Staff
Paul Kelly | Principal
Paul Kelly | Principal
paul.kelly@quincycatholicacademy.org
Paul Kelly has been a visionary leader, teacher and musician in the Archdiocese of Boston for over 30 years. He began his career in education as a teacher of Music and Theatre at Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree and Notre Dame Academy in Hingham. In 1997, he moved into a leadership role as the principal at Saint Joseph Elementary School in Needham, where he faithfully served for 15 successful years. Under his tenure, Saint Joseph’s became one of the top-rated Elementary Schools in the Diocese. He helped develop a highly reputable Fine Arts Program which was creatively integrated into the entire curriculum and culture of the school.
In 2012, Mr. Kelly was named principal at Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton, where he served for the following 10 years as the primary spiritual, educational, and managerial leader of the school. Concurrently, Paul expanded his role to support the Fine Arts Program at Spellman, while serving as the director of music & theatre for several years.
In 2022, Paul returned to his roots in Quincy, having attended Sacred Heart School, which later became the location of Quincy Catholic Academy, for his earliest schooling years. He is thrilled to come full-circle to help continue to lead this unique institution into the future – to uphold the traditions of academic excellence and spiritual formation and helping to build a community of learning and faith.
In his spare time, Paul is the Director of Music for the Saint J’s Collaborative in Quincy. He enjoys reading on his hammock, dreaming about traveling, and hanging out with his adult children!
Mary O’Neill | Administrative Assistant
Mary O’Neill | Administrative Assistant
mary.oneill@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mary started working in Catholic Schools as a K2 aide at St. Mary’s in Quincy in 1991.
In 2000, she took the position of Administrative Assistant at that school and 2010 she was hired as Administrative Assistant for Quincy Catholic Academy. Mary & her husband live in Weymouth. She has four children and seven grandchildren.
Angela Miller | Business Manager
Angela Miller | Business Manager
Janice Hines | Facilities Coordinator and Office Support
Janice Hines | Facilities Coordinator and Office Support
janice.hines@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Hines’ children started at Sacred Heart School (now Quincy Catholic Academy) 25 years ago. She worked on the PTO for many years then began working in the School Office part time. She continued working for Quincy Catholic Academy when it opened in 2010. Her role(s) here at school are Director of the School Lunch Program, Director of Fundraising and Facilities Director. This building has been “school” to her kids and family for a long time and will always be a second “home.”
Colleen Farrell | Director of Institutional Advancement
Colleen Farrell | Director of Institutional Advancement
colleen.farrell@quincycatholicacademy.org
This is Colleen’s first year as a member of the QCA faculty, although she has been a parent here since it opened in 2010 and at Sacred Heart before that. She has always been very active in the Parent Association, even co-chairing it for a while. She was born and raised on Cape Cod and now she and her husband live in Quincy with their four children, three of whom graduated from QCA, and one of whom is currently a student here.
Colleen’s professional background is in public and media relations, having done so at Dana-FarberCancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund. She is excited to officially be part of the team at QCA now and share her love of the school while securing resources and cultivating partnerships that will enhance the educational experience for all of QCA’s students.
In her spare time, Colleen loves reading, supporting her kids in all of their activities, spending time with her family and friends, and walking her dog on the beach.
Tracy Rixham | Extended Day and Summer Program Coordinator
Tracy Rixham | Extended Day Coordinator
tracy.rixham@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Rixham officially joined the staff in January of 2023 but she has been a member of the QCA community for many years. Both of her children graduated from the school (2016 and 2020) and she also served as President of the Parent Association.
Mrs. Rixham moved to Boston from NJ in 1991 to attend Northeastern University where she received a degree in Journalism. She currently lives in Quincy with her husband, Dave, and their two children, Sarah and John. In her free time, Mrs. Rixham enjoys spending time with her family, going on vacations and sitting on the beach.
Teresa King | Admissions and Office Support
Teresa King | Admissions and Office Support
teresa.king@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. King has worked in Catholic schools since 2001, serving in different job roles. She started as Director of Afterschool at St. Ann’s in 2001 and then as an Administrative Assistant. She came to Quincy Catholic Academy in 2011 as Director of the Afterschool and Summer Program. She has also filled in as a substitute in almost every grade at QCA and was a teacher aide in Pre-K for a year. She now works in the main office as an Administrative Assistant, focusing on Enrollment and Admissions.
