News from Mrs. Lester

Dear Elyria Catholic High School Community,

Elyria Catholic students were greeted by a number of new faces on faculty and staff this year! Please welcome the following to the EC family:
 
Ms. Ruth Farmakidis: Social Studies Teacher
Ms. Farmakidis earned her Bachelor’s Degree in History and Integrated Social Studies and her Master’s Degree in Middle and Secondary Grades and Social Studies Content. Ms. Farmakidis has taught social studies in Cabarrus County Schools, North Carolina, and at Canton McKinley Senior High School. In Cabarrus County Schools, Ms. Farmakidis helped transition a school to STEM by implementing a problem-based learning approach. Ms. Farmakidis also assumes the role of our girls’ tennis coach.
 
Mr. Brian Fox: Teacher Aide
Coach Fox, as students call him, graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in Pre-Physical Therapy with a minor in Athletic Coaching. His Master’s Degree is from American Public University in Sport and Health Sciences. Coach Fox was the offensive skill coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at Illinois College and the pass game coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and strength and conditioning coordinator at Heidelberg University. While at Heidelberg, Coach Fox helped student athletes develop their academic game plans through assistance with organization and time management. At EC, Coach Fox is also the football coach and strength and conditioning coach.
 
Ms. Allison Harbart: Math Teacher
Ms. Harbart graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Mathematics. Ms. Harbart completed her student teaching experience at Slippery Rock High School where she used real-world examples to show mathematics in everyday problems. While in graduate school, Ms. Harbart served as a graduate assistant in women’s soccer.
 
Mrs. Lisa Koch: Intervention Specialist
Mrs. Koch recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education from Ursuline College and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Lynn University in Behavioral Sciences. During the 2017-18 school year, Mrs. Koch was a student teacher at Elyria Catholic with Mrs. Watkins in the fall and at Oakwood Elementary in the spring. Prior to last school year, Mrs. Koch was a testing coordinator and instructional aide at St. Jude School. In addition to her responsibilities as intervention specialist, Mrs. Koch will also be the Department Chairperson.
 
Mr. Thomas Kronholz: Theology Teacher
Mr. Kronholz earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano from Baldwin Wallace College, a Master’s Degree in Piano from the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University, a Master’s Degree in Systematic Theology from Notre Dame Graduate School at Christendom College, and a Doctorate in Piano from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Mr. Kronholz has taught piano at the University of Illinois and Baldwin Wallace University. Most recently, Mr. Kronholz taught Theology at The High School of St. Thomas More in Champaign. While at St. Thomas More, Mr. Kronholz created the curriculum for sophomore theology and assisted in developing the curriculum for senior theology, focusing on the integration of faith and reason. Mr. Kronholz also arranged, composed, and prepared liturgical music with the student choir.
 
Ms. Grace Latham: Intervention Specialist
Ms. Latham graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Mount Union and completed her student teaching at Rockhill Elementary School in Alliance. While student teaching, Ms. Latham frequently differentiated lessons. She also collected and analyzed student data. In addition to her studies, Grace ran track and cross country for the University of Mount Union. She is assisting with our cross country team.
Ms. Molli Machovina: Administrative Assistant
Ms. Machovina graduated from Ashland University and worked for a number of years in the Amherst School District as a tutor. Prior to working at Elyria Catholic, Ms. Machovina worked at St. Mary School in Elyria as a Language Arts teacher. At Elyria Catholic, Ms. Machovina worked as a librarian and a tutor prior to her role as an administrative assistant in the main office.  Ms. Machovina is a 2000 graduate of Elyria Catholic.
 
Despite the heat of the first day of school, the seventieth year of school is off to a great start! We give special thanks to Father Jim Cosgrove for his message to our youth to be the heroes of the Truth in our troubled world. We appreciate the many notes, emails and comments about the culture of our school and the dedication of our faculty and staff. Thank you for entrusting your children to our care!

In Christ's Service,
Suzanne Lester
Principal