Roni Facen - rfacen@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 4th Year and Alumnae
Current Position: Principal and CEO

Since graduating from SFDS in 2006, she has earned a B.A in secondary education from St. Xavier University, a Masters in Education Leadership from Aurora University, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Aurora University. She is a first-generation South Chicago kid that “ was blessed to have been raised to believe that the only limitations that exist are the ones that you set for yourself.” This is what she wants to instill in today’s pioneers — a sincere belief that with hard work they can rise to any height.

Lorena Arciga- larciga@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 1st Year
Current Position: English Teacher

Lorena Arciga was born and raised on the East Side of Chicago. After graduating from Jane Addams, she moved to Indiana and for high school and college. After graduating from Indiana University with a B.A. in History and a minor in Anthropology, she began a job as a substitute teacher. The job was meant to be temporary while looking for something in her career field but as soon as she started having her own classroom, she fell in love with teaching and decided to pursue teachign as a career. She has many hobbies when not in a classroom, including: knitting, crocheting, painting, and embroidery. She has recently become a plant mom and is looking forward to learning more about plants and adopting more. She really enjoys reading, particularly Stephen King novels and celebrity memoirs.

Tony Browner - tbrowner@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 2nd Year
Current Position: Math

Tony Browner grew up south of Chicago, graduating from Lincoln Way North high school, and got his associates in Applied Mathematics from Joliet Junior college before transferring to Iowa State University. At Iowa State University he switched from Chemical Engineering to Mathematics after finding more enjoyment in tutoring than programming. During his practicum, he recognized that he wanted to teach in the city after his student teaching went pleasantly in Des Moines Iowa. He got his Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics May of 2022 and joined the SFDS family soon after. He understands that building a strong community is important and is involved in the lifting club and gaming club, two things that carried over from ISU. During his breaks it is common to find him tutoring, playing basketball, or playing games with students.

Megan Calleros - mcalleros@southeastsideincubator.org
Tenure at SFDS: 2nd Year
Current Position: SSEI Work Study Relationship Manager

Megan Calleros is the relationship manager for the Southeast Side Experience Incubator (SSEI) and is working with students to give them the supports needed to navigate their work study experience. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a major in psychology and an emphasis in social work. She has 8 years of experience working in a professional office setting and her goal for the 2022-2023 school year is for the students to develop and enhance their leadership and communication skills so that they can succeed throughout college and careers and thrive when they enter the work force.

Hugo Chavez -hchavez@southeastsideincubator.org
Tenure at SFDS: 3rd Year
Current Position: Director of SSEI Work Study Program

Mr. Chavez  has a degree in Accounting from Bradley University and a Masters in Business Administration (Marketing) from DePaul University. He has also passed his Illinois Certified Public Accountant exam. His work experiences are quite varied.  Out of college he worked for a small start up company followed by 12 years at McDonald’s Corp. He has also worked at three different start-ups.  He is especially proud of his  work as the Director of the Corporate Work Study Program at two different Cristo Rey Schools in Illinois where he learned a lot about working with high school students and building relationships with dozens of the organizations that employ students. His responsibilities included all the operations of the program including transportation, student training, automation of systems, coaching/mentoring students and finding new job partners.

He has been involved with SFDS through the Big Shoulders Fund since 2018 and is very excited to be working with Roni and her team on this exciting endeavor!

Carol Hahn -chahn@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 5th Year
Current Position: Math

Ms. Hahn has been teaching for 39 years! She grew up in northern Indiana and graduated from Valparaiso University. She has three brothers, two of whom are electrical engineers. Math was always her favorite subject in school. She has taught at St. Luke Academy and at St. Philip Lutheran School. She is married with two adult children and enjoys reading and being with her family in her spare time.

Paul Hunt - phunt@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 5th Year
Current Position: English

Paul Hunt received his Bachelor's in English Rhetoric from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, a Master's in Music from Northwestern University, and a Master's in Educational Leadership from Loyola University-Chicago. He has taught English for eleven years and served in administrative positions -- in Illinois, California, and the United Arab Emirates -- for seventeen years. He is married with three children at home and one already grown. When he's not teaching, preparing to teach, or grading student work, he can be found playing guitar, lifting weights, or adding to his growing fictional narrative of the years 1982 through 1991.