Sheila Sterling | School Nurse
Sheila Sterling | School Nurse
nurse@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Sterling began her career as a nurse 30 years ago. Her journey has taken her from a career in oncology in Boston to the doors of QCA in 2017 as the school nurse. Mrs. Sterling feels privileged to be able to care for our students and watch them grow while providing a healthy environment so that each student has the opportunity to achieve academic success.
Mrs. Sterling grew up in Holbrook and moved to Ireland with her family where she went to high school. An amazing experience with the best memories. When she is not at work, she can be found spending hours in her garden, pulling out her camera to capture a moment or maybe tackling a challenging jigsaw puzzle. She will tell you what makes her heart happy are her husband, their children and the 8 grandchildren who call her “Nana”. Spending every possible moment with them and watching them grow is life’s greatest gift.
Amy Marchesano | School Counselor
Amy Marchesano | School Adjustment Counselor
Teachers
Aubrey Comoletti | Preschool
Aubrey Comoletti | Preschool
aubrey.comoletti@quincycatholicacademy.org
Aubrey is new to Quincy Catholic Academy. She worked in Early Childhood for the past 3 years. Aubrey has a 4-year old son named David. She loves to spend time exploring new places.
Joan Dunn | K1
Joan Dunn | K1
joan.dunn@quincycatholicacademy.org
Joan has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters in Second Language. Joan has taught K1 for 27 years! She is also the owner of Forbes School of Irish Dance. She lives in Quincy with her husband and has four children and four granddaughters.
Lisa Fehan | K1
Lisa Fehan | K1
lisa.fehan@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Fehanhas been teaching K-1 at QCA since the school opened in 2010. She is from Plymouth, MA where she lives with her husband and two daughters. She likes to vacation in Maine, loves Disney, and she loves to knit! Her favorite author is Eric Carle.
Jessica Hamilton | K1
Jessica Hamilton | K1
jessica.hamilton@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Hamilton has been in Early Education for many years. She graduated from UMass Boston with a degree in Early Childhood Education. When Mrs. Hamilton is not teaching, she loves doing yoga, reading, and spending time with friends, family, husband and “Fur” Baby Luna!
Nancy Thomas | K2
Nancy Thomas | K2
nancy.thomas@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Thomas has been an educator for over 38 years in various capacities: Early Intervention, teaching Pre-K, assisting in 1st grade Inclusion and Title 1 Reading, and Daycare administration, but has finally found her ‘happy place’ at QCA teaching Kindergarten since 2010. She is an avid reader and animal lover. Nothing makes her happier than sitting on her porch or in her backyard reading and watching her pups play.
Serena Arienti | K2
Serena Arienti | K2
serena.arienti@quincycatholicacademy.org
This is Mrs. Arienti’s second year teaching at QCA. Previously she has taught high school Italian, preschool and kindergarten. Mrs. Arienti enjoys reading, walking with her dogs, and dragging her three children to the beach. She loves vacationing in Italy every summer with her family. Her favorite children’s book is “Where the Red Fern Grows”.
Jill DiTomaso | Grade 1
Jill DiTomaso | Grade 1
jill.ditomaso@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. DiTomaso has been teaching first grade at QCA for 11 years. Previously she taught both first grade and kindergarten at Sacred Heart School for 12 years. She lives on the South Shore with her husband and three children. She enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Emily O'Malley | Grade 1
Emily O'Malley | Grade 1
emily.omalley@quincycatholicacademy.org
Miss O’Malley is a recent graduate from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. With a passion for teaching that began in her junior year at North Quincy High School, she has gained valuable experience working in various daycares and schools throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Her passion continued throughout college, where she was the recipient of the “Elementary Education” Award, given to only one preservice teacher in the major. A local resident of Quincy, Miss O’Malley enjoys painting, cooking, and reading in her free time, as well as spending time with her two cats and dog. She is excited to engage and get to know her students in their learning journeys.
