WWW.STFRANCISDESALES.NET - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the St. Francis De Sales Parish
- Voting Board Member
April has been a member of the St. Francis de Sales Parish and Holy Redeemer community for as long as she can remember. April's Father, Don Meilhammer was in the first 1st grade class when St. Francis de Sales opened, and he graduated from SFdS. April attended from first through eight grade and graduated in 1984. Her daughter, Stephanie spent K-8 at St. Francis, graduating in 2016 and her son, Donovan attended K-8, and graduated from SFdS in 2019. April was extremely active while her children were attending our school. She served as HSA President for three years and HSA Vice-President for two years. She chaired the annual auction, Trunk or Treat, Reading Carnival, and numerous Halloween dances and other events. She was classroom Mom for both children through their entire time at St. Francis, and also served as co-leader for Girl Scouts for her daughter's troop throughout her time at St. Francis. She even served as a substitute teacher for a few years.
April graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Salisbury University. She now works for Draper Media as a radio host. She is the morning show host on 107.1 The Duck (6-10am) and midday host for Coast Country 103.9 & 106.3 (10am-3pm). You may also see her from time to time as a substitute co-host on Delmarva Life or as a guest on the show. She is a big supporter of the Humane Society of Wicomico County, and features adoptable pets on her show every week. April has just written her first children's book, and is in the process of having it published. She spends her spare time with her family enjoying the beach, traveling, taking daily walks, and hosting parties, game nights and cookouts.
St. Francis de Sales has always held a special place in her heart, and she is honored to be a part of the board.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Teacher My Webpage
Casey Flanagan is the Pre-Kindergarten 3-year old teacher. She teaches the main academics and basic religion to pre-k3 students. She has three years of experience in teaching at St. Francis. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Salisbury University and an Associate Degree of Elementary Education from Wor-Wic Community College.
Miss Flanagan has been with SFdS for 10 years and served as our previous assistant director for the aftercare program. Miss Flanagan is excited to be teaching at her home school as she too was once a young penguin and attended SFDS. She is happy to be able to give back a little of what she received as a student when she was younger.
Miss Flanagan teaches through play. Teaching through play allows students to become social and learn the academic skills that are needed to enter Pre-Kindergarten 4-year old. Her goals in the classroom are to have the students become familiar with a school setting, learn to play and socialize with others, and learn the basic colors, numbers, and names.
Miss Flanagan's philosophy in the classroom is to have fun while learning and to show love for one another in multiple ways. When you step inside her classroom you will witness this philosophy in her students.
Miss Flanagan is an active parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. She serves as the volunteer coordinator for the Appalachia Service Project group and she is active with youth ministry. Miss Flanagan can think of no other place she would like to work, "being able to teach at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School allows me to share my faith through service and love."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Christine Chamberlin Reading Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Dawit Demissie was born and raised in Salisbury and is a proud SFDS Alum, Class of 2002. He currently is working as a Pediatrician at Eastern Shore Pediatrics. What Dawit loves most about his time at St. Francis was the strong sense of community that exists, and his closest and dearest friends today are his classmates from that time. Dawit hopes to continue to foster and grow the St. Francis community during his time as a member on the board and eagerly awaits the opportunity to send his own children to St. Francis one day. Outside of work, Dawit enjoys traveling with his wife Olivia, doing home renovations, and loves watching and playing soccer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Board Member ( Non - Voting )
- Debra Traum Principal
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Sixth & Seventh Grade English & Resource Assistant My Webpage
I am very excited to be a part of St. Francis de Sales Catholic School. As an educator for over 40 years, I strongly believe in high academic standards, a rigorous curriculum, a safe and structured learning environment, and strong moral/character development - which St. Francis de Sales School provides. My education experiences include 10 years as an Associate Professor in the College of Education at the University of Montevallo, 27 years with the Department of Defense Education Activity where I served as Principal, Assistant Principal, Director of Special Education, and special education teacher, 4 years teaching Title I Reading and as a Reading Specialist in Oklahoma, and I year at Brandywine Consortium in Delaware. I hold a B.S.E. from Oklahoma Christian College, a M. Ed. From Central State University and a Ph.D. in Reading Education from the University of Oklahoma.