Ms. Jane Healy -jhealy@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 5th Year
Current Position: Science
Total Years Teaching: Many Years

Ms. Jane Healy has a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and is finishing her MA at St. Xavier. She has been teaching for many years. Before taking time to raise her children, she taught Biology at Mother McAuley and Bremen High School. She came back to teaching five years ago starting back as a long term sub first and then teaching at a charter school in Chicago. Ms. Healy is an avid biker! For the past 18 years she has biked to work and for errands. She also grows orchids, has an array of pets and loves Harry Potter, Star Wars and anime.

Mr. Mike Healy - mhealy@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 3rd year
Current Position: History
Total Years Teaching: Many Years

Mr. Mike Healy was born on the South Side of Chicago. He received a B.A. in Fine Arts from SIU-C in 1982 after which, he joined the United States Army and served as an Armored crew specialist. While serving in Germany he guarded the Armed Forces Network transmitter during the Bears Super Bowl win. Truly protecting the American way of life. He received his teaching credentials from St. Xavier College and spent over 20 years teaching in Chicago Public Schools before retiring. Principal Facen and Mrs. Healy lured him out of retirement with the dynamic things going on at St Francis de Sales.

Gabe Jankowski - gjankowski@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 4th Year
Current Position: Science Teacher

Mr. Gabriel Jankowski is an Illinois native and recent graduate of the Florida Institute of Technology, where he received two Bachelor’s degrees - one in Biology and one in STEM Education. Prior to college, he attended the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, where he discovered his passion for teaching science. This is his first full-time teaching position, and he is super excited to make a splash here at SFDS! When he’s not teaching, Mr. Jankowski is likely playing video games, trading card games (mostly Magic the Gathering), Dungeons and Dragons with friends, or reading manga.

Ms. Kim Jewell - kjewell@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 2nd Year
Current Position: Operations Director

Kimberlee Jewell, is an Experienced Director Of Operations with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry 6 years as well as 20+ years in property management.  Ms Jewell graduated from Hammond High School and studied at IUPUI. She has been married for 16 years and is a mother of 3.she is skilled in Strategic Planning, Business Process Improvement, Leadership, and Program Management. Certified School Safety Specialist, Certified Property Manager, Certified Professional Manager, and Project Manager.

SFDS has a special place in her heart as she has family members that are VERY PROUD alumni as well as played key roles in athletic success in the 80’s and 90’s. 

Her primary goal is to help remove the obstacles between facility and instruction for the success of staff and scholars. “I have been stretched and willing to stretch even more.  I will work in a capacity that fills voids and supports to achieve success!” -KimJ

Dr. Johnson - cjohnson@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 1st Year
Current Position: Band Director and Music Teacher

Dr. Johnson was born on the west side of Chicago and is a product of Catholic school education. As result of music at his high school, he decided to teach music in underprivileged schools. He has been teaching music for more than twenty years. Music has the ability to change a person’s disposition and perspective on life. He believes music and instruments help eliminate negative thoughts out of students’ heads and hands, and with it, we will have a better community. We are always in need of percussion and wind instruments so please reach out. We want all of St. Francis students to experience the life changing power and beauty of music.

Mr. Larry Moore - lmoore@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 1st Year (as teacher!)
Current Position: Basketball Coach, PE

A native of Hammond, Indiana, Coach Moore Jr was a two All- State Player at St Francis De Sales HS Chicago IL, He played one season at Eastern Illinois University and two seasons at University of Southern Indiana, finished his collegiate career at Loras College , where he earned Division III district honors.
Prior to taking over Hammond High, Moore served three seasons as head coach and Athletic Director at Air Force Academy HS, and 9 seasons as an Head JV coach at Hammond High and Sports Youth Foundation AAU Program. He is a Nine-time conference coach of the year, NWI Times Newspaper Coach of the Year 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2021. He has eleven years of head coaching experience and was sectional championships in 2018,2019,2020,2021,2023 and Regional Championship, 2023 for Hammond High/Hammond Central. With an overall win record of 181-77!