Pamela McGrath | Grade 2
Pamela McGrath | Grade 2
pamela.mcgrath@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. McGrath has been teaching second grade at QCA for 4 years. Before that, she taught 3rd grade at Saint Francis of Assisi School in Braintree for eight years.Mrs. McGrath is a graduate of Stonehill College and a proud mother of two girls. While a junior in college, she lived abroad in Spain with a Spanish-speaking host family. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding and skiing.
Hannah Doherty | Grade 2
Hannah Doherty | Grade 2
hannah.doherty@quincycatholicacademy.org
This is Ms. Doherty’s first year teaching at QCA, however it is her fourth year teaching second grade (her favorite!). Ms. Doherty’s favorite subject to teach is phonics. She enjoys reading to accomplish her Goodreads Goal, skiing in New Hampshire every winter, and catching up with friends. If she weren’t a teacher, Ms. Doherty would be a book editor!
Karen Keohane | Grade 3
Karen Keohane | Grade 3
karen.keohane@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Keohane has been teaching third grade at QCA for 11 years. She has lived in Quincy her entire life and loves teaching about our wonderful city as part of the grade 3 curriculum. In her free time you’ll catch her walking her dog, kayaking in Quincy Bay or enjoying a great book on Merrymount Beach.
Patricia McGowan | Grade 4
Patricia McGowan | Grade 4
patricia.mcgowan@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. McGowen’s lengthy teaching career at QCA is not only a testimony to her love of teaching, but to QCA as well. She often remarks that “QCA is her home away from home”. Mrs. McGowan’s favorite pastime is spending time with her family and friends.
Linda Raneri | Grade 4
Linda Raneri | Grade 4
linda.raneri@quincycatholicacademy.org
Ms. Raneri is a 4th grade teacher at QCA. She graduated from Suffolk University with a degree in Elementary Education and has been a classroom teacher for over 30 years! When she is not teaching, she loves listening to music, traveling and spending time with her husband and two children.
Kelly McDonough | Grade 5
Kelly McDonough | Grade 5
kelly.mcdonough@quincycatholicacademy.org
Miss McDonough is very excited to be teaching 5th Grade! She is looking forward to making new relationships with the families and staff. Born in Quincy, she is a new addition to QCA this year! She is passionate about reading and writing, and excited to share that with all of her students. She shares dedication to the academic and social growth of each child. While not in the school, she is most likely at yoga, or traveling someplace new!
Marisa Politano | Grade 5
Marisa Politano | Grade 5
marisa.politano@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Politano is excited to be returning to QCA to teach fifth grade this year. This will be her fifth year teaching. She promotes a positive classroom environment where all students are welcomed into a safe space to grow and learn. She loves to share her passion for theater arts with her students. A fun fact is that she traveled to Italy with The Stonehill Chapel Choir to sing for Pope Francis in 2017.
Hannah Malatzky | Middle School Science
Hannah Malatzky | Middle School Science
Diane Cobb | Middle School ELA
Diane Cobb | Middle School – ELA
diane.cobb@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Cobb has an MBA and spent several years in the business world before changing careers. She began teaching high school ELA in 2005, and earned her M.Ed. However, once she had the opportunity to work with middle school students in 2007, she found Grades 6, 7, and 8 to be “a perfect fit.” During the summer and whenever possible, she spends time with her grandchildren, walks trails along the Charles River, meets up with old and new friends, and reads.
Christina Brown | Middle School ELA
Christina Brown | Grade 7 – ELA
christina.brown@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Brown has been teaching middle school ELA at QCA since 2016, before that she taught high school at Elizabeth Seton Academy and in the public schools. When not in her classroom, she can be found gardening, reading a book, or cooking for friends and family. Her favorite author is Shakespeare and she loves to see plays or movie adaptations of his work. She also loves poetry. Her mother is a painter and art teacher.
Patricia LaBillois | Middle School Math
Patricia LaBillois | Grade 8 – Math
patricia.labillois@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. LaBillois has been teaching at QCA since its founding in 2010 but has actually been teaching for 45 years! She loves teaching Math and enjoys the transitional years of Middle School. She loves to read and finds joy in spending time with her grandsons!
