Canning worked for several years at another area Catholic school where her teaching experience was entirely devoted to middle school education. She also has drama experience and choreographed and taught dance numbers for school musicals. Mrs. Canning was responsible for initiating a reading partnership between her middle school students and the seniors in her parish. With her help, we have begun piloting a similar book club at Holy Family. Mrs. Canning is active in her parish “Gift of Love” program and Meals on Wheels.

 

Middle School Religious Education Instructor -- Mrs. Lynn Goodman graduated from Nazareth College in Nazareth, Michigan with a double major in social studies and education and a minor in Bible studies. She has also completed two years in Notre Dame’s summer school program in American history. Mrs. Goodman’s career in the Chicago Archdiocesan schools has spanned over 40 years. She has devoted her teaching almost exclusively to middle school students.

 

 

 

 

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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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Middle School Science Instructor at Harper College -- Mrs. Rachel Wiegman graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-9) with additional endorsements in Language Arts and Sciences.  In addition to her teaching experience, Mrs. Wiegman has served on a variety of curriculum writing committees, piloted and implemented a push-in model for special education, and served as a mentor to both student teachers and new teachers in the district.
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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, Harper College Campus -- Mrs. Kelly Witt  graduated from Walden University with a Masters Degree in Middle Level Curriculum and Instruction. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Illinois State University. She taught seventh grade math at Wauconda Middle School where she also co-developed and implemented summer school curriculum. She is certified in CRISS (Creating Independence through Student owned Strategies).
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Middle School Technology Instructor, Harper College Campus -- Mr. Chad Mitzel  graduated from DePaul University with a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He teaches Curriculum Development and Instruction at Harper College, training students in beginning and advanced programming and preparing them for professional certification. Mr. Mitzel has also taught various computer classes in Harper's In Zone program, for children 11-14 years of age. As part of Harper's administrative team, Chad researches and plans new continuing education classes involving database/system administration, programming, security, networking, hardware support, Web development, and emerging technologies. His corporate career includes experience as a programmer/analyst and software engineer at Boise Office Solutions and Motorola.

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