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| Junior Kindergarten |
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Shelly Cooper |
Preschool Director |
Shelly has been teaching at St. Francis Xavier School since 2003. Prior to that she taught at St. Thomas the Apostle where she taught first grade and sixth grade. Shelly attended ASU and NAU where she has earned degrees in Special Ed/ Reg ED, a Masters in Elementary Education with a reading endorsement and a Masters in Educational Leadership. She has three children, a granddaughter, and three dogs. |
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Julie Hartman |
Junior Kindergarten Teacher |
Mrs. Hartman also comes to us from Crossroads Preschool and has three children here at St. Francis Xavier. She has five years of preschool teaching experience and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Psychology. |
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Amy Quintel |
PreKindergarten
Teacher |
Mrs. Quintel comes to St. Francis Xavier Preschool from Crossroads Preschool. She has over 3 years of preschool teaching experience as well as experience teaching kindergarten and 1st grade. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development and has three children enrolled at SFX. |
| Kindergarten |
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Bridget Martin |
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Bridget Martin started teaching at St. Francis Xavier in 2004 and has had two sons graduate from St. Francis. They join her husband as alumni of SFX, and her daughter currently attends the school. Bridget, a Phoenix native, graduated from St. Mary's Elementary and High Schools and attended Arizona State University where she earned a B.A.E. in English and Education. She has an endorsement in Early Childhood Education and is currently working on a Masters in Reading. Bridget is a Co-Leader of Junior Girl Scout Troop 1061 and is actively involved with her family and the parish. |
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Kate Wyshyvanuk |
Kindergarten KB |
Kate is from Lockport, NY. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Mercyhurst College, a Masters in Early Childhood from NAU, and an AZ Reading Endorsement. She has taught at St. Francis Xavier School since 1994. She has also taught at St. Jerome School and Phoenix College. Kate enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. |
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Kim Wilmer |
Kindergarten KC |
Kim Wilmer has taught at St. Francis since 2001. She is a University of Arizona graduate, with a BA in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Kim is an enthusiastic teacher who brings 22 years of teaching experience to the classroom. |
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Kindergarten Instructional Assistant |
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| Grade 1 - 3 |
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Sylvia Avery |
First Grade
Room 1A |
Sylvia Avery graduated from ASU with a BA in Education. She also has endorsements in Math, Reading, and Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Avery has one child who is a St. Francis Xavier graduate and is happily married. She has been teaching for 30 years, 16 of them have been spent with us at St. Francis. |
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Zoe Cavnar-Lewandowski |
First Grade
Room 1A
Instructional Assistant |
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Joyce Raglow |
First Grade
Room 1B |
Joyce Raglow has been teaching first grade at St. Francis since 2005. Prior to this she taught at Northern Pioneer Community College on the Apache Reservation. Joyce also worked in State Department school overseas for ten years and was able to travel extensively in Southeast Asia. She graduated from Salisbury State University in Maryland with a BS in Elementary Education and the University of Arizona with a MA-ESL with a music endorsement. Mrs. Raglow has three children, the oldest two are graduates of Xavier and Brophy. |
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First Grade Room 1B Instructional Assistant |
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Donna Sundberg |
Second Grade Room 2A |
Donna Sundberg graduated from ASU with a BA in Elementary Education and has taught preschool, primary, middle school, and junior high. The Dallas Cowboys are her favorite team and she thinks second grade is wonderful. Her two sons graduated from SFX-and now three of six grandchildren are attending SFX. Donna enjoys reading, working on her computer and walking the beach in San Diego. |
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Patty Hassett |
Second Grade Room 2B |
Patty started teaching second grade at St. Francis Xavier School in 1987. She moved from New Orleans and attended ASU - receiving her BA in Elementary Education. She was married in St. Francis Xavier Church - and all five of her children were Baptized here. She loves teaching with her good friend, Donna Sundberg, and having six of her nine grandchildren here at school. Patty likes to cook, read, and spend time with her husband, Jerry. She says, " Second Graders are the Greatest! |
