Welcome New Faculty & Staff

As we kick off the 2020-2021 school year, we'd like to recognize familiar faces in new roles and welcome new faces to our Padua Community.

 Lauren DiSabatino
Athletic Director

Padua Academy's new Athletic Director, Ms. DiSabatino is excited to bring all she has "learned along the way as a player, and a coach to the forefront of Padua’s Athletic Program." 
 
Ms DiSabatino has been a member of the Padua faculty and administration for the past 15-years. During her tenure she has served as a Health and PE teacher, Associate Athletic Director and Interim Athletic Director, as well as Volleyball Coach for the Freshmen Team (2005), JV Team (2006-2012) and Padua’s Varsity Volleyball Team (2012-2019) which won multiple DIAA State Titles.
 
As a member of CYO athletics since fourth grade, Ms. DiSabatino’s love for the game would follow her from Ursuline Academy grade school to St. Elizabeth’s High School, where she was a 4-year starter for the St. E’s Varsity Volleyball Team.
 
While at St. E’s she met her mentor, Mr. Tom Bedow. When he asked her "what I wanted to do with my future, the answer was simple. I wanted to be an Athletic Director and help athletes have the same love for sports that I did. And so I have been working towards that ever since.”
 
Ms. DiSabatino’s list of accomplishments include being named a two-time 1st Team Delaware All-state award recipient, and Delaware’s Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year in 2001.



Tori Closson
Coordinator of Student Culture

Tori Closson has been a member of the Padua Academy staff for 11 years, serving as head coach for Padua's Dance Team and now in her new position as Coordinator of Student Culture. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Ms. Closson is a graduate of Padua Academy's Class of 1994. She then attended and graduated from Hampton University in 1999 receiving a BA in English Arts.
 
Ms. Closson has had a storied career in dance and media in the Philadelphia region, most notably creating the WTXF 'Good Day Philadelphia' Hip Hop Dance Team while writing and producing for their morning show. She has also choreographed for all the major Philadelphia professional and college sports teams, including the 76ers and the Kixx. Not to mention being a dancer herself, appearing with the likes of Neil Young and the NY Giants.

Ms. Closson was asked to expand her role at Padua because of her long-standing success with creating a very inclusive environment for Padua's Dance Team and well as her own business. She brings over two-decades of experience as an African American female business owner and teacher and coach.
 
We couldn't be more excited to see what she will introduce to our community this school year and beyond!

Rainbow Shaw-Giaquinto
Underclass Dean of Students & Head Volleyball Coach

Mrs. Shaw-Giaquinto is in her 15th year teaching Health/PE at Padua Academy. Earning a BS in Physical Education (with a minor in coaching) from SUNY Brockport in Western NY, she hopes to instill in her students a lifelong love of health and fitness. Mrs. Giaquinto has worn several hats during her time in the Big Box of Love: department chair, the Freshman in Transition team moderator, faculty liaison for Padua PTA and, for many years, funnel cake booth manager at St. Anthony's Italian Festival.
 
Currently, she is the head coach of Padua’s defending state championship varsity volleyball team and now also serves as the Underclass Dean of Students. Although deans are often seen as disciplinarians, she wants students to know that their success is the ultimate goal. As Dean, Mrs. Giaquinto hopes to foster a relationship with students built on trust, mutual respect and kindness.

Maria Kilmon
Upperclass Dean of Students
 
Mrs. Kilmon has been a member of the faculty since 2015. Having her Undergraduate degree from Marymount University in Theology and Religious studies she has taught Paschal Mystery and the Church as well as Comparative Religions here at Padua. She has been a part of and led many different extra curricular activities during her time here including Junior Varsity volleyball coach from 2014-2016, Student Council Moderator 2016, 2018-2020, and AGAPE and Sister of Strength club moderator. This year Mrs. Kilmon has welcomed the new position of Upper Class Dean as a part of her role at Padua. She looks forward to the opportunity to work together with the Administration and Mrs. Giaquinto to foster community between students and families while living the model of softly but strongly.

Dr. MaryAnn Wallen
Associate Director of Campus Ministry

This year Dr. Wallen began her 14th year in Catholic education and her 9th at Padua Academy.  Dr. Wallen has degrees in Education and Theology and completed her Doctorate at Duke University in September of 2018.  In addition to her role as a teacher in the Religious Studies department, this year Dr. Wallen was given the opportunity to share her expertise in Theology on a larger scale by assuming the position of Associate Director of Campus Ministry.  She is looking forward to working with the students, faculty, and administration in this new role.


Fred Okocha
Math & Science Teacher

Fred Okocha will be teaching Physics and Pre-Calculus. He earned a BSV in Physics from Delat State in Negeria, a MSV in Petroleum Geophysics from the Imperial College in London. In addition to industrial experience had has taught physics in Niegeria and most recently was a math teacher at St. Anne’s Episcopal School.



Sarah Smith
Math Teacher

Sarah Smith is teaching Statistics and AP Stat. She has a BA in Business Management, MA in Education Studies from WIlmington University and a BS in Accounting from Goldey Beacom College and anticipates competing her Doctorate of Business Administration in May.






Kiersten Bonsall
PE Teacher

Kiersten is joining us through our relationship with ATI as Athletic Trainer, Once athletics resumes, Kiersten will be teaching our Sports Medicine course. She is a graduate of West Chester University and completed her practicum at Archmere. Sports Medicine as an elective course.








Anne McDonald
Part-time Chorus Teacher

Join me in welcoming Anne McDonald as our part-time Chorus Teacher. She most recently served as piano and SAT prep teacher at Newark Charter and her prio experience at MOT Charger and the ELkton School District.



Samantha Bonvetti
Assistant Athletic Director

Ms. Bonvetti will be teaching in the PE & Health Department. She is a graduate of Immaculata University where she majored in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology. She has coached lacrosse and basketball and has worked as a SPorts Performance Trainer/Personal Trainer at Titus.














Brittney Snider
Counselor

Ms. Snider was most recently the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Drexel University. She is a Communications graduate of Rowan University and has experience in Marketing and Public Relations.











Tiffany Reams
Counselor

Ms. Reams is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a Psychology degree and recently completed her Master of Education in School Counseling from Salem State University. Tiffany has also been a substitute teacher and intern/volunteer at Supports Kidds where she assisted with grief counseling and development office efforts.


Anne Powers
English Teacher

Join me in welcoming Anne Powers as one of our English Teachers. Ms. Powers....
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