SAC Biographies 2017-2018 Eileen Brett, principal of St. Matthias School: Eileen comes from a background of Catholic education as a student having attended St. Cecilia School in Fox Chase, Pennsylvania followed by Bishop DuBourg High School in St. Louis, Missouri. She spent 20 years of her teaching career as an Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister having earned her Bachelors Degrees at Immaculata University in Immaculata, Pennsylvania. Her Masters in Education degrees were earned at Rider University and West Chester State University. Eileen spent her early career as a teacher in primary grades in Catholic schools in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and Raleigh, North Carolina. She began her administrative career in Catholic education at Incarnation School in Ewing, New Jersey and Holy Angels School in Hamilton, New Jersey. She followed this work with 14 years working as a building administrator in the Franklin Township Public Schools. Eileen is happy to be serving as principal of St. Matthias School where the staff and parents surround the students in a nurturing educational setting. Sheila Connelly: Sheila Connelly has been a parishioner at St. Matthias Church since 1994. She is the proud mom of two daughters who are graduates of St. Matthias School ( 09, 11). Sheila is the Coordinator of Instructional Technology for a public-school district in Morris County. Her experience includes teaching High School Mathematics and Elementary Computer Literacy. She also has seven years of corporate experience as a Systems Engineer for EDS. Sheila earned her Bachelor s degree from Holy Cross in Mathematics, a Master in Arts in Teaching degree from Rhode Island College and earned a Certificate in Teacher Leadership from Rider University. She feels fortunate to have the opportunity to serve on the School Advisory Committee. 1
Mrs. Peggy Csaszar: Peggy has been a member of the St. Matthias School Advisory Council since September, 2014. She has been a parishioner since 1984 when her husband, Bill, and she moved to Somerset. They have one son. Peggy is currently employed by Elderology in Metuchen and works as clinical therapist at Genesis/ Willow Creek Rehabilitation and Care Center in Somerset one day a week. Peggy retired from her position as the director of student support services (special education) at Milltown School District in 2014 after 19 years of service. Peggy is a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and ACSW (Academy of Certified Social Workers. She has a master s in social work (MSW) from Fordham University at Lincoln Center, N.Y.C. Prior to Peggy s retirement she completed the certificate program in gerontology at Rutgers University School of Social Work. Mrs. Dianne Ferrara: Dianne Ferrara has been a parishioner at St. Matthias Church for 38 years. She holds a B.A. in Education and a Masters in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University. After 32 years in education as a certified teacher and a certified Assistant Principal, she retired in 2009. Dianne spent 25 years in Catholic Education in the Diocese of Metuchen and 7 years in public schools in New Jersey and Texas. James Finan: James Finan holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance from DeSales University. He is currently working for an accounting firm which specializes in auditing for municipalities, school districts and other governmental entities. He is also working towards becoming a Certified Public Accountant. James is a graduate of Saint Matthias School (Class of 2007) and is proud to be a member of the council as an alum. 2
Rev. Nicholas Gengaro: Reverend Nicholas S. Gengaro is a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark serving as Chaplain at Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, N.J. He has been a Weekend Assistant at St. Matthias since 2001. Fr. Nick received his BA in Philosophy and Modern Languages from Seton Hall University, summa cum laude, Valedictorian. He holds an STB, magna cum laude, and an STL (Biblical Theology specialization) magna cum laude, from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. He has lived and studied for extended periods in Rome, Italy; Tours, France; Jerusalem, Israel; and Munich, Germany. Before becoming Chaplain at Seton Hall Law School in 1998, Fr. Nick taught in the department of Religious Studies at Seton Hall University, South Orange. He currently sits on the Board of Visitors of the law school and is a Public Member of the New Jersey Supreme Court, Office of Attorney Ethics, District V-A Ethics Committee, where he hears complaints filed against attorneys practicing in the district. Fr. Nick has been acquainted with St. Matthias parish since 1990 when his parents moved to Somerset. He currently has other family members living in the parish, with one a 2015 alumna of St. Matthias School and another graduating in 2018. Mr. Joseph Gidaro, Vice Principal: Joseph Gidaro, currently our Vice Principal, comes to us with more than 25 years of experience as an Administrator and Teacher in Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools. He holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and two Masters Degrees; one in Theology and the other in Administration and Supervision. Having this extensive experience gives Mr. Gidaro comprehensive preparation to serve St. Matthias School as Vice Principal. His responsibilities can be summed up in two broad goals: to assist the Principal with the management of the daily operations of the school and to collaborate with teachers, students, and parents in order to enhance a Catholic school environment that maximizes student learning, academic performance and social growth. 3
