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Introduction of New Faculty and Staff

JoAnn Kozloski, Associate Principal

I am pleased to introduce and welcome six outstanding faculty and Staff to our school community for the 2008-2009 academic year.  They are dedicated, qualified, and talented professionals who will make a difference in the academic and spiritual lives of our students.  I know they will promote excellence in all that they do to advance Notre Dame High School’s mission.

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

LIBRARIAN
We are pleased to welcome Ms. Claudia Sarconi, former Head Librarian at Ralston Middle School who has been a staunch advocate and proponent of making the Library the hub of student academic activity.  Ms. Sarconi received her B.A. Degree in French and Italian Languages from the University of California, Santa Cruz and her MLIS Degree from San Jose State University.  In addition, she earned her M.A. Degree in International Policy Studies and Mandarin from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.  She has served in both public and private companies managing complex projects including supervising the engineers and translators assigned to the projects.  For a number of years, she lived in Taiwan as the Policy Specialist for the United States Foreign Agricultural Services for the American Institute.   While in Taiwan, she also served as an English as a Foreign Language Teacher instructing adults in conversation, writing, and grammar.  As you might conclude, Ms. Sarconi is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and French.   As Head Librarian, Ms. Sarconi worked closely with faculty and students providing new programs on Library effectiveness and increased student use.   With faculty, she provided curriculum input, made class visits, and designed creative techniques to increase circulation and holdings.  One supervisor noted that Ms. Sarconi “has an amazing work ethic, a great rapport with students, got students to read in a way never done before.”   Another supervisor commented, Claudia comes to you with a great vision and takes great initiative in everything she does.”  Still another supervisor stated that Claudia is a “go-getter, organized, and communication is great!”  Her passion is working with students and teachers in the area of curriculum research as well as providing instructional services in information systems especially for students.  She will work with teachers and Department Chairs to present an Orientation Program for students including research, data retrieval, use of Internet, and access of Library information services to enhance student work.

COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE
Elaine Calamba is the newest member in our Counseling and Guidance Department and will be responsible for academic and personal counseling services for all Freshman and Sophomore students.  She recently served at James Logan High School in Union City providing academic advising, personal counseling, and college/career planning services to ninth grade students.  In addition, she served as the Alcohol and Drug Services Coordinator for the Asian Community Mental Health Services in Oakland.  In this role, she monitored county alcohol and drug contracts to ensure county requirements were met.  Elaine provided alcohol and drug/mental health counseling services to adults, adolescents, and families, and conducted initial assessments, and determined diagnoses, and developed treatment plans for clients.  While serving in this capacity, she collaborated and coordinated services with on-campus and outside school resources.  Ms. Calamba earned her B.A. Degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and her M.S. Degree in Counseling from California State University, Hayward.  Her emphasis in her Master’s Degree program was Marriage and Family Therapy.  She also earned her Pupil Services Credential from San Jose State University with specialization in School Counseling.   Ms. Calamba looks forward to beginning her new venture at Notre Dame and meeting our students and their families.

TEACHERS

MATHEMATICS
We welcome Christina Baker as a full-time teacher in the Mathematics Department where she will teach Algebra I, Geometry, and Honors Geometry.   As an avid student of Mathematics herself , Ms. Baker comes to us from Half Moon Bay High School where she taught a variety of courses in Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and resource Mathematics courses to struggling students.  While there, she also served as co-Chair of the Department.  Ms. Baker earned her B.A. Degree in Social Welfare with an emphasis in Psychology from the University of Madrid, Spain.  She went on to earn her Professional Clear Single Subject Teaching Credential in Foundational Mathematics with CLAD emphasis from San Francisco State University and her M.A. Degree in Secondary Education with emphasis in Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley.  Having spent a year abroad in Spain, she is fluent in Spanish.  She is dedicated to the profession and strives to help all of her students achieve success through their hard work and risk-taking.  She says this about herself, “As a teacher, I choose to educate students not only about content knowledge but also about striving toward achieving goals and learning lifelong skills.  I encourage critical thinking and have a passion for learning.  I value communication and collaboration with other teachers.”  Her assistant principal comments that Ms. Baker “is a treasure to the community and has been a great mentor.”  She is eager to begin the school year in August with all of her new students.

