Dear St. Monica School Families,

As you probably heard in the news lately our nation faces a significant teacher shortage. In a recent article the Washington Post estimated that about 80% of the nation’s schools still have openings as the school year is about to begin. Many states, including Illinois, have started making exceptions about licensing and credentials to make sure every classroom has someone to lead it. Another recent news report highlighted a small Catholic school in Iowa that, having only a single licensed teacher under contract, closed just a few weeks before school was set to begin.

Today, I am happy to share that we are fully staffed for the upcoming school year. I have felt truly blessed every day since I started in July as our faculty and staff has stepped up to say YES over and over again. In keeping with our back-to-school traditions you will find classroom assignments posted on the school doors beginning at 3:00 pm today.  I thought I would take this opportunity to share who will be teaching with us this school year.

Our new staff members

In first grade we welcome Ms. Kate Osowski. She comes to us as a recent graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development. She has teaching experience in both first and second grade.

In second grade we welcome Mrs. Angela Engquist. She comes to us from the Glencoe school district with a background in second grade and a focus in small group interventions.

In fifth grade we welcome Mr. Nic Adamo. A St. Monica Academy alumnus, he comes back to us as a recent graduate of Carthage College in Wisconsin. He has practical experience teaching at the high school level and 4^th grade.

In seventh grade we welcome Ms. Veronica Mellado. Ms. Mellado comes to us recently having finished her master’s degree in elementary education from Northern Illinois University. She also has an endorsement in bilingual education. Ms. Mellado will be teaching English Language arts and religion in our junior high.

Many of our returning staff members have also answered the call in these difficult times, saying yes to taking on new and additional roles to support our wonderful students!

• Ms. Gina Gamboa, a long-time aid in our preschool, will be teaching in one of our four-year-old preschool classes.
• Mrs. Nicole Petraco has moved from preschool and will be teaching in one of our kindergarten classes.
• Mrs. Courtney Wilwers has moved from fifth grade and will be teaching fourth grade
• Mr. Gasienica will be a sixth-grade homeroom teacher as well as teaching social studies in the junior high. He will also continue his role with athletics and as our physical education instructor.
• Ms. Lisa Curtain is returning to us to teach seventh and eighth grade religion.
• Mrs. Ronchi has taken on junior high math in addition to her science classes.

My phone dings with text messages all day long as principals around the Archdiocese continue to ask each other for support with positions that are still open. Some schools are being creative and sharing teachers for essential roles in math and reading. Others have done away with specials classes as those teachers move full time into classrooms. Some unfortunately are still seeking teachers.

Because we have a phenomenal staff who show their love and care for our students through every action, we are beginning the school year in a very good place. Please share the good news about St. Monica Academy with your family, friends, and neighbors so we can continue to grow and serve others in Christ’s name. Please also keep the YES in mind as we come back together. Our Blessed Mother is a wonderful model in trusting and saying yes! I know that God has blessed our community. As we come back together say yes to opportunities to support one another. Say yes to supporting your child’s teacher so they can in turn support your child every day. Say yes to each other as families and children seek friendship for the new school year. From the very beginning of creation God created us to be together, to be partners and friends. I ask that we remember we are made for each other by our Creator and keep yes in our hearts and heads as we start a Christ centered joy-filled school year.

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at Family Pick-Up Day!

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