Camille Nieves is a Fort Myers native and has been dedicated to early childhood education since 1992. She began her career in the after-school program while still in high school. Her passion for working with children and being a part of the St. Francis family guided her to become the Director of Sister Elaine Mahoney Early Education Center. Throughout the years she maintained several accreditations and certifications, including an Early Education Directors Credential attained from Florida Southwest State College and Department of Children and Families.

JoAnna Morris holds a master’s degree in Education from Florida State University and has over 15 years of classroom teaching experience. In her spare time, she and her family enjoy the beach and visiting that loveable mouse in Orlando.

Liz Gerlach is originally from Kansas but has called Southwest Florida her home for more than 20 years. She graduated from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, with a planned major in English and History. When it was time for a career change, she enrolled in education classes at Florida Gulf Coast University and has since completed 30+ credit hours in early childhood education. She has taught Pre-K/VPK for almost 10 years. In her spare time, she loves reading, spending time with her family, and snow skiing.

Anne is a St. Francis Xavier and Bishop Verot High School alum. She attended college at Florida Gulf Coast University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She has taught VPK, kindergarten, first grade, and third grade. In her spare time, Anne enjoys reading, going to the beach, boating, and traveling with her family.

Ms. Gabriella Michelangeli was born and raised in Venezuela and moved to the United States 12 years ago. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Andrés Bello Catholic University in Venezuela. Before joining St. Francis, Ms. Michelangeli taught in Venezuela as well as in the Lee County and Collier County School Districts. She has been an educator for 19 years and has taught kindergarten, first, fourth, and fifth grades. For the past several years, she has been teaching kindergarten, where she enjoys helping young learners build a strong foundation for future success. Ms. Michelangeli is excited to be part of the St. Francis Falcon family. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, camping, and spending quality time with her family.

Mrs. Daley grew up in Chicago. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Sociology from Illinois State University and her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from National Louis University. Shortly after getting married, she moved to Estero, Florida, with her husband and taught first grade in the Lee County School District for 16 years. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and watching her girls play lacrosse.

Alexis Anklam was born and raised in Delaware, before moving to Florida to attend Florida Gulf Coast University. While at FGCU, she was the Vice President of the Equestrian Team. She graduated with her bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education, and has taught Kindergarten and First grade in the Lee County School District. When she is not teaching you can either find her coaching gymnastics, working out, or spending time with family.

Mrs. McElhone grew up outside of Buffalo, NY (Go Bills!). She received her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Daemen College, and her Master’s in Literacy from the University at Buffalo. She moved to Southwest Florida after completing her Masters in 2011 and has taught Kindergarten, 1st grade and Special Education in Collier County for 10 years. In her free time she enjoys reading, working out, and spending time outside with her family.

Brooke Whatley is a Fort Myers native and proud alumna of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School and Bishop Verot Catholic High School. She has served as a Teacher Assistant at St. Francis Xavier for the past seven years, working in both 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms. Mrs. Whatley holds a bachelor’s degree in business Supervision and Management from Florida SouthWestern State College and has earned her Florida Teaching Certificate. As a St. Francis Xavier alumna, she feels especially grateful to now be part of the school community that helped shape her own education. She is passionate about working with children and is committed to creating a classroom environment where every student feels supported, valued, and confident in their learning. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling.

Madeline Rodriguez was born outside of Chicago, IL and moved to Fort Myers at a young age. She is a proud alumni of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School and Bishop Verot High School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business from Loyola University Chicago. Before Ms. Rodriguez started teaching, she worked in Product Management and Marketing for 5 years. She joined St Francis Xavier in 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling!

Jenna Haefeli was born and raised in Fort Myers and is a product of Catholic education attending both St. Andrews and Bishop Verot High School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Florida Southwestern University. Prior to St. Francis, Mrs. Haefeli taught in the Lee County School District for five years. During her free time, she likes to travel, go to the beach, and spend time with her family and friends.

Mrs. Engel was born in Indiana but moved to California with her family at a young age. She returned to Indiana for high school, but soon realized she missed the sunshine and warm weather. That led her to Fort Myers, where she attended Florida Gulf Coast University and earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. She has enjoyed teaching kindergarten, first, and second grade in the Lee County School District and is now thrilled to be teaching third grade at St. Francis Xavier. Helping children grow academically, socially, and spiritually is her greatest joy.