Marie Gibbons | Middle School Social Studies
Marie Gibbons | Middle School Social Studies
marie.gibbons@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Gibbons has been teaching Social Studies since 1997, at Sacred Heart School and Quincy Catholic Academy and appreciates introducing students to world countries and cultures. She is also passionate about teaching the United States and Massachusetts government. She loves spending time with her grandchildren, and enjoys reading Scandinavian and British mysteries, and watching college football.
Classroom Aides
Hilda Barry | Classroom Aide K-1
Hilda Barry | Classroom Aide K-1
hilda.kingstonbarry@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Barry was born in Cork, Ireland and moved to Massachusetts with her husband 30 years ago. Her 2 children have benefited greatly from a wonderful Catholic school education, and this inspired her to become an educator! She has been working with young children for 14 years and has been part of the early childhood team at QCA for 8 years. She enjoys working with little ones, and is excited to help them explore, learn, grow, have fun, and make every day at QCA a special one!!
Kimberly Castaneda | Grade 1/K1 Classroom Aide
Kimberly Castaneda | Grade 1/K1 Classroom Aide
kimberly.castaneda@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Castaneda has worked with Grade 1 and the early childhood program at QCA since 2015. A North Carolina girl at heart, she now happily calls Massachusetts home. She loves spending time with her family and her dog, Cruz. Some of her favorite things are Thai food, tulips, Target and the NC Tarheels!
Mary Langrill | K2 Aide
Ms. Mary Langrill | K2 Aide
mary.langrill@quincycatholicacademy.org
This is Ms. Langrill’s second year as a Kindergarten Aide working with Mrs. Thomas. Previously, she was a Kindergarten teacher at Sacred Heart School and Quincy Catholic Academy. Ms. Langrill loves the fun, excitement and enthusiasm of seeing the children learn new things. She loves gardening, reading, camping and going on long walks.
Karen Li | Classroom Aide K1
Karen Li | Classroom Aide K1
karenli@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Li was born in Taiwan and moved to Andover Massachusetts when she was entering 9th grade. This is her 11th year working with young children at QCA. She loves working with children of all ages and enjoys seeing them during their lunch hour, which she manages. She also works for the Extended Day Program. Mrs. Li has two children who graduated from QCA. She loved QCA so much, she decided to be part of its wonderful community. She enjoys spending time with her family and her fur baby, Paislee.
Kimberly McDonnell | K-1 Classroom Aide
Kimberly McDonnell (Ms. Kim) | K-1 Classroom Aide
kim.mcdonnell@quincycatholicacademy.org
This is Ms. Kim’s 6th year at QCA. She started her first 2 years as the Early Childhood Music Teacher and is now in K-1. She enjoys spending time with family which includes her husband, 6 children and her 1st granddaughter, Elliot. She loves vacationing in Prince Edward Island every summer and her favorite holiday is Christmas.
Denise Medeiros | K2 Classroom Aide
Denise Medeiros | K2 Classroom Aide
denise.medeiros@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Medeiros, also known as “Mrs. M.,” has been working as a Kindergarten Aide since the opening of QCA in 2010. She loves working with the little ones in the Kindergarten Classroom and finds her job to be most rewarding when watching the excitement in the child’s eyes as they are learning new things. Mrs. M. loves animals and cooking – her favorite food is pizza!
Maria Sceppa | Classroom Aide
Ms. Sceppa | Classroom Aide and Extended Day Supervisor
maria.sceppa@quincycatholicacademy.org
Ms. Sceppa has been a K-1 Aide at QCA since 2012. This year her new role includes the Extended Day Program as well as many other duties. Cooking and entertaining friends and family is a passion of Ms. Sceppa’s. She feels very blessed to be part of this amazing QCA family.
Kathee Swan | PreK Classroom Aide
Kathee Swan | PreK Classroom Aide
kathee.swan@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Swan has worked at QCA since the opening in 2010. She enjoys reading, baking and camping in Maine. She loves spending summer vacations with her family – especially her grandchildren!
