(Oneida Castle, NY – Oct. 2015) Christina Laucello, a 2008 graduate of Holy Cross Academy, returned to her alma mater this year to join the HCA faculty. She is teaching the 7th, 8th and 9th grade English classes as well as 9th grade religion and the 11th grade Theology of the Body course.
After her graduation from HCA, Laucello earned her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. She went on to spend three years in St. Louis, Mo. as a member of AmeriCorps serving as a teaching assistant in an inner city school. There she also worked on a program to teach low-income parents how to improve their children’s early learning. She then returned to her home in Clinton where she pursued a career in creative writing, which she plans to continue alongside her teaching.
Now at HCA Laucello is enjoying getting to know her students and reading their writings.
“I hope the kids can learn a lot about the Catholic Faith and become better writers and readers,” she said,” Laucello said. “I want them to develop an interest in English.”
She aims to do what she can to make her students’ HCA experience as valuable as hers was. “HCA was a great foundation for me. It was a good safe environment, and I’m still very close to my high school friends. HCA made a big difference for me,” she said.
Ellen Gigliotti joined the Holy Cross Academy faculty this year teaching 7th and 8th grade religion classes and conducting retreats.
Originally from West Winfield she worked as a veterinary assistant in Alaska until she discovered her vocation to teaching in her late 20s. She went to Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio to obtain her degree in education and has completed a three-year program of certification in spiritual direction from Our Lady of Divine Providence in Clearwater, Fla.
After teaching in Steubenville for 17 years, Gigliotti returned to New York to be near family. Here she was Pastoral Associate at St. Patrick’s in Boonville and a teacher at St. Patrick’s School in Oneida. Over the years she has taught many religion classes from First Communion through Confirmation as well as classes for college students.
She says she enjoys being at HCA. “As soon as you walk in the place, you feel at home,” she said. “I feel very blessed to be here.”
She was inspired by the recent visit of Pope Francis to the United States.
“I was so captivated by him,” Gigliotti said. “I’d like to take on the messages of what he was saying about living the life of Christ and try to have the students embrace his messages too.”