Lory Hendricks is originally from Point Pleasant, New Jersey. She moved to Florida in 2003 and has taught in Bonita Springs and Gateway and spent 11 years in the Lee County School District. She graduated from Monmouth University in West Long Beach, New Jersey, where she majored in Special Education. While in college, she studied abroad in London for a semester and traveled throughout Europe.

Mrs. Macaluso was previously a first-grade assistant and is now a lead first-grade teacher. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she has lived in Southwest Florida for 16 years. She received her degree from Ball State University in Indiana with an emphasis in Sociology and Psychology of Human Development. She is currently finishing her Master’s degree in Education. Mrs. Macaluso enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and doing outdoor activities.

Miss Privette is originally from Fort Myers and is a proud alum of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School and St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples, Florida. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Florida Gulf Coast University. Prior to joining first grade, she served as the third and fifth grade teacher’s assistant and the After Care Director at St. Francis. Allison loves cruising anywhere, going to amusement parks, reading, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers (even when they aren’t winning).

Reagan Potter was raised in Fort Myers and is a proud alum of St. Francis Xavier School. This is her 6th year as an educator, and prior to joining St. Francis she had taught ESE and 3rd grade. She loves to spend time with friends and family, travel, and watch sports. She is an avid Detroit Lions fan. She is passionate about working with kids, and loves the opportunity to be able to contribute to, and witness, their academic and personal growth.

Mrs. Ciulla spent the last 10 years teaching language arts for the Lee County School District at the middle school level. She graduated with her bachelor’s in middle grades language arts and reading endorsement from Edison State College. She is dedicated to her work and has always had a passion for teaching young learners. Born in New York but raised in Florida, Mrs. Ciulla enjoys going to the beach, boating, and doing anything outdoors.

Born and raised in the Midwest, Mrs. Schaps moved to Florida and earned her Bachelor’s degree from Florida Gulf Coast University. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Pastoral Theology from Barry University in Miami. Mrs. Schaps stays busy enjoying time with her family, her amazing daughter, and her zoo of pets.

Sarah Pollard grew up in the beautiful Northern Kentucky area, and relocated to sunny Florida to be closer to her bonus son who grew up in the Cape.  She earned her bachelor’s degree from Northern Kentucky University and her master’s degree from The University of Scranton.  She has spent her 20-year teaching career working with elementary students in both the public, private, and Catholic school setting, and is excited to be expanding her experience in the middle school world.  She enjoys spending her free time reading, walking, biking, and listening to music.  Her favorite times are spent with family, friends, and her sweet dog!

Luke Funkhouser was born and raised in Tipton, IN. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication with a minor in Spanish from Purdue University in 2008. Before joining St. Francis Xavier, Luke taught in Lee County School District at the middle school and high school level for 15 years. Luke coached Veterans Park Academy for the Arts to an undefeated perfect season where they captured the Lee County Championship in volleyball in the 2013-2014 season. Luke also coached Bonita High School’s Girls’ Soccer team to the round of 16 in the state playoffs in the 2021-2022 season. Luke was awarded the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year Award in 2018. Outside of the school, Luke enjoys taking road trips with his dog every summer.

Mrs. Pfleger is a product of Catholic Education attending St. Gerard and Lansing Catholic Central High School in Michigan. With an Economics degree from Michigan State University, Mrs. Pfleger has a background in mathematics, statistics, economic theory, history, and political science. She also has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of North Florida and a Masters-level education in Curriculum and Instruction from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Mrs. DelaCuesta previously taught upper-level elementary for 10 years, including one year of teaching middle school language arts, before joining St. Francis. She grew up near Indianapolis, Indiana, and her background includes 15 years of journalism/public relations, working for several newspapers, and working for the Indiana State Senate.

Quade Marinell was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but grew up in Cape Coral. He, his wife, and their one-year-old son moved back to Cape Coral in June 2022 after spending 10 years in Southeast Tennessee. Prior to St. Francis, he taught two years of middle school math at an inner-city school in Chattanooga. He graduated from Lee University with an Undergraduate degree in Education in 2018 and then with a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 2020. When Quade is not teaching, he enjoys time with his family, playing golf, or playing pickleball.

Mrs. Anna Novak started at St. Francis as a substitute teacher and returned to begin her teaching career as the middle school religion teacher. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University. Prior to teaching, Mrs. Novak worked as a Child Life Specialist at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. In her free time, Mrs. Novak loves cooking, baking, and spending time outdoors with her husband and daughter.

