Department Members

Dr. Michael Godinez

Dr. Godinez is the Assistant Principal of Data Systems and Scheduling at Saint Patrick, and also continues to teach in the Math Department. He attended Catholic schools from kindergarten until senior year of college. He is a proud graduate of St. Matthew Parish School in Glendale Heights and St. Francis College Prep in Wheaton. He attended Loyola University for his undergraduate degrees (B.S. in Math and B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education, both 2015) and doctoral degree (Ed.D. in School Administration, 2024). He also holds a Master's Degree from Purdue Univeristy (M.S.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2020). 

He joined the Saint Patrick faculty in 2019 after teaching for 4 years at Saint Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin. In his time at Saint Edward and Saint Patrick, he has taught every level of Math except Calculus and Pre-Algebra. Outside of school, he's  a semi professional bass player and enjoys writing different styles of music.

Mr. Raul Gonzalez

Mr. Gonzalez brings a rich and diverse background to the Saint Patrick High School Math Department. After earning his degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from MIT, Mr. Gonzalez went on to complete graduate studies in Quantitative Economics and Financial Econometrics in Switzerland. His career has spanned roles in academia, banking, and educational technology, including positions at Citigroup, ABN AMRO, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Since joining Saint Patrick in 2023, he has taught a range of courses including Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Accounting, and Computer Science. Mr. Gonzalez is passionate about helping students connect mathematical ideas to the real world, drawing on his deep experience in finance, programming, and research to enrich classroom learning and foster critical thinking. 

Mr. Michael Hearsh

Mr. Hearsh grew up in Highland Park and attended Highland Park High School. He received his Bachelor's degree in Math Education and hisMaster's degree in teaching both from Clemson University. At Saint Patrick. He has taught Honors Geometry, Algebra II with Trigonometry, and AP Pre-Calculus. He also coaches Freshman Basketball and Varsity Water Polo. Outside of school, He is a director at a Day Camp in Lake Forest where he works with six and seven year olds.

Ms. Valerie Herrera

Valerie Herrera is a secondary career educator who began her teaching journey in early childhood and elementary education, teaching 1st Grade as well as Pre-K and Kindergarten Spanish. At St. Patrick High School, she has taught (and/or is currently teaching) Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2 with Trigonometry, Financial Algebra, and Probability & Statistics. She holds a degree in Economics with a focus on Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Illinois at Chicago, is a licensed financial professional. She also coaches the Academic Team and leads ACT Prep Workshops at St. Patrick.

Before entering education, Ms. Herrera served communities through leadership and instructional roles in public service, finance, retail, and healthcare—bringing a real-world perspective into her classroom. Outside of SPHS, she coaches cheerleading at St. Ferdinand Elementary and volunteers as a tutor at local public libraries, helps families protect their loved ones through financial services, and enjoys traveling and spending time with her two sons.

Mr. Eloy Melero

Eloy Melero taught at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, Indiana which was also his alma mater for five years and moved to Saint Patrick in the fall of 2024. Eloy earned a Bachelor's degree in Education with a minor in Mathematics from the University of St. Francis. He has taught Algebra I and Algebra II at both St. Patrick and Bishop Noll.

Mr. Dominic Sabella

Mr. Sabella is a Geometry teacher at Saint Patrick High School. He is a recent Purdue University Graduate and a Saint Pat's Alum from the Class of 2020. He loves incorporating technology into the classroom to make the class more engaging. Outside of teaching, he enjoys working on tech projects and staying up to date on the latest developments in the field. He is looking forward to another great year of teaching and learning!