I see myself as a facilitator of learning where lessons are engaging and tailored to each student's needs and abilities. I believe the teacher must create a classroom atmosphere that is focused on and conducive to learning. The teacher must consistently model appropriate behavior and speech. Being respectful of all students and expecting students to respect themselves and others is vital. I look forward to partnering with parents and fellow educators in making this a very successful school year for our students.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Coordinator of the Graduate Writing Center
- Voting Board Member
Dr. Kelsie Endicott is the Coordinator of the Graduate Writing Center (GWC) at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), a lifelong member of St. Francis de Sales parish, an SFDS school alum, wife to Shane Endicott, and mother to Owen and Levi Endicott. Professionally, she has worked in higher education across institutions as a writing tutor for over ten years and as an English instructor for four years. Currently, she directs the GWC at UMES and teaches English 101, in addition to serving as vice-treasurer of the Mid-Atlantic Writing Center Association (MAWCA).Dr. Endicott loves all things writing and helping people reach their writing goals. She is deeply committed to writer-centered pedagogical approaches to writing, and as such, her approach to tutoring is individualized and instruction-based. Ultimately, her goal for writers after using the GWC is for them to feel empowered and knowledgeable enough to complete their writing projects independently in addition to being prepared for the writing that is required in their professions. While she is passionate about providing and advocating for effective writing instruction, she also deeply values her Catholic faith, and strives to anchor her life to its teachings and to continue to grow in her faith journey. When she is not working, Dr. Endicott enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing at the beach, traveling, going to music festivals, reading, writing, and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Professor at Salisbury University
Welcome to 3rd grade at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School! My name is Tina Dayton-Ludwick, and my students call me Mrs. Ludwick. I am so excited to meet your children and begin teaching here!
I have been an educator for 26 years. My experience ranges from preschool teacher to university instructor. I have spent the past six years teaching in a private preschool, and before that I worked many years as a full-time private tutor.
I have a master's degree in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College, and my bachelor's degree is in English Literature from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. I have also completed graduate-level coursework in education with the intent of completing a second master's, and I have expertise in several research-based reading programs.
I am married to Dr. Kurt Ludwick, a math professor at Salisbury University, and we have one child, Ruby, who is in the 7th grade here at St. Francis. Ruby has attended St. Francis since the 1st grade, and I am delighted that she loves this school so much she calls her class her "second family."
In my free time, I love reading books and listening to them on Audible, writing poetry, drinking café Americanos, watching shows on Netflix, walking, playing with our spoiled dogs, and going to the gym.
Third grade is going to be amazing! Since this is my first year at St. Francis, I might need some patience as I settle in, but I can assure you that your children will learn so much this year! Please don't hesitate to contact me at: tludwick@sfdscs.org
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Ray was born in Charleston, S.C. and raised on the eastern shore of Maryland in Caroline
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Eve Gaskill has been a parishioner at St. Francis de Sales Church for about 37 years and has been a(n) Eucharistic Minister for about 20. She graduated from UMBC with a bachelor's degree in Information Systems Management. As a parent of three, she was actively involved with St. Francis de Sales School for 17 years as a parent, coach, classroom volunteer, Teacher's Aide, and substitute teacher.
Mrs. Gaskill lives in Salisbury with her husband of 38 years Gary. Currently, they have been blessed with 6 grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Gen Chamberlain Academic Resource Teacher
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Assistant at SFdS
- Irene Cook Educational Assistant My Webpage
Irene Cook is an educational assistant at SFdS. She has 19 years of experience and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Salisbury University.
She has worked at SFdS for 19 years and uses her role in the classroom to support the teacher's goals and objectives for each child. The students benefit from having two adults in the classroom and get additional attention to help them reach or exceed their individual goals.