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Kelley Perry |
Third Grade
Room 3A |
Kelley Perry has taught at St. Francis Xavier School since 2005. Prior to teaching at St. Francis, she taught at St. Vincent de Paul. Kelley attended the University of Arizona where she earned her degree in liberal arts and education. Kelley also attended St. Theresa Catholic School and Xavier College Preparatory. Kelley says: “I am a full time soccer mom outside of school. Our family loves road trips to the mountains and hanging out at the beach. I enjoy hiking and spending time with my boys and family." |
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Megan Connell |
Third Grade
Room 3B |
Megan is an Arizona native. As a child, she attended Sts. Simon and Jude school K through 8. She attended Arizona State University where she received her bachelor's degree in elementary education and has been teaching since 1997. Megan and her husband, Karl, have a son, Harrison, who attends St. Francis Xavier and very recently adopted a beautiful little girl from China. Her name is Olivia. Megan says: "I love spending time with my entire family (The whole clan). We enjoy hanging out, going out to dinner, movies and all the "kid" activities. My family loves to travel and take road trips. Most people are surprised when I tell them that I am a huge Elvis Presley fan." |
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Gizelle Varga |
3rd Grade Instructional Assistant |
Gizelle was born in Europe and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio after coming to the United States. She attended college at Notre Dame University, receiving her B.A. in Education, majoring in German and History. After teaching high school for ten years she helped manage her husbands business complex. She taught first grade catechesis classes at St. Francis Xavier Parish for nine years and was the aide for the 1A classroom for several years. |
| Grade 4 - 6 |
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Rita Patton |
Fourth Grade Room 4A |
Rita Patton has a long history at St. Francis. She spent her elementary school years here and has been teaching third and fourth graders since 1993. Rita graduated from Arizona State University and enjoys spending time with her husband, three sons, and five grandchildren. |
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Nancy Grucky |
Fourth Grade Room 4B |
Nancy Grucky started teaching at St. Francis Xavier School in 1983. In 1987 she started her family and stayed home raising her three children until 1995 when she came back to continue her career at St. Francis. Nancy attended Gonzaga University where she earned degrees in biology and elementary education. She also has a Masters in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. Nancy is an Arizona native as are her grandmother and father. Nancy has been involved in the Jesuit community for many years as she attended Xavier College Preparatory and her husband attended Brophy College Preparatory. Nancy enjoys quilting and LOVES Mexican food. |
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Ann Celoza |
Fourth Grade Instructional Assistant |
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Anne Sanford
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Fifth Grade
Room 5A |
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Betty Caldwell |
Fifth Grade
Room 5B |
Betty has been teaching at St. Francis Xavier School since 1986. Prior to that she taught at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glendale. Betty attended Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University and has a BS degree in Biology and Elementary Education. She teaches fifth grade Math, Science, and Religion. Betty likes needlework, reading, playing with her grandchildren and listening to country music. Both of her children graduated from Brophy and Xavier. Says Betty: “I teach fifth grade because they are the best kids on the whole campus. I grew up in Winslow, Arizona, and yes I have stood on “the corner”. |
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Hayley Medeiros
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Sixth Grade
Room 6A |
Hayley Medeiros is an English teacher and librarian who began teaching in the Diocese of Phoenix in 1994. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from ASU, UC Berkeley, and IU Bloomington. Ms. Medeiros teaches 6th grade Language Arts and Religion to grades 6 and 7. She is passionate about Catholic education and greatly values the Jesuit charism at St. Francis Xavier School.
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Cindy
Fernandez |
Sixth Grade
Room 6B |
Cindy Fernandez brings 17 years of teaching experience, at all levels, to St. Francis. She earned her Bachelor of Science in EEE (Ecology, Ethnology and Evolution) from the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana and earned her Master of Science in Zoology from Arizona State University. Her Master’s thesis concerned the small mammal populations (mice, voles, chipmunks) on the Mogollon Rim. Cindy’s hobbies include reading science fiction, making jewelry and greeting cards. She especially enjoys heading to Starbucks every morning for coffee and crossword puzzles.
