We would like to congratulate and welcome our new hires for the 2020-2021 school year! We are so excited to have them be a part of our ND community. Maureen Sias will serve as our new Athletic Director. Branson Lawrence will serve in the Science department. Susan Giles '97 will return to ND and serve as the Learning Commons Coordinator. Cheri Dunn '90 (current Learning Commons Coordinator) will now serve in the English department. Marcia Neiman '03 will continue to serve as Registrar in addition to her new role of College Counseling Support. Laura Backer will serve as our new Director of Admissions along with our new Admissions Associate, Jamie Wood '12. Welcome to ND!
Maureen Sias, Athletic Director Maureen Sias is currently the assistant athletic director, director of compliance and head women's basketball coach at Fontbonne University. She previously worked for the Ferguson-Florissant school district and St. Ambrose Catholic School as a middle school English and reading teacher. Maureen earned her Bachelor's degree in English Education from Fontbonne University in 2003 and a Master's in Education from Fontbonne in 2007. She has been in many different leadership roles at many levels of education and is looking forward to serving the Notre Dame community as the Athletic Director. Maureen, her husband Zach, and daughter Shannon are members of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish.
Branson Lawrence, Science Department (Physics) Mr. Lawrence has a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Physics Education. He taught and was a principal for many years outside of Chicago IL — mostly at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. He is a Past-President of the Illinois Association of Chemistry Teachers and a Presidential Science Teacher runner-up. He has authored several journal articles and a chapter on physics and engineering teaching methodology. He moved to St. Louis to be near family.
Susan Giles '97, Learning Commons Coordinator Susan is excited to return to Notre Dame (Class of 1997) and have the opportunity to work with the students as the Learning Commons Coordinator. Susan attended Rockhurst University, where she received a Bachelor's in Elementary Education, and later attended Webster University for her Master's in Reading. For seventeen years, she taught junior high and fourth grade at St. Gabriel the Archangel School, with a focus on English and Literature. Susan lives in St. Gabriel the Archangel parish with her husband, Mark, and two girls, Olivia and Eleanor.
Cheri Dunn '90, English Department Cheri Dunn will be joining the English department. While she enjoyed working in the Commons with students in small group settings, she is looking forward to returning to the classroom. Cheri has previous experiences as both a high school and middle school English teacher. She has a B.A. in English from Mizzou and an M.Ed. from Maryville University with a concentration in English Education. Cheri is excited to teach a variety of classes and to share her love of literature and writing with the students.
Marcia Neiman '03, Registrar & College Counseling Support Marcia Neiman will be joining the Guidance Department to assist as College Counseling Support. Marcia has worked the past 4 years as Notre Dame’s Registrar. She is excited to be adding this new role to her current position. Marcia attended Maryville University, where she received a Bachelor's in Business Administration. Previous experience includes logistics and scheduling for an international corporation.
Laura Backer, Director of Admissions Laura Backer will be joining Notre Dame as the Director of Admissions. She has spent her entire career in Higher Education, most recently as the Associate Director of Student Engagement at Missouri State University overseeing student organizations, leadership programs and fraternity and sorority life. Laura is a native Texan who received her Bachelor’s degree from Lamar University and her Master’s degree from Baylor University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Missouri. Laura is relocating to St. Louis with her husband (Steve), 6-month-old daughter (Allison), and 10-year-old pug (Molli). She is looking forward to welcoming new students into the Notre Dame family!
Jamie Wood '12, Admissions Associate Jamie Wood is so excited to be returning to Notre Dame High School in Admissions. As a 2012 NDHS alum, Jamie comes from a long family history of ND alumnae. Jamie holds a Bachelors Degree from Southeast Missouri State University with an emphasis in Marketing Management. Jamie has spent the past five years in management. Jamie and her husband Curt reside in Fenton. In her new role, Jamie is eager to support future Rebels in learning about the mission of Notre Dame High School that shaped her.