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.

Suzanne has served Lacordaire Academy in many capacities, bringing dedication and leadership to each role. Her experience includes teaching, creating and directing the Academy’s summer camp program, moderating clubs and sports, chairing accreditation efforts, and serving as Head of Lower and Middle School. In her current position as Associate Head of School, she works closely with faculty on curriculum development while continuing to teach electives such as Sociology, Introduction to Education, and Forensic Science.

 

Suzanne is the recipient of the Sister Mary John Kearney, O.P. Award for Outstanding Action Research Project in Curriculum and Instruction. She has presented for NJAIS and is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. She is also an active member of several academic honors organizations.

 

Outside of school, Suzanne enjoys attending New Jersey Devils games, cheering for the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants, exploring her creativity through arts and crafts, and spending time with her family.

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 acclaimed large-scale works. She then joined Questroyal Fine Art, a leading 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’s leadership team in 2021, Kelly was creative director for an established 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 with Italian fashion house Max Mara and 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, with her husband, loves to visit historic East Coast properties, especially in Newport, RI, where she 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.

After a 20-year career in corporate lending at The Bank of New York and Deutsche Bank, Denise embarked on a second career in fundraising for educational institutions, spending  ten years at Rutgers University – New Brunswick and joining Lacordaire two years ago. Denise is committed to the transformative impact of philanthropy in education. At Lacordaire, Denise leads fundraising initiatives to secure financial resources to provide students with the top-quality, values-based education that is the Academy’s hallmark.  She also focuses on alumni engagement, creating opportunities for graduates to stay connected and contribute to Lacordaire’s enduring mission. In her spare time, Denise enjoys swimming, bicycling, and traveling abroad.

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.

Andrea Birnbaum is a photographer and educator whose personal work explores memory, identity and belonging.  Her photographs and documentary projects have been exhibited throughout the country and internationally. She teaches photography and mentors students both online and in-person, and leads retreats and workshops internationally. She lives in Berkeley Heights, NJ, in the house her husband grew up in and she renovated it to bring it out of the 70s and into the 21st Century! Andrea is also the Educational Director for the Photographic Nights of Selma photo festival which takes place annually in the fall. Her first fine art photography book called Spilt Milk, will be out in the new year.  Outside of work, she likes to read, see films and travel.

 

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.

Ms. Menen is a passionate teacher with a background that also includes content writing and language translation. Her diverse skill set allows her to connect with students in creative and meaningful ways.

Outside of the classroom, she is passionate about travel, music, and art, pursuits that inspire her teaching and enrich her perspective.

Sean is a graduate of the William Paterson University Honors College, where he completed the Social Sciences track. He has been recognized for his dedication and excellence with multiple “Employee of the Month” awards across several previous positions. Sean also completed coursework toward a Graduate Diploma in Irish Literature at University College Cork and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Special Education at Saint Thomas Aquinas College.

 

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.

Emily was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and has called the United States home for the past twenty years. Before transitioning into her current role, she worked as a Finance Assistant, where she developed strong organizational and analytical skills.

 

Family and community are at the heart of Emily’s life. She loves spending quality time with her family and friends and is a proud mother of an 11-year-old son.

 

In her free time, Emily enjoys traveling and exploring new places. She’s also an avid fan of strategy games, especially chess and Scrabble.