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| Junior High School (7 - 8) |
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Linda Korwald |
Seventh Grade Room 7A |
Mrs. Korwald joined the St. Francis Xavier faculty in 2008. She has a BS in Computer Science and a BA in Elementary Education from the Catholic University of Great Falls, Montana. Mrs. Korwald has also taught 4th grade and 7th/8th grade math and science in other Diocesan Schools. Mrs. Korwald has served as a president of the St. Benedicts Parish Council and is a Eucharist Minister and an RE teacher. Mrs. Korwald loves traveling, photography, and reading. She and her husband have wonderful toddler, Joshua -Jak, and a baby girl – Elizabeth Anona Rose. |
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Carrie Shanahan |
Seventh Grade Room 7B |
Carrie Shanahan has taught in the Diocese of Phoenix since 1993 and truly enjoys being a part of the St. Francis Xavier Community. Ms. Shanahan’s B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and Master’s in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management shape her desire to help the kids begin to understand the world in which they will be taking their place. Ms. Shanahan holds certification in middle school and secondary education through ASU’s Post-Baccalaureate program. A part-time NAU faculty member, Ms. Shanahan also teaches courses in Social Studies Methods and Middle School Instruction. In her quest for statewide harmony, she is trying to come up with some kind of connection to the U of A, although there isn’t one yet. She has organized and facilitated a professional development program for Diocesan teachers and is a past presenter at Diocesan in-services. Ms. Shanahan is a grateful and proud participant in the Bearing Witness program which the Diocese co-sponsors with the Anti-Defamation League; she has traveled to Poland and Israel with study groups as part of the Bearing Witness community. She is a proud aunt to three wonderful nieces and a fabulous nephew, and one of her very favorite activities is reading Roxaboxen with them.
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Dan Long |
Eighth Grade Room 8C |
Mr. Dan Long - 6th grade World History and 7th/8th grade Religion. Prior to joining the St. Francis community in 2010, Mr. Long spent two years teaching US History at Magnet Traditional School in Phoenix, Arizona. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a BA in History, Mr. Long earned his M.Ed in Secondary Education from Arizona State University, and is currently pursuing a second Master’s Degree in Leadership and Administration. In addition to coaching junior high sports, Mr. Long is also involved in the Arrupe Project, a service-based program for junior high students. In his spare time, Mr. Long enjoys playing sports, surfing and playing guitar. |
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Lynne O'Keeffe |
Eighth Grade Room 8A |
Lynne O’Keeffe joined the St. Francis Xavier faculty in 2006. Lynne attended Moorehead University in Moorhead, MN and the University of MN and the University of ND. Lynne has a B.A. in Education with a focus in math and technology. Lynne is currently the Student Council Advisor. Lynne and Carrie Shanahan teach a course for teachers for the Diocese called Powerful Teaching and Learning. Lynne has two grandchildren whom she loves spending time with and she loves to read and travel. |
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Anna Gould |
Eighth Grade Room 8B |
Anna Gould joined the St. Francis Xavier faculty in 2009 coming from OLPH Glendale. She is a native of Tucson. Mrs. Gould graduated from ASU with a BA and MA. Mrs. Gould has been married for 12 years and is the mother of Bud and Emma-June. Mrs. Gould has been teaching since 1995 and loves every minute of it. She loves to read and spend time with her family. |
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Deborah Westerfield
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Eighth Grade Religion
Campus
Ministry
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Deborah Westerfield is the Campus Minister and 8th grade religion teacher. In addition she acts as the moderator of the Magis Committee, SFX’s campus ministry team whose mission is to care for the soul of the school. Deborah graduated from ASU with a B.S. in Accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant who left a long and successful career in finance because she felt God was calling her to teach. She has a post-baccalaureate degree in secondary education from the University of Phoenix and a Masters in theology with an emphasis on religious education from Loyola University of New Orleans. She completed a seven-year course on the Scripture from Bible Study Fellowship International and has attended numerous retreats and workshops on Jesuit education and Ignatian spirituality. One of her favorite units to teach is on the Society of Jesus where her students learn about the history of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Ignatian Spirituality, and Jesuit: training, education, ministry and hierarchy. |
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