Faculty & Staff

Megan brings extensive experience in higher education, having spent 11 years at NYU in the admissions office and student affairs, followed by her role as Dean of Students at the School of Visual Arts, where she oversaw housing, residence life, disability services, student life, and the health and counseling offices. During her time at NYU, she earned her Master’s degree in counseling, which clarified her ultimate goal: to focus on the individual student and make a meaningful difference in their lives. This passion led her to Lacordaire, where she describes her work as one of the most rewarding experiences of her career.

 

Outside of school, Megan lives in Montclair with her husband, a daughter who is a college freshman, and two small dogs. She and her husband, who met at Syracuse University, are lifelong Orange fans. Their happy place is Long Beach Island, NJ, where they enjoy spending time on the beach.

Saydi Callahan Keefe leads Advancement and Enrollment at Lacordaire Academy, partnering with families, faculty, and alumni to welcome new students and strengthen the community. She brings a creative spirit and a steady, people first approach to admissions, development, and engagement.

 

Before joining Lacordaire, Saydi built a career in publishing in New York City, then taught as a professor of art history and painting. That blend of industry and academia shaped her eye for design, her love of storytelling, and her belief that relationships are at the heart of every mission.

 

Saydi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design from the University of Florida and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from Montclair State University. She is a Doctor of Education candidate in Educational Leadership at Caldwell University.

 

Outside of work, Saydi loves to paint, travel, cook, and ski. She is also a proud Lacordaire parent, with two of her children enrolled as students, and she treasures the daily joy of learning alongside them in this community.

Kelly began her career in the Chelsea studio of British-American photographer Adam Fuss, assisting in the production of his large-scale photographic works. She then joined Questroyal Fine Art, a Manhattan art gallery specializing in 19th- and early 20th-century American painting, where she served as collections manager, overseeing the acquisition, framing, and restoration of hundreds of works spanning impressionism, modernism, Hudson River School, Ashcan School, and realism. 

 

Before joining Lacordaire in 2021, Kelly was creative director for a purveyor of diamonds and fine antique jewelry. She has also provided editorial, marketing, and PR support to designers in the luxury sector as well as organizations such as Cornell University, the City University of New York, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. 

 

A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Kelly’s work in cameraless photography has been exhibited in various solo and group shows across cities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Outside of work, Kelly plays flute in the Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra, enjoys working in her home darkroom, and, when they're not working on projects in their own old house, she and her husband love taking weekend trips along the East Coast to visit historic homes. Their favorite place is Newport, Rhode Island, where Kelly has been a Preservation Society member for over a decade.

Liz brings experience from her time at Nike and has completed training at the Safety and Security Specialist Academy. She has been recognized with the Key Award for her dedication and outstanding performance as Operations Director at Lacordaire Academy, where she manages everything from auxiliary programs like aftercare and sports clinics to keeping the community safe through oversight of plant and facilities and all other essential safety protocols.

 

Outside of work, Liz enjoys traveling, playing ice hockey and beach volleyball, indulging in ice cream, and spending time with her dog, Benny.

Mrs. Bigelow joined Lacordaire from Immaculate Conception High School where she conducted the full spectrum of counseling responsibilities. While obtaining her Masters in counseling at Montclair State, she completed her internships at Madison High School and Mt. Pleasant Middle School in Livingston. Prior to completing this degree, Mrs. Bigelow worked in the education professional development industry working directly with teachers and administrators. She is looking forward to getting to know the children and families of Lacordaire and having a great year! Outside of school, Mrs. Bigelow enjoys spending time with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. She loves to play tennis, travel, read and bake. 

Nicolette has been at Lacordaire for five years, where she teaches math and serves as Middle School Coordinator. Outside of work, Nicolette enjoys reading, baking, and coaching competitive cheerleading.

Music of all genres has always been a source of joy for Mona, both personally and professionally. As a pianist and vocal music instructor, she enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities, having begun giving private lessons and directing choirs early in her career.

 

A lifelong learner with a love of languages and travel, Mona first taught Haitian Creole at the university level before pursuing a corporate path in international banking. She later earned an MBA in finance and arts management and went on to work for many years in the arts and entertainment industry, including network and cable television, while volunteering with various arts organizations.

 

Throughout her career, she remained active in music education, directing youth and adult choirs alike. At Lacordaire, Mona has found great fulfillment in focusing on teaching full time. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling with her family, performing with other musicians, and finding new opportunities to learn and share her love of music.

