New Employees
Mrs. Christina Actis
Physical Education/Health Teacher
Mrs. Actis has taught K-12 Physical Education and Health classes for approximately twenty years at schools around the United States (her husband is an active member of the U.S. Marine Corps), most recently at St. Angela Merici school in Fairview Park. She received her B.A. in Physical Education from Baldwin Wallace University and her M.A. in Health Education from East Carolina University. Mrs. Actis also coaches cross country at St. Angela Merici Middle School and will serve as an Assistant Cross Country Coach at SJA.
Mrs. Actis has taught K-12 Physical Education and Health classes for approximately twenty years at schools around the United States (her husband is an active member of the U.S. Marine Corps), most recently at St. Angela Merici school in Fairview Park. She received her B.A. in Physical Education from Baldwin Wallace University and her M.A. in Health Education from East Carolina University. Mrs. Actis also coaches cross country at St. Angela Merici Middle School and will serve as an Assistant Cross Country Coach at SJA.
Mrs. Jean Berger
Executive Assistant & Recording Secretary to the Board of Directors
Mrs. Berger comes to Saint Joseph Academy with an extensive background in corporate administration with companies such as Northwestern Mutual, Liberty Development Company and Splash Financial LLC. She will be serving as Assistant to the President at Saint Joseph Academy as well as Secretary for the Board of Directors. Mrs. Berger also coaches and serves as Athletic Director at St. Mark Parish School, and is happy to be working in the West Park neighborhood where she grew up and currently lives with her husband and two children.
Ms. Jamila Campbell
Transition Coordinator
Saint Joseph Academy is excited to welcome Ms. Campbell to the newly created position of Transition Coordinator, in which she will be working with Howley and Sullivan Scholarship recipients and their families to ensure their success at SJA and beyond. Ms. Campbell holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Cleveland State University and has worked as a Family Support Specialist with Say Yes to Cleveland, as well as a Program Coordinator for organizations such as Youth Opportunities Unlimited and University Hospitals Rainbow Center for Women and Children. She also facilitates support groups for girls with anxiety through an organization called Girls Like Me and enjoys hiking and biking in the Metroparks.
Ms. Lauren Golonka
Intervention Specialist
Ms. Golonka received her B.A. in Education and M.S. in Special Education from Mercyhurst University and has experience in both public and Catholic education as well as working as a private caregiver for individuals with special needs. Most recently, she taught fourth grade and coached track at St. Adalbert Catholic School, where she will continue to coach this fall. Ms. Golonka discovered her desire to be an intervention specialist through working with Special Olympics when she was in college.
Mrs. Virginia Malloy
Mental Health Counselor
Most recently, Ms. Malloy has been working as a contracted mental health counselor at St. Columbkille School and Fairview Park High School. Prior to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor, Ms. Malloy served for many years as a Campus Minister and Theology Teacher, as well as Vice President, Mission at Saint Martin de Porres High School. She holds a B.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Carroll University. She and her husband Jim have four grown children and love hiking in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Ms. Caitlin McPherson
English Teacher
Originally from Kentucky, Ms. McPheron received her B.A. in English from Eastern Kentucky University and her M.A. in Teaching from University of the Cumberlands. In addition to her work as a middle school Language Arts instructor, Ms. McPheron has experience as a tutor for English as a Second/New Language (ESL/ENL) and is fluent in Spanish. She is passionate about teaching and supporting her students’ growth, and she enjoys playing piano, guitar, and soccer, as well as staying active in her spare time.
Mrs. Jasmin Meisterics
Library Aide
Mrs. Meisterics is a graduate of St. Augustine Academy High School and Ohio Wesleyan University, where she served as a Library Clerk for several years. She has a diverse background as an administrative support professional and has enjoyed working as a volunteer at Lakewood Catholic Academy, where her three children attend school. She is a huge Cleveland Browns fan and an amateur “foodie”.
Mrs. Lindsay Murphy
Math Teacher
For the past eight years, Mrs. Murphy has taught a wide variety of mathematics courses at Saint Martin de Porres High School, as well as serving in roles such as 11th-12th Grade Dean and as Testing Specialist and Coordinator. She received her B.S. in Mining & Minerals Engineering from Virginia Tech and worked as an Engineer with Cargill and HLTI, Inc. prior to receiving her professional license as a math teacher. Mrs. Murphy was drawn to teaching out of a desire to ensure that high school students of all backgrounds have access to quality education.
Mr. Matthew O'Konowitz
Facilities Director
Mr. O’Konowitz has most recently been working as Director of Buildings and Grounds at Elyria Catholic High School, having previously served for ten years as an instructor, department head and administrator at Ohio Technical College. His educational background and work experience include automotive repair and restoration as well as certification in Heating, Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC). Mr. O'Konowitz is a graduate of St. Edward HIgh School, where he has volunteered as a professional carpenter and technician for student theater productions since 2003.
Mr. O’Konowitz has most recently been working as Director of Buildings and Grounds at Elyria Catholic High School, having previously served for ten years as an instructor, department head and administrator at Ohio Technical College. His educational background and work experience include automotive repair and restoration as well as certification in Heating, Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC). Mr. O'Konowitz is a graduate of St. Edward HIgh School, where he has volunteered as a professional carpenter and technician for student theater productions since 2003.
