The school year is almost here! This week we were happy to welcome the following new classroom teachers to Bishop O'Connell High School:
Margaret Carroll
Religion
Ms. Carroll comes to O'Connell with a degree from Mount St. Mary's University in Theology, with an emphasis on youth ministry. She is a graduate of Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, and has missionary, camp counseling and youth ministry experience.
Allison Espisito
Expanded Services
Ms. Espisito is a former peer mentor in the Options Program at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax. She holds a master's degree in special education from George Mason University and has teaching experience in the Fairfax County public school system. "My main goal is to support my students in all areas to allow them to become successful adults with bright futures once they graduate high school."
John Gennaro
Math
Mr. Gennaro brings his background in medical research scientist and technical manager to the math classroom. He holds an M.S. in medical biophysics and computing from the University of Utah College of Medicine.
Laura Juarez
Spanish
Mrs. Juarez is a bilingual English/Spanish speaker with a degree in industrial engineering from Monterrey Institute of Technology in Mexico and a foreign language teaching certificate from the University of Virginia. She has been teaching Spanish at St. Joseph in Herndon for more than ten years, and is also active in local and international service programs.
Jennifer Kirschbaum
French
Mrs. Kirschbaum studied French and English at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and holds a master's degree from Indiana University. Previously working in international technical writing and communications, she has recently completed a career switching program and has been serving as a French classroom substitute in the Arlington County public school system.
Kathleen McDermott
English
Mrs. McDermott is a recent graduate of the University of Mary Washington with a degree in English and a minor in German. She has taught in Stafford County English classes and substituted in Loudoun County Public Schools. She also served as a public speaking coach and musical choreographer at Potomac Falls High School and a youth group volunteer at Our Lady of Hope in Potomac Falls, Va.
Christine McGowan
Science
Mrs. McGowan holds a B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, N.J. She previously served as the science department head for a new prep school in North Carolina, where she taught biology, astronomy and physical science, and facilitated the credit recovery program for at-risk students. Ms. McGowan is also the head coach for the Knights rowing team.
James Shirey '07
Social Studies
Mr. Shirey returns to his alma mater to teach social studies. Mr. Shirey is also a talent musician who holds a B.A. in government from Harvard University. He has experience as a classroom teacher across several disciplines, including social studies and music.
Greg Silm
Math
Mr. Silm has been teaching high school math in Ohio and Arizona. A graduate of Hillsdale College in Michigan, he holds a degree in mathematics with a minor in physical education. Mr. Silm is pitching in outside the classroom, serving as an assistant coach for the Knights football program.
Colleen Swaim
English
Mrs. Swaim is a recent transplant to the Washington area. For the past 11 years she has been teaching English, theology and speech in Catholic high schools in Kentucky. She also served as a member of the Covington Diocesan Youth Commission, planning and implementing youth ministry events and education. She has published several books for teens, including Your College Faith: Own It and Ablaze: Stories of Daring Teen Saints. Mrs. Swaim holds a B.A. in English from Catholic University and an M.Ed. from Xavier University.
Dr. Kenneth Tuite
Latin/Social Studies
Dr. Tuite is a former adjunct faculty member in the classics department at the University of Maryland, College Park. He holds a B.A. in history from the University of California at Berkeley, an M.A. in ancient history from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a Ph.D. in classics from the University of Texas at Austin.
John Whittaker
Social Studies
Mr. Whittaker holds a B.A. in political science and an M.A. in theology from the University of Notre Dame. For the past two years he has been teaching and mentoring at a Catholic high school and an alternative high school for at-risk students in South Bend, Ind. Mr. Whittaker has a passion for Catholic education and the formation of the hearts and minds of young people, and has enriched his background with academic travel to Rome, India and Israel.