Irene is an alumnus of St. Francis. She joined the SFdS staff after her children started attending the school. She finds great joy and fulfillment from watching the students learn a new skill, sharing a joke or great family story. She loves that each new day is an adventure!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Ivan Rosas is a dedicated professional and former SFDS Alumnus. Ivan's journey began when his family arrived in Salisbury from Mexico, where he seized the opportunity to attend SFDS through a scholarship program. Currently, he is a seasoned bi-lingual insurance agent for Wilgus Insurance Agency. Beyond the demands of his professional life, Ivan finds joy spending time with loved ones and traveling. A true enthusiast for the game of soccer, he also coaches the boys' soccer team at Wicomico High School and Salisbury United S.C. Whether he's on the field playing with passion or coaching the next generation of players, soccer remains a constant source of inspiration and fulfillment in his life. Ivan embodies the spirit of gratitude and commitment, using his success to give back to his community that played a pivotal role in shaping his personal and academic growth.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Jennifer Kirchner is the seventh-grade homeroom teacher. She teaches sixth through eighth-grade science and seventh-grade religion.
She has five years of teaching experience with St. Francis de Sales School. She holds a Bachelor's degree in exercise science and a Master's degree in Applied Health Physiology.
Ms. Kirchner's teaching philosophy keeps students engaged with learning new subjects. Her classroom mission is to encourage independent thinking and cooperative group learning. She personalizes learning using a variety of tools to help students achieve success. This includes helping students to create their own science notebooks, which helps them to organize their thoughts and reflect on previous concepts throughout the year.
Focused on dynamic learning, she follows the hands-on learning in the lab with discussions and encourages them to test their ideas by creating their own experiments weekly and then problem-solving within their groups.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Jennifer Platek Technology Specialist & Librarian
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
John Forberger has worked in varying positions of increasing
importance in the telecommunications industry. He led the
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
I am a retired Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. I am married 30 years to Dianne
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Karen Eutsler Nurse
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Katie Ayd Physical Education My Webpage
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Chief Financial Officer for Machining Technologies, Inc of Salisbury
- Voting Board Member
Kimberly Wilson, Chief Financial Officer for Machining Technologies, Inc of Salisbury, was born and raised on Maryland's Eastern Shore. She graduated from Salisbury University with degrees in Finance and Accounting and has worked as an accountant in the mortgage, insurance, and manufacturing sectors, both in Maryland and South Carolina. She is the mother of two, Savannah and Caroline, both of whom are proud graduates of St. Francis de Sales Catholic School.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Board Finance Chair ( Voting Member )
Kimberly Harrison and her husband, Martin, live in Parsonsburg, MD and have been parishioners at St Francis de Sales since 1989. Their children, Mallory and Adam, both attended St Francis de Sales School. Kim was active in the Home School Association during their school years and was a Girl Scout leader at St Francis for 9 years. In addition, she served as a church usher in the past. She has served as finance chair on the St Francis de Sales School Board since 2019.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Kristi Capobianco Educational Assistant
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
When asked about helping out with the Finance Committee, I thought with 45 years of banking experience with First Shore Federal, what better way to thank St. Francis de Sales Church and the Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary for bringing my sister Anne Cuomo back to Salisbury when she retired.
I have lived in Salisbury all my life and watched the school continue to grow. My wife Carolyn and I have two sons and three grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Lisa Adams Music Teacher / Band & Choir Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Mrs. Davis has been a parishioner at St.Francis de Sales Church for almost 40 years and has been a Eucharistic Minister for over 20. She graduated from high school in Wicomico County and attended Salisbury University. As a parent of three, she was actively involved with St. Francis de Sales School for 16 years as a parent, coach, band leader, classroom volunteer, and committee member. After her time at St. Francis, she continued to be involved in her children's education as PTA President at Parkside High School for two years and Parent Council Member at High Point University for three years.
Mrs. Davis lives in Salisbury with her husband of 40 years Chris. They have been blessed with 6 grandchildren, once of which is now enrolled at St. Francis de Sales School.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Assistant Principal and Math Teacher for Sixth through Eighth Grades
- Megan Duick Assistant Principal and Math ( 5 - 8 ) My Webpage
Megan Duick teaches math in grades 6 through 8. She has 19 years of experience teaching and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mary Baldwin College and a Master of Science degree from Salisbury University. She also has a math certificate from the State of Maryland for grades 7-12.
This is her eighth year teaching at SFdS, and she uses differentiated teaching to enhance each student's learning. In her Math and STEM classes, she uses hands-on, project-based learning and theoretical approaches to foster understanding. Classroom learning is tailored to each student using a variety of techniques.
