Staff and Faculty
| Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Cathy Mottau | cmottau@mndschool.org | Principal |
| Joanne Hilario | jhilario@mndschool.org | Secretary |
| Tina Gabel | tgabel@mndschool.org | TK |
| Sandra Staka | sstaka@mndschool.org | Kindergarten |
| Carrie Aragon | chamilton@mndschool.org | 1st Grade |
| Cathy Novak | cnovak@mndschool.org | 2nd Grade |
| Claire Baum | cbaum@mndschool.org | 2nd Grade |
| Mr. Dillon File | mr.file@mndschool.org | 3rd Grade |
| Mari Hulme | mhulme@mndschool.org | 4th Grade |
| Cindy Honey | choney@mndschool.org | 5th Grade |
| David Smith | mstours@mndschool.org | 6th Grade |
| Jamie LaGrange | jlagrange@mndschool.org | 7th Grade |
| Julie Paz | jpaz@mndschool.org | 8th Grade |
| Kristine Burkett | kburkett@mndschool.org | Physical Education |
| Sr. Liane Delsuc | ldelsuc@mndschool.org | Resource Specialist |
| Sr. Clara Esker | cesker@mndschool.org | Learning Center |
| Tracey Haneta | thaneta@mndschool.org | Athletic Director |
| Letty Mejia | lmejia@mndschool.org | Cafeteria |
| Carrie Salady | cmsalady@mndschool.org | Library |
| Kathy Wilcox | kwilcox@mndschool.org | Computer/Student Council |
Joanne Hilario
Secretary
jhilario@mndschool.org
Joanne Hilario is a Moreland Notre Dame Alumni class of 1987. She graduated from San Jose State University with a major in Criminal Justice and minor in Business. She also has a masters degree in Organizational Management. After working in the non-profit sector at a women's agency for over a decade, a career at her old alma mater was a welcomed transition.
She spent a great deal of time traveling before getting married. She has visited to Mexico, Egypt, Rome, England, Portugal, and France to name a few. Her favorite place is Hawaii- Maui to be specific.
She lives in Royal Oaks with her husband who teaches in Gilroy. They have two beautiful daughters. Her family are huge San Francisco 49ers and Golden State Warriors fans, and now -Fighting Irish fans.
Claire Baum
2nd Grade
cbaum@mndschool.org
"The good God can give more than our idea can ever conceive. The whole thing is to have great confidence in the good God."
- Saint Julie Billart
I am proud to say I have been a part of Moreland Notre Dame School in one way or another for most of my life. I'm an alumnus (class of 1980). I taught fourth grade for three years before taking a leave to stay home with my 3 sons, Malcolm, Michael, and Stephen. Malcolm is currently a student at Saint Francis High School, and Michael and Stephen are students here at MND School. I was a parent volunteer with Alumni & Friends, the cafeteria, and worked in various classrooms. My mother, Mimi Crumpton, also an alumnus (class of 1954), taught in the second grade for 17 years.
My past work experiences have been working for Watsonville/Aptos Adult Education at Watsonville Co-op Preschool, teaching the first grade at San Carlos School of Monterey for three years, and teaching MND second grade for four years.
Every year Ms.Grul, our principal, visits the second grade classroom on the first day of school before she visits any other classroom. She visits to tell the second graders that the second grade is the most important grade in the whole school. Even more important than the eighth grade, who will be graduating. She tells them it's the most important grade because they will be receiving two very important sacraments, the sacrament of First Reconciliation and First Communion.
Second grade is an exciting year, and I very much look forward to meeting the second graders and their parents. We will take these two sacramental journeys together, as well as explore and learn the second grade curriculum. I am very proud to be a part of Saint Julie's mission, which began over 200 years ago and Moreland Notre Dame School, which began 115 years ago. We've got some rich history behind us, but we also have some history to make! The 2015-2016 school year is going to be an awesome year!
Mary Lynn Connor
3rd Grade
mlconnor@mndschool.org
"There are two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein
I love the third grade! I feel it is a continuous blessing to be a part of the MND community and to share each day with a class full of third graders. We work very hard. We have so much to learn!
We pray together. We learn about Jesus and our Church. We have a lot of fun.
Jamie LaGrange
7th Grade
jlagrange@mndschool.org
Welcome to 6th grade!
I am so excited to be teaching 6th grade and to be a part of all the exciting activities that go along with it! In case you were curious, here is a little information about me…
I grew up in Watsonville, and am myself an MND graduate. After MND, I went on to Aptos High School and UC Davis where I earned a Bachelors of Science in Human Development. After leaving Davis, I came back home to Watsonville and earned my Multiple Subjects teaching credential at CSUMB. Since then, I have taught 1st grade, 5th grade and have now settled in to 6th grade.
My husband and I have both grown up here and love so many of the things our community has to offer. We have three wonderful children who we enjoy spending our time with. Family is so important to us, and if you ask what I did over the weekend, it will almost always be something involving our families. Beyond that, I love to cook, bake and read, enjoy gardening, am learning to sew and am a HUGE San Francisco Giants fan!
