Dear Friends,
I am pleased to introduce you to the newest members of our staff at Cardinal Newman Academy.
Jessica Pedersen joins us as music instructor. Jessica sings alto in James River Singers and previously was a soloist with the Richmond Choral Society and alto section leader in the choir at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. She has also sung in the Schola at St. Joseph Catholic Church and the University of Richmond Women’s Chorale. Before moving to Virginia, Jessica sang in Idaho with the Boise Baroque Chamber Choir, Opera Idaho and the Boise Master Chorale, and in Arizona with the choir program at Northern Arizona University, where she studied history and music. Jessica and her husband David live in Chesterfield with their three sons.
Kate Lagarde teaches Latin and Invitation to the Pain of Learning. Kate previously taught at Veritas Preparatory School in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Chelsea Academy in Front Royal, Virginia, teaching courses in Latin, Theology, choir, and math, and led an extra-curricular Irish Dance club. Kate graduated summa cum laude, as the salutatorian from Christendom College with a major in philosophy and minor in liturgical music.
Susana Mulcahey teaches French. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s Degree in French and a minor in Portuguese. Susana has also studied Italian, Spanish, and Arabic. She has also studied at the University of Lisbon and the University of Haute Normandie, Mont St. Aignan, France. Susana also has a Master’s Degree in Special Education from North Carolina Central University. Susana has worked in a variety of settings, including French Language immersion, special needs education, Reggio Amelia, Montessori, and English Second Language (ESL).
Maya Walters is our Administrative Assistant. Maya attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and Peninsula Catholic High School. She graduated with a B.A. in History from VCU, where she served as a celebration leader for the Vacation Bible School and a religious education teacher at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Following graduation Maya worked as a classroom assistant at Central Montessori School. She has also spent time volunteering for Sportsbackers Stadium, Hands On Greater Richmond, and as a DJ on WRIR. Maya is also an arboreal climbing assistant at Riverside Outfitters and is the community liaison at Gallery5.
I am humbled to add these excellent individuals to our team at Cardinal Newman Academy, and I hope you have a chance to meet them at one of our upcoming events.
Sincerely,
Eileen Lapington