Ms. Aaisha Muhammad -amuhammad@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 2nd Year
Current Position: Guidance Counselor

Aaisha Muhammad is a recent graduate of Governors State University. She has a major in psychology with a preclinical concentration. She is very excited about her role and loves working with our youth & being available for emotional as well as educational needs. Please fill out a form here to schedule a time to meet or reach out to her here amuhammad@sfdshs.org

Sr. Bernadette Nabaggaia - bnabaggaia@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 5th Year
Current Position: Theology

Sister. Bernadette Nabaggala is a religious Sister who belongs to the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary.  She was born and raised in Uganda in East Africa.  She has been teaching for seven years; places include Uganda, Kenya and USA.  She holds a BA in Education from Uganda and a BA in psychology and Theology from Silver Lake College of the Holy Family in Wisconsin.  Sr. Bernadette holds two graduate degrees-one in Religious Education and another in Theological Studies from Boston College in Massachusetts. Sister Bernadette has had several opportunities of helping out as a teacher assistant. The one thing Sr. Bernadette enjoys in life is spending time with nature, writing nature poetry, taking walks woods and tending to flowers and other plants.  

Roger Ochoa - rochoa@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 3rd Year
Current Position: Athletic Director and Dean of Students

Roger Ochoa received his Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He passed the bar in 2005 and worked for two Chicago law firms before starting his own practice. Mr. Ochoa is an alumnus of St. Francis de Sales High School and during his four years there was a part of the baseball and football teams. After graduating from St. Francis de Sales, Roger went on to play football and baseball for the University of St. Francis. He is married with kids and throughout the years has coached his sons’ baseball teams. Roger is a Chicago sports fan and loves the White Sox, Bears and Bulls.

Mary Kay Ramirez - mramirez@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 39 years
Current Position: Director of Community Relations
Total Years Teaching/Other: 25 years teaching + 6 years Principal

Mrs. Ramirez is originally from Merrillville, IN. and attended both Catholic grade school and high school. She received her B.A. in Art Education, M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction, and went through a two year Administrative License Program at Purdue University. Besides teaching, she has held the positions of Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Principal, Art Club Moderator, Parents Club Moderator, Pom Pom Coach and Golf Coach. Mrs. Ramirez seriously loves walks on the beach. She also likes to read, watch movies, play golf, and spend time with family and friends. 

Arlene Ramos - aramos@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 20 years
Current Position: Front Office/Registrar
Total Years Teaching/Other: 13 years Head Volleyball Coach at SFDS, 8 years Main Office, 3 years Athletic Director

Mrs. Ramos was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and is an Alum of SFDS class of '78. She is married with two daughters and a grandmother to one. Mrs. Ramos is a big time Chicago sports fan. She also loves spending time with family and friends. Like many other proud SFDS Alumni, she is "known to bleed blue and gold."

Stephen Sanchez -ssanchez@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 10 years
Current Position at SFDS: Social Studies/ Recruiter/ Associate Dean of Students and Culture 

Mr. Sanchez is an East Side native. He received his undergrad from Eastern Illinois University and his graduate degree from University of Illinois in Champaign. For six years he was a mental health counselor at Rush University Medical Center. Three interesting facts about Mr. Sanchez are he won a fifth grade basketball championship in 1995, his favorite song is Wonderwall (not to be confused with Ms. Ramirez's favorite song Wonderland [1961], and he is one of the many people who believe Jon Snow is alive.

Diana Serrano -dserrano@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 23 years
Current Position: Academic Dean/English Teacher

Ms. Serrano is from East Chicago, Indiana and currently lives in Hammond, Indiana. She received her degree from Calumet College of St. Joseph. Ms. Serrano served as Student Council and Freshman Class Moderator and worked with the Book Club and Newspaper. She loves reading, traveling, and photography. Her favorite TV shows are The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and American Horror Story. Ms. Serrano is also a White Sox and Blackhawks fan.

Sr.Maddy Takyala -mtakyala@sfdshs.org
Tenure at SFDS: 6th Year
Current Position: Theology, English & Computers

Sister. Maddy Takyala was born and raised in Uganda. She is Roman Catholic Religious Sister in the Daughters of Mary Congregation (Bannabiikira), Bwanda- Masaka, Uganda- East Africa. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Education from Silver Lake College of the Holy Family in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She also has an associate degree in Evangelization (Catechesis) from Villa Maria Catechetical center, Masaka - Uganda. She is currently pursuing her MA in English and Creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University.   Sr. Maddy is a game developer, web programmer, and writes short stories, poems, folktales, songs, and riddles related to religion, culture, computer, and her continent Africa. She is the author of All in One Microsoft Processing and Luganda-English Folktales: Engero Ensonge mu Luganda n'oluzungu.