Lower School
“You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; and just so, you learn to love by loving.”
-St. Francis de Sales
Mrs. Linda Klein, Fifth Grade Math and Science
Bio coming soon - please check back!
Mr. Anthony Marchetta, Fifth Grade Humanities Teacher
Bio coming soon- please check back!
Mrs. Susanne Tyrrell, Fourth Grade Teacher
Susanne Tyrrell has a Bachelor’s of Science in Education (Elementary and Special Education) from Kutztown University, and she homeschooled her own children for several years. During that time, she shared her knowledge and expertise by leading a large homeschool coop. After her family joined OLMC School, she was the president of the OLMC Home and School Association, and enjoyed working with fellow parents to organize events for the school community. She is inspired as a teacher by the words of Saint John Paul II: “Jesus does not say ‘no’ to the authentic demands of the heart, but only a clear, loud ‘yes’ to life, to love, to freedom, to peace and to hope. With Him no goal is impossible and even a small act of generosity grows and can lead to change.”
Mrs. Tyrrell and her adventurous husband, Chris, have nine children. She delights in traveling and meeting people of different cultures, and has been fortunate to travel to Europe, Ghana, Israel, Egypt, Nicaragua, and throughout the United States. She also runs a cottage maple syrup business, and enjoys raising chickens, hiking, and reading.
Mrs. Maggie Killackey, Fourth Grade Teacher
Maggie Killackey credits her father with inspiring her lifelong love of learning. He helped her to see the world as a place of endless wonder and beauty, an experience she strives to share with each of her students.
She graduated from Villanova University with a BA in Economics and dual minors in Philosophy and Business. Following a career in human resources, she immersed herself in homeschooling her own four children, guiding their education from kindergarten through high school. A love of teaching is a passion she has passed on to her children, as all of them are currently teaching in various capacities.
Mrs. Killackey has also taught online classes to other homeschooled students, spent many years coordinating her parish’s high school youth group, and was caregiver to the elderly. She is now enjoying her new role as a grandmother to her two (perfect!) grandchildren.
Mrs. Kristine Cade, Third Grade Teacher
Bio coming soon - please check back!
Mr. Nick Falzarano, Third Grade Teacher
Bio coming soon - please check back!
Mrs. Laurie Hain, Second Grade Teacher
Mrs Hain has been teaching for over 25 years, and most recently was a Pre-K teacher for 6 years. We are very happy to have her expertise and enthusiasm in our second grade classroom! Check back soon for more!
Mrs. Bridget Tierney, Second Grade Teacher and LS Division Head
Bridget Tierney has always enjoyed watching her students develop their own interests and abilities, and so she was drawn to the student-centered approach at OLMC School. She loves teaching second grade in particular because she gets to explore a wide-range of subjects with her students–from the humanities to math and science to the Catholic faith. She received a bachelor’s degree from Caldwell University, where she majored in Education (K-6) and Special Education (K-12). After teaching in Catholic schools for over a decade, she still finds that teaching fuels her own passion for learning and discovery. She is currently enrolled in the Catholic Educator Formation and Credential Program through the Augustine Institute to further explore the Church’s rich educational tradition.
Mrs. Tierney and her husband enjoy traveling and exploring the outdoors accompanied by their dog, who enjoys belly rubs and barking at chipmunks.
Ms. Alyssa DeBlasis, First Grade Teacher
When Alyssa DeBlasis was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she always answered, “I’m going to be a teacher and a professional basketball player!” These two passions have continued to inspire her. She graduated cum laude from Cabrini University with a degree in education and a focus on special education. For the last nine years, she has helped to run the Caldwell-West Caldwell Recreation summer camp for children in grades 1-8. She also started and leads a summer math and reading program. After playing four years of varsity basketball in high school, she has continued her love of sports through various coaching opportunities, and is currently head coach of the OLMC 4th-5th grade girls basketball team.
In her free time, Miss DeBlasis likes to play basketball and is an avid reader—just ask her how many books she’s read so far this year! She also enjoys spending time with her family at the beach and taking walks in nature. A passionate sports fan, she frequently attends games for her favorite New York sports teams: the Giants, Knicks, Rangers, and Yankees.
Mrs. Lauren Zeris, First Grade Teacher
Bio coming soon - please check back!
Mrs. Carolyn Clark, Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. Clark earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education with a minor in Mathematics from Saint John’s University (Jamaica, NY) and a Masters in Education from Queens College (Flushing, NY). Following college and graduate school, she participated in the Writing Workshop at Teachers’ College (Columbia University) for two summers, during which she learned the value of great books and stories that capture children’s attention. She continued her education at the Circe Institute, during which she refined the foundational skills of her classical approach. Among the many delights of teaching, her greatest joy is sharing a good book that utterly enchants her students.
After teaching all grades in Catholic, public, and private schools, staying home to raise her two daughters, serving as an aide and substitute at OLMC, and caring for her parents, Mrs. Clark is thrilled to be back at the school where children learn to love God, one another, and learning!