I have high standards for all students who come into my classroom, and will push each of them to reach their highest potential. My desire to help students reach their potential, both academic and personal, is matched by the high expectations I set for each and every student. Be prepared to work hard in 6th grade, but know that I will be with you every step of the way!
Julie Paz
8th Grade
jpaz@mndschool.org
"Do your best and then go on simply." St. Julie
I have been teaching at Moreland Notre Dame since 1994. I have enjoyed seeing children grow and preparing them for graduation and the next phase of their lives.
Kristine Burkett
Physical Education
kburkett@mndschool.org
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do"
Things you never knew about me
- I graduated from Moreland Notre Dame School
- I have two daughters,25 and 23, and a son at SFCCCHS
- I hold a 1st degree blackbelt in Taekwondo
- I participated in 5 Wharf to Wharf Runs
- I participated in 4 Special Olympics Fun Runs
- My favorite places to visit are the Hawaiian Islands, Huntington Beach, and Tempe,Arizona
- My favorite basketball teams are the Warriors and the Phoenix Suns
- I love take out from Miyuki, Jalisco's, Cassidy's, and Carmona's
- My Grandfather's 1st cousins were both Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur;Sister Frederica was the assistant to Mother Superior in Rome and Sister Henrietta was Sister Superior at Moreland Notre Dame
Sr. Liane Delsuc
Resource Specialist
ldelsuc@mndschool.org
Teach them what they need to know for life.
St. Julie Billiart
Teaching is an exciting, challenging ministry based on creating a relationship of mutual respect that encourages exploration and learning, builds self-esteem and prepares students to be active participants in life. After over thirty years as an elementary and junior high teacher, administrator and special educator in public and Catholic schools in multicultural settings, both in the U.S. and Peru, I continue to enjoy the wonder of watching a child suddenly understand how to join sounds to make words and meaning or discover how numbers interrelate.
I have served as Resource Specialist at Moreland Notre Dame since September 2003 and appreciate the collaborative and supportive partnership of administrators, teachers, staff, and parents for the benefit of the students.
The Resource Room provides individual and small group learning with an emphasis on building self-esteem, improving study habits, and basic reading, language and math skills as well as large/small motor skills and perceptual skills as needed.
Sr. Clara Esker
Learning Center
cesker@mndschool.org
My length here at MND is eight years. I am the Director of the Learning Center and also the 8th grade English, Spelling, and Writing Teacher. I also teach Religion to the 6th grade and writing to Grades 1 - 8. I believe that every child can learn and must always do his/her best at all times in the learning process. Do not put off what can be done today!
Some Things You May Not Know About Me:
- I have high standards for learning.
- I do not demand anything from the children that I do not do myself.
- I have four sisters and one brother who live all over the United States.
- I have lots of experience in teaching all the grades, except Kindergarten.
- I have been recognized in Who's Who Among American Teachers four times since 2000.
- I love sports, especially basketball; watching movies; reading novels; and doing artwork , not teaching it.
- I used to do a lot of baking sweets and giving it away for other's enjoyment.
- I still have my mother and she is 94 years old. I go home to Illinois and take care of her for a month or so in the summer.
- I have been to Europe.
- I have never been to Hawaii.
Tracey Haneta
Athletic Director
thaneta@mndschool.org
"Win or lose, we play for each other."
For scores follow me on Twitter T.Haneta or Instagram mnd_athletics
Sr. Teresa Ann Leahy
Staff
taleahy@mndschool.org
I have been a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for fifty-eight years, and my main focus has been to teach others about how much God loves them. At the present time I am the Religion coordinater for Moreland Notre Dame School and am in ministry to the school and the parish of St. Patrick's.
Carrie Salady
Library
cmsalady@mndschool.org
Welcome to the MND Library!
The library is a place where students come to read, find books, take Accelerated Reader quizzes, research, catch up on assignments, and share the joy of reading with friends.
The MND book collection is always growing. We receive donations from families and MND students all the time. We are also acquiring books through Scholastic.com due to our successful Scholastic Book Fair!
Our volunteers are truly appreciated. Students enjoy a weekly story, or an ongoing chapter book. We have books for every reader. The AR program has taken off at MND . Students are improving their reading level and vocabulary as they seek interesting and captivating books. See the MND homepage for a display of recently read books.
If you have a book you’ve just finished reading, and you think another MND student would enjoy it, donate it to the library. We’ll put a bookplate in the front of the book, honoring your birthday, your friend, or an event!
Keep on reading!
Kathy Wilcox
Computer/Student Council
kwilcox@mndschool.org
Over 24 years ago I began my career here at Moreland Notre Dame. I started as a classroom aide for Mrs. Gallino in Kindergarten, Mrs. Crumpton in 2nd grade & Mrs. Bertone in 4th grade. A few years later I moved outside to teaching P.E. and now I teach Computer and Moderate the Student Council. As each school year begins, I still look forward to each new class...meeting the new families and now teaching the children of former students! My husband Brent & I grew up in Watsonville and I attended Notre Dame as did our daughters. So understandably, this school holds a very special place in our hearts!
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