Rev. Douglas J. Haefner, Pastor: Rev. Douglas J. Haefner is currently the pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Matthias in Somerset, NJ and a priest of the Diocese of Metuchen. He holds a Master of Divinity Degree from St. Mary s Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland and a Masters in Education from Boston College. He has done post--- graduate work at Boston College and Fordham University. Father Doug is the former Director of Stewardship & Development for the Diocese of Metuchen where he also served as Associate Director of Vocations and as a Consultant in Religious Education. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Community House at St. Thomas Corporation as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Metuchen Community Services Corporation. Father Doug filmed and starred in a pilot children s show called Fr. Doug & Friends for the American Catholic Network. He speaks throughout the country on topics of stewardship, catechesis, parish life and leadership and leads parish missions and retreats. Dr. Linda Madison, Superintendent of School Borough of Middlesex: Dr. Linda Madison currently serves as the Superintendent of the Middlesex School District. She has an earned Doctorate in Educational Administration from Rutgers University as well as a Masters Degree in Science Education. A certified Science teacher who has taught on all levels, Dr. Madison has been a school Administrator for the past 20 years. Her career in education began in 1980 and she was fortunate to be the Presidential Awardee for Science and Mathematics Teaching in 1991. She is privileged to serve on the St. Matthias School Advisory Council. Mrs. Jo - --- --Ann Piagentini: Jo - --- --Ann Piagentini has been a parishioner for 41 years and has served on the School Advisory Council since its inception. For 33 years she served as a public school teacher and a teacher coach specializing in Early Education and Special Education. She is the mother of three sons who attended St. Matthias School and is grandmother to five children. She currently is an adjunct professor at Raritan Community College and a supervisor of student teachers at Rider University. 4
Dr. Lee D. Schneider, Academic Dean, Rutgers University: Dr. Lee D. Schneider is currently working in his 47th year at Rutgers University. He earned a Doctorate in Educational Administration, M.S. in Economics and B.S. in Environmental Business and Economics. During his tenure at Rutgers he has served as an Instructor, Football Coach, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Life Programs, the Dean of Students at Cook College, and the Executive Dean and Director of the Rutgers Parents Association. Lee has received numerous awards for Athletics, Service and Mentoring of College Students. Community service is very important to Lee and he currently is the President of the Rutgers Football Letterwinners Association, Member of the Mid Jersey Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Board member of the Cook Campus Alumni Association, and Active Alum with the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity (FIJI). He is excited about serving on the St. Matthias School Advisory Council. Mrs. Jackie Schneider: Jackie Schneider and her family have been long time members of the St. Matthias Community. Jackie has been a member of the School Advisory Council since 2015, a member of the School Finance Committee 2016, a Eucharistic Minister, as well as a Religious Education Teacher and has served on various committees throughout the years. Jackie is the Assistant Manager of Human Resources at the Franklin Township Public Schools. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Seton Hall University. Her previous experiences include Bank Manager and Recruitment Coordinator for a mid-size law firm. Jackie is married to Lee Schneider and is the proud mom of three children. All three have completed their sacraments at St. Matthias and were active members of the Summer Sunday Crew. 5
Mr. Hugh A. Scott: Hugh Scott is a member of the St. Matthias School Advisory Council. He is also a past Chair of the Pastoral Council and has been a member of the Adult Choir at St. Matthias for over 8 years. Hugh holds a bachelor degree in Accounting and Finance from Pace University and has spent over 35 years managing the operational aspects of the Master Trust/Investment Business at major center Banks in New York. He joined Amalgamated Bank in April of 1999 as a First Vice President and worked there for over 10 years. Prior to that, Hugh was a Vice President at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. Preceding his position with Chase, Hugh worked for Fleet Bank (now Bank of America) for 6 years as a Vice President of Trust operations. Hugh was also a Vice President at Citibank in the Financial Institutions Group for 7 years and before that, he held senior positions at well- --- --- --known organizations such as Bankers Trust Co. and Bank of Montreal. Mr. Scott is now retired but continues to stay engaged as a Substitute teacher in Franklin High School. Ms. Florence Tedesco, Parish Business Administrator: Currently our Parish Administrator, Florence Tedesco, graduated from Cook College, Rutgers University with a B.S. in Animal Science. She obtained a job working for a software consulting firm that taught her how to program business applications that led her to a position at AT&T as a business manager responsible for billing applications. After leaving the world of telecommunications, she pursued an alternate route teaching path to obtain a NJ Elementary teaching certification and has completed 15 credits toward a Masters in Education. She was a Technology teacher for 7 years both in public and parochial environments. 6