Viewing herself as a learning process facilitator, she informally assesses students daily in various ways and conducts formal assessments each week. She looks for how much a student has personally improved. This kind of progress is measured in each student's personal growth and ability - in how they react to challenges or setbacks, their responsibility, and their mathematical reasoning and ability growth.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Voting Board Member
I was born in Salisbury, Maryland and graduated from Parkside High School in 1980. I then enlisted in the United States Air Force and served my country for four years. After that I attended Salisbury University and graduated with a Degree in Accounting. I then worked in the Washington D.C. metro area for six years and was fortunate to meet my beautiful wife Tracy of 28 years. We relocated back here to Delmar, Delaware. We have two daughters that attended St. Francis De Sales Catholic School and then on to Delmar High School where they excelled academically with honor classes and advanced placement classes. My oldest graduated from High Point University and my youngest from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. St. Francis De Sales Catholic School provided them the tools, academics and the foundation for their successes and the two incredible women they are today. With St. Francis, I have been a parishioner for 28 years. I am on the liturgy committee and I am a third degree knight with the Knights of Columbus. At Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, I serve as a Usher, Sacristan, Eucharistic Minister and I take care of the grounds at the church. I have a great niece that will be in Second grade this year at St. Francis De Sales Catholic School. I am so blessed to be in this Parish and I wouldn't trade it for anything. God Bless !!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
For those of you that don't know me, my name is Kathleen Hall. I am extremely honored to have been chosen as the first Pre-K 4's Teacher at SFdSCS and now after 12 years I have finally moved the the next grade level to become the Kindergarten teacher. I have worked here at SFdSCS for 16 years, 12 of those years teaching in the Pre-K 4's classroom. Before coming to St. Francis, I was a Teacher at Asbury Child Development Center for 3 years.
Kathleen Hall is the Kindergarten teacher and the Kindergarten Religion teacher. She has 19 years of experience teaching and holds two Bachelor of Science degrees from Salisbury University. She also has a certification in early childhood education.
She has taught at SFdS for 16 years and uses problem-based and purposeful play-based learning in her classroom to prepare students for 1st grade. Problem-based learning helps students learn in a group or individually to do things for themselves. Purposeful play teaches the many social and academic skills needed to become readers and mathematicians.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Pam Ward Eighth Grade English & Theater Director My Webpage
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
I'm very happy to be a member of The St. Francis de Sales Family! I have been a proud Catholic School Teacher for over 30 years!
I am elementary certified in New Jersey and Maryland. I have taught every grade between kindergarten and eighth grade. I believe in using a variety of teaching strategies to meet the individual needs of my students. I also feel that it is important for parents and teachers to work together as a team for the success of my students.
Teaching is very dear to me. I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. I truly love the journey each new year brings. In education, we benefit from rebooting each summer, so educators and students are fresh and new for each new school year. I still look forward to every September and spend countless hours preparing each summer. Even teachers like going back to school shopping and having "Summer Work" too.
My favorite part of teaching at a catholic school is that I can practice my faith in every facet of my life.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Hello! I'm Paula Lattanzi, and I am very excited to be here at St. Francis! I have been teaching for almost 18 years, almost exclusively in Catholic schools, most of which were in the Archdiocese of Washington. I am married to my husband, Josh (who has also been a Catholic school teacher for almost 20 years), and we have a daughter, Gabbie, who is in Middle School at St. Francis. In my spare time, I love to read historical fiction, watch crime shows, visit battlefields and other historical sites, and spend time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Welcome to Prek 4 at St Francis de Sales Catholic School. My name is Ronna Bievenour (Bee-ven-our). I am so excited to start my journey at St Francis this year.
I have taught for 30 years in Wicomico County Public Schools. I taught Pre-K4 and Kindergarten. My last teaching assignment was at Parkside CTE, teaching 9-12 grade Early Childhood Education.
I can't wait to work with young children full time and watch them as they grow and learn. I believe in a
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Sandy Turner Nurse
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Board Member ( Non - Voting )
- Sarah Passarell Advancement Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Board Member ( Non - Voting )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff
- Theresa Gabbard School Counselor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Faculty and Staff