Dear middle school families, 

It is a pleasure to be able to work in various capacities with your children this year.  I have a love for learning and want to inspire students to not only love learning, but celebrate their progress and use their knowledge to benefit others.  

I have been working both directly and indirectly as a part of Catholic education since 1998.  For me, working in and for Catholic schools is a vocation and a labor of love that is rooted my Catholic faith.  My parents both immigrated here to the New Bedford, MA area from the Azores in Portugal many years ago.  They are now both U.S. citizens who through their struggles have inspired their three children to set goals and persevere in attaining them with the grace of God.  

I earned my Masters of Science in Education from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.  I am also a graduate of Bishop Stang High School and attended St. Anthony of Padua elementary school in New Bedford, MA in my youth. I was certified in elementary education in the state of IL and taught at multiple grade levels, including 5th-8th Science, before taking some time to raise my family at home for a few years.  My work in the education field expanded to include administrative experience as a Director with an education non-profit responsible for recruiting, training and supporting teachers in high­-need Catholic elementary schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago. 

Upon moving back here to MA with my husband and children in 2009, I soon found myself being called back into the fold of education.  I served as the fifth grade religion teacher and campus minister at St. Francis Xavier School in 2011 prior to being appointed assistant principal in 2013.  I supported Mrs. Russo in her leadership of our wonderful school until 2023 and will continue to serve as Assistant Principal supporting Mrs. Rogers, while teaching middle school science.  It is a pleasure to serve as the 6th-8th Science Teacher and I hope to create a structure and discipline within Science instruction that supports our students in the fun exploration and understanding of God's creation while improving their scientific methods and thinking.  I look forward to working with all of you. Please don't hesitate to reach out.  

Sincerely, 

Mrs. Shaughnessy