Our diverse faculty and staff represent the highest standards in their respective fields and share a passion for educating young people. Representing half a dozen doctoral programs and over 20 different advanced degree programs, our faculty model exhibits the academic excellence we instill in our students. Educators at Lacordaire are also committed to a lifetime of their own learning, as staff members are constantly undergoing further professional development. All faculty members share in the extracurricular community of the Academy, either through coaching a sports team or advising a student organization. Lacordaire’s small class sizes also offer faculty the opportunity to mentor students, both individually and in a group setting, adding to the feeling of community that Lacordaire prides itself on.
Megan Mannato
Head Of School; Head Of Upper School
M.A. New York University; B.A. Syracuse University
Suzanne Bilicska, M.Ed.
Assistant Head Of School; Head Of Lower School; Head Of Middle School
M.A. Curriculum And Instruction, Caldwell University; B.S. Education, B.A. History, University Of Tampa
Kaitlyn Tashjian, OPA
Director Of Campus Ministry; Director Of Guidance; Chair, Religion Department
M.A. School Counseling, Saint Peter’s University; B.A. Secondary Education And Social Studies, Caldwell University
Director Of Admissions; Major Gifts Associate
M.F.A. Montclair State University; B.F.A. University Of Florida
Saydi Callahan Keefe
Nick DeToustain
Director Of Development; World Language Department
M.A. International Relations, MBA, Boston University; B.A. Mathematics And French, University Of Colorado
Elizabeth Owen, OPA
Director Of Crisis Management And Facilities; Technology Department
Suzanne Bilicska, M.Ed.
Assistant Head Of School; Head Of Lower School; Head Of Middle School
M.A. Curriculum And Instruction, Caldwell University; B.S. Education, B.A. History, University Of Tampa
Ordel Goldson
Athletic Director; Physical Education Department
B.A. Child Advocacy And Policy, Montclair State University
Mona Gerdes
Chair, Arts Department
Mary Ryan Thornton
Lower School, Pre-Kindergarten
M.A.T. Dual Certification: K-5/Special Education, Montclair University; M.A. New York University; B.A. Fordham University
Margaret Melore
Lower School, First Grade
B.A. Caldwell College
Linda Marinzulich
Lower School, Kindergarten
B.A. Ashford University
Liz Hughes
Lower School, Kindergarten Aide
Erin Iozzia
Lower School, Kindergarten
B.S. Roger Williams University; Post Bac. Caldwell University , Masters In Progress
Marianne Cavallaro
Lower School, Pre-K Aide
B.S. Montclair State University
Christine Zichelli
Lower School, Kindergarten Aide
Certified K-12 Substitute; A.S. In Business
Alexandra Kaousias
Lower School, Fourth Grade
B.S. Fairleigh Dickinson University; St. Peter’s University Teaching Certificate
Jennifer McAuliffe
Lower School, Second Grade
B.A. Communication William Paterson University, M.A. Administration And Supervision Montclair State University
Lauren Kaiser
Arts Department
B.F.A., Syracuse
John Wilkes
World Languages Department
Alicia Chadha
Lower School, First Grade
M.A. Contemplative Practices In Education, B.A. English And Language Arts, Post Bac. Special Education, Simon Fraser University
Sarah Morley
Third Grade
B.A Caldwell University
Nicolette Colella
Math Department
B.S. Mathematics, The College Of New Jersey
Kate Bielitz
1st Grade Maternity Leave Teacher
Caldwell University, BA In English; Caldwell University Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certificate And Masters In Curriculum In Progress.
Tawana Clarrett
Third Grade Teacher
B.S. Temple University, Early Childhood & Elementary Education, MS Chestnut Hill College, Technology in Education,
MS Teachers College, Columbia University, Organizational Leadership
Megan Mannato
Head Of School; Head Of Upper School
M.A. New York University; B.A. Syracuse University
Suzanne Bilicska, M.Ed.
Assistant Head Of School; Head Of Lower School; Head Of Middle School
M.A. Curriculum And Instruction, Caldwell University; B.S. Education, B.A. History, University Of Tampa
Yvonne Provost
Registrar; Math Department
M.A. Literacy Instruction, Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program, Caldwell University; B.S. Applied Mathematics, Brown University
Lisa Rosen
Art Department
M.A. New York University/International Center Of Photography; B.A. Bowdoin College
Ben Sinclair
Humanities Department
B.A. History, Montclair State University; New Jersey Teacher Certificate, Ramapo College
Nick DeToustain
Director Of Development; World Language Department
M.A. International Relations, MBA, Boston University; B.A. Mathematics And French, University Of Colorado
Ordel Goldson
Athletic Director; Physical Education Department
B.A. Child Advocacy And Policy, Montclair State University
Mona Gerdes
Chair, Arts Department
Dr. William Probst
Science Department
Ph.D., M.S. New York University; B.S. Suffolk University
Damaris Herrera
World Languages Department
Dr. Jennifer Zinman
Inclusion Coordinator; Chair, Science Department
M.A.T. Montclair State University; Ph.D. Mt. Sinai School Of Medicine; B.A. Columbia University
Mary Kate Coleman
English Department; Arts Department
M.A. Theater, Montclair State University; B.A. English & Theater, Mount Saint Mary’s University
Kelly Ang
Coordinator For Professional Development; Science Department
B.A. Portland University
Kaitlyn Tashjian, OPA
Director Of Campus Ministry; Director Of Guidance; Chair, Religion Department
M.A. School Counseling, Saint Peter’s University; B.A. Secondary Education And Social Studies, Caldwell University
John Eichmann
Chair, History Department
M.A. Social Sciences; M.A.T. Social Studies; B.S. History And Business Administration, Montclair State University
Beverly Cardino
Chair, English Department; World Languages Department
M.A. Wesleyan; B.A. Caldwell College; NJ Teacher Certification K-12 In English
Lauren Kaiser
Arts Department
B.F.A., Syracuse
Thomas Wiley
English Department; Religion Department
M.A. Teaching, B.A. English Literature, Colgate University
John Wilkes
World Languages Department
Heather Ballantyne
Arts Department
Nicolette Colella
Math Department
B.S. Mathematics, The College Of New Jersey
Brittany McFarlane, OPA
English Department; Religion Department
B.A. English, Caldwell University; NJ Teacher Certification K-12 English
Sean Orso
Math Department
B.A. Mathematics, William Paterson University
Diane Martin
Business Office Manager
Christine Del Pozzo
Executive Assistant To The Head Of School; Administrative Assistant To Upper School
Elizabeth Owen, OPA
Director Of Crisis Management And Facilities; Technology Department
Alex Smolar
Academy Custodian, Plant Manager
Fiona Lake
Administrative Assistant For Middle & Lower Schools
Jodi Cinque
Director Of Technology
MBA Marketing And Management, Long Island University; BS Finance And Economics, Fairleigh Dickinson University;
Tammy Zolnowsky
School Nurse
Registered Nurse