Mr. Larry Friedrich is not new to the NDB Community having taught last fall as our long-term substitute teacher in Physics.  We welcome him back this year full time in the Mathematics Department where he will teach Geometry, Mathematical Statistics, and Introduction to Calculus.  Mr. Friedrich earned his BS Degree in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and his MS Degree in Statistics from California State University, East Bay.  His teaching experience includes Crystal Springs Uplands, Hillsborough, Homestead High School in Sunnyvale, and an instructor for Intel University.  He has also taught at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco. However, as he stated to us, he appreciates a single gender environment particularly noting his positive experience with our students last fall.  His additional subject areas include Honors and Regular Physics, AP Chemistry, Regular Chemistry, and all levels of mathematics.  Larry has a wide and varied background in education and in the corporate technology field.  He was especially vested in teaching and training others in technology while a Program Manager for Intel Corporation.  We are very fortunate to hire someone who is committed to education and respects and enjoys the teaching process.

Ms. Alexis Tamony continues her service to Catholic education having recently come to NDB from De La Salle High School in Concord where she taught Algebra, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, and Trigonometry.  She previously served as the Associate Head Coach in Basketball at Carondelet High School.  While at De La Salle, Ms. Tamony was personally invited to participate in a three-year program in leadership training for future leaders of Lasallian schools.  Ms. Tamony earned her B.S. Degree in Business Administration at the University of California, Berkeley where she also received a full scholarship as a member of the women’s Basketball Team.  She earned her California Single Subject Credential in Mathematics from St. Mary’s College, Moraga.   At Notre Dame, Ms. Tamony will teach Accelerated Algebra I, Honors Algebra II, and Pre-Calculus.  She has had the unique distinction of serving alongside her father at De La Salle High School where he was the Dean of Students and where she was inspired to pursue a career path as a teacher of Mathematics.  Of her many advocates, one in particular comments, “Ms. Tamony’s strength is in understanding the curriculum and in designing and implementing lessons that engage students.  She consistently models concepts, skills, and standards for her students.  She uses a wealth of information from her business world and her coaching experiences to relate content to the high school students.”  Another colleague at De La Salle writes, “The nature of Lexi’s personality is another thing that will help her in continuing to relate to students and her fellow teachers.  I find her to be very genuine and affable person.  Students feel very respected as well as welcomed by her approach to learning in the classroom environment.”  She promises to work hard so that her dual goal of being an excellent Math teacher while participating in the athletic program at NDB this coming fall will be achieved. 

RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Helena Fleig joins the Religious Studies Department and will teach World Religions, Social Justice, Spirituality and Storytelling, and Church History. While at Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, New York, a resident and day High School, she taught American, World, and ESL History.  While at Oakwood, she was also a member of Oakwood’s “Friends Committee” which seeks to nurture the spiritual life of the school community.  In addition, she coached the Junior Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team.   Ms. Fleig received her B.A. Degree with a dual major in History and Religious Studies with a concentration in American Catholic Studies from Fordham University, New York.  She completed her Master of Theological Studies from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts with an emphasis in Christianity and Culture.  While she completed her Master’s degree, she received her Secondary License from Massachusetts to teach History.  For a time, she worked part time at Regis High School in New York as a Campus Ministry Assistant and assisted in the retreat program, liturgy preparation, and Campus Ministry activities.  Her supervisor remarked, “Helena is special; she appreciates the curriculum and is truly engaged in it with her students.  She is very compassionate, caring, and attentive to students.”  Helena is excited to come to Notre Dame High School and become a vital member of our school community.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Peggy Brady
Associate Director for Publications
(650) 595-1913, ext. 245
(click to email)