Colleen Stevenson | K2 Classroom Aide
Colleen Stevenson | Classroom Aide K2
Ms. Stevenson is a lifelong resident of Quincy and has been at QCA since its founding in 2010. Before QCA, she was a Classroom Aide for K2 at Sacred Heart School. She loves her job and watching the kids learn and grow! She always tries to make learning fun! She loves to read and spend time with her pups.
Kathy Nazzaro | PreK Classroom Aide
Kathy Nazzaro | PreK Classroom Aide
kathy.nazzaro@quincycatholicacademy.org
Kathy Nazzaro, also known as “Mrs. Naz” is entering her 10th year as a pre-k teacher’s aide here at QCA. Kathy says the best part of being in the Pre-k classroom is witnessing the growth the students make not only academically, but emotionally and socially during the school year, it is so rewarding for Kathy!
Kathy loves to read, plays a mean game of cribbage, and loves spending time with her family!
Specialists
Shannen Dunn | Physical Education Teacher
Shannen Dunn | Physical Education Teacher
shannen.dunn@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Dunn is the Physical Education teacher at QCA. It is her first year teaching PE, however she has been a part of the QCA family for seven years. She is a mother of two girls – McKinley and Shaelyn Dunn. Fun fact about Shannen is that she played ice hockey her whole life from the age 6 all the way up to the college level. She absolutely loves teaching!
Christine Lynch | Special Education Teacher
Christine Lynch | Special Education Teacher
Mrs. Lynch has been teaching reading at QCA since 2015. Previously she taught in Ma public schools as a moderate special needs teacher, certified grades K – 12. She holds certification in Orton-Gillingham and Wilson Reading, and loves teaching students to read! She enjoys teaching at QCA because of a true feeling of closeness, community, and caring due to the smaller size of the school. Outside of school, her beautiful family keeps her very busy.
Annmarie Gooden | Art Teacher
Annmarie Gooden | Art Teacher
annmarie.gooden@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mrs. Gooden has been teaching Visual arts for the past 34 years in two different countries, Jamaica and the USA. She taught students at various schools from PreK to grade 13. She has been teaching at QCA since 2011. She is a lover of sports and is a very good volleyball player and coach as well as a certified Table Tennis Coach. Her favorite artist is Vincent van Gogh and her favorite color is purple.
Lynne Kwarcinski | Music Teacher (PreK-Grade 5)
Lynne Kwarcinski | Music Teacher (PreK-Grade 5)
lynne.kwarcinski@quincycatholicacademy.org
Ms. Kwarcinski joined the Faculty at QCA in the fall of 2021. She taught Music to students in Grades K-5 for 38 years in the Concord, MA Public Schools. Upon her retirement in 2020, her career was highlighted in an education segment on the TV newsmagazine, Chronicle. Ms. Kwarcinski was selected as a Class Act teacher in WCVB-TV’s “Great Expectations” campaign that profiled outstanding teachers in MA, who pursued excellence and best represented the teaching profession. Ms. K. was a church organist and even auditioned to be a Rockette. Writing letters, attending musicals, reading, traveling and exercising are her pleasures.
Barry Maguire | Computer Teacher
Barry Maguire | Computer Teacher
barry.maguire@quincycatholicacademy.org
Mr. Maguire has been the computer teacher at Quincy Catholic Academy since 2014. Under his leadership, the technology at QCA has become state-of-the-art. The school currently has a Apple Lab of 22 Imacs, several sets of student Chromebooks and iPads and Apple TV Projectors in every classroom. Student projects range from ABC mouse to robots in the True Robotics program. Working and programming the robots is one of Mr. Maguire’s favorite pastimes.
Margy Hanna | Librarian
Margy Hanna | Librarian
margaret.hanna@quincycatholicacademy.org
Working with children gives Mrs Hanna great joy, especially when they make her laugh. After earning a Masters Degree in Children’s Literature from Simmons University, Mrs. Hanna left the classroom after “many, many years,” and became the School Librarian. In this capacity she is able to share her love of history and books. She spends her free time giving Historic Tours of Quincy and reading with her three grandchildren. Her favorite pastime is reading and learning about the History of Quincy.