Megan brings extensive experience in higher education, having spent 11 years at NYU in the admissions office and student affairs, followed by her role as Dean of Students at the School of Visual Arts, where she oversaw housing, residence life, disability services, student life, and the health and counseling offices. During her time at NYU, she earned her Master’s degree in counseling, which clarified her ultimate goal: to focus on the individual student and make a meaningful difference in their lives. This passion led her to Lacordaire, where she describes her work as one of the most rewarding experiences of her career.

 

Outside of school, Megan lives in Montclair with her husband, a daughter who is a college freshman, and two small dogs. She and her husband, who met at Syracuse University, are lifelong Orange fans. Their happy place is Long Beach Island, NJ, where they enjoy spending time on the beach.

Mr. Abrego began his career in bilingual education in Mexico, where he developed engaging lesson materials to help colleagues build real-world communication skills. Before entering education in the United States, he managed an account in the food service industry, where he built strong relationships with pharmaceutical representatives and coordinated catering services to meet the specialized needs of pharmaceutical events.

 

In his free time, Mr. Abrego enjoys running, swimming, biking, and spending time with his family.

Jessica Schomaker brings over a decade of experience as a high school history teacher, teaching courses including U.S. History I & II, World History, Psychology, Sociology, Dual Enrollment Psychology, and Sports History. Alongside teaching, she has had a distinguished coaching career, serving as a high school varsity basketball coach for over 10 years with a 100–61 record, leading her team to its first state title game and earning two conference championships. She also coached JV volleyball for six years and served as varsity volleyball head coach for three years, capturing a conference championship, and spent two years as an assistant basketball coach at Drew University.

 

A graduate of Montclair Kimberley Academy, Schomaker was named senior female athlete of the year and earned multiple all-state, all-conference, and all-county volleyball honors.

 

At Drew University, she was a four-year varsity basketball player, two-year team captain, team MVP, and ranked among the top three in her conference for three-point shooting.

Nicolette has been at Lacordaire for four years, where she teaches math and serves as Middle School Coordinator. Outside of work, Nicolette enjoys reading, baking, and coaching competitive cheerleading.

Maureen brings over twenty years of experience teaching in Catholic education, having worked with students across a wide range of subjects. While she has taught many areas, her greatest passion lies in Grammar, Literature, and Religion. She is dedicated to helping students strengthen their academic skills while fostering a deeper faith and love of learning.

 

Outside the classroom, Maureen enjoys spending time with her family, caring for her dog, and reading whenever she can. She also finds relaxation and creative expression through adult coloring pages.

Music of all genres has always been a source of joy for Mona, both personally and professionally. As a pianist and vocal music instructor, she enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities, having begun giving private lessons and directing choirs early in her career.

 

A lifelong learner with a love of languages and travel, Mona first taught Haitian Creole at the university level before pursuing a corporate path in international banking. She later earned an MBA in finance and arts management and went on to work for many years in the arts and entertainment industry, including network and cable television, while volunteering with various arts organizations.

 

Throughout her career, she remained active in music education, directing youth and adult choirs alike. At Lacordaire, Mona has found great fulfillment in focusing on teaching full time. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling with her family, performing with other musicians, and finding new opportunities to learn and share her love of music.

 

Outside of academics and work, Sean enjoys raising chickens and skydiving.

Tracey Reed is a teacher at heart and has used her natural skill in a variety of settings to help youth and adults alike lead healthier, happier lives. Her undergraduate degree in Religious Studies formed the basis for her life and work philosophy of servant leadership. Through multiple roles at March of Dimes and the CDC Foundation over 30 years, Tracey gained subject matter expertise in maternal and child health, state and federal advocacy, team leadership, training and development, remote and traditional staff management, program development, and partnership building. She earned a master's degree in Leadership and Management to bring all her experience to bear to inspire and lead human and organizational development. She joined Lacordaire in 2023 as a Religion and History teacher, and has taken on other roles as well. In her personal time, Tracey enjoys hiking, reading, gardening, watching movies, and spending time with her family and pets.

 

June joined Lacordaire Academy in September, 2025. For 20 years June has been a fundraising professional at various non-profits, including hospitals, schools, the YMCA, and Performing Arts.   She has been responsible for many areas of philanthropy and development office operations but specializes in database management, events, financial reporting and prospect research. 

 

Outside of work, June has a passion for the performing arts, including ballet, which happens to run deep in her family.