Lizzie Amland was born in Marietta, Georgia, and grew up in Columbus, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Exercise Science from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Before joining St. Francis Xavier, Lizzie spent two years in Erbil, Iraq, serving as a missionary teacher, guidance counselor, and coach for middle and high school students. She returned to the United States in June 2025 and is thrilled to continue her vocation in education with the St. Francis Xavier community. Outside the classroom, Lizzie enjoys relaxing at the beach with a good book, running, baking, and spending time with her nephews.

Mrs. Tortorella is from Illinois where she attended Catholic grade school at St. Marks and Peoria Notre Dame High School. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Bradley University and her Master’s degree from the University of Illinois. She taught middle school science in IL for 20 years in addition to working as a lab technician at the USDA Ag Lab and as a teacher intern at Fermilab on a project for the CMS detector at CERN. Mrs. Tortorella has always had a strong passion for science and a deep love of learning, but also enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Mrs. Antonucci was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana where she graduated from the University of Saint Francis with a Bachelor’s in Visual Art Education (K-12).  She relocated to SWFL with her husband to be closer to the beach and constant sunshine.  She continued her education with an Associates of Interior Design from Southwest Florida College in Fort Myers.  She has spent the last 14 years teaching Visual Arts for the Lee County School District in middle school while additionally coaching soccer and most recently high school.   She is excited to be part of the Falcon family and has always enjoyed teaching and helping students build a love of learning.  She enjoys time with her husband and daughter, traveling, the beach, and being outdoors in general, while also enjoying art, reading, and live music.

Heather Daugherty is a true Fort Myers native who attended Bishop Verot High School and Florida State University. She is a familiar face to the St. Francis Xavier community, having served as a parent, volunteer, and most recently as a teacher’s assistant. She brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the school. Heather’s passion for the mission and talent for building relationships make her a perfect fit for her new role. When she’s not supporting Advancement initiatives, she enjoys traveling, spending time at the beach, attending concerts, and cheering on her kids at school events.

Greg “Coach” Morgan is a 5th generation Floridian who has taught PE for over 15 years. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer, dealing with sports injuries. His focus is to develop kids athletically, nutritionally, and spiritually to be the best versions of themselves.

Mrs. Massing has lived in Fort Myers since she was 14 years old. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and Health Information Management from Florida Gulf Coast University.  She is passionate about teaching students to lead healthy and active lifestyles and dedicated to nurturing a love of exercise.   When she’s not in her classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family, running, CrossFit, and traveling to new places.

Vanessa Lombardo grew up on Captiva and Sanibel Islands and is often found sharing her love of the islands with visitors through her art. Mrs. Lombardo is a University of South Florida graduate. With more than 24 years of teaching experience, she has taught at numerous grade levels. She is most passionate about teaching art to children and often incorporates nature and found objects into her class projects. Her love of boating, shelling, bird watching, and painting have kept her close to the beach.

Señora Velasquez was born in Brooklyn, New York, before her family moved to Puerto Rico. There she attended the Universidad Interamerican de Fajardo. She continued her education at Boricua College in Brooklyn and taught for 13 years in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Her passion is teaching Spanish as well as introducing Hispanic culture and other Hispanic-speaking countries. She enjoys spending time with her family and teaching in a Catholic school.

Ms. Claudia Torres was born in Guatemala; she has lived in SWFL for 17 years. She is the oldest of three siblings, she graduated from Keiser University she has been teaching for over 20 years. She loves to teach about her Hispanic culture, Claudia enjoys spending time with her children, living and sharing her Catholic faith with others to follow Jesus’ steps. She is excited to be St. Francis Xavier Catholic community.

Ms. Nizza grew up in Fort Myers and is an alum of St. Francis Xavier and Bishop Verot High School. Ms. Nizza graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and has previously taught 3rd and 4th grades. In her free time, she enjoys singing, spending time outdoors, and traveling.

Mrs. Gelardi has lived in Lee County since she was 12 years old and is a proud graduate of Bishop Verot High School. She attended Stetson University and Florida Southern College for her Undergraduate degree. She worked as a Counselor for Florida Southern College before starting the graduate program USF in Tampa where she earned a Master’s degree in Counselor Education. She is a licensed Mental Health Counselor with the State of Florida and a Nationally Board-Certified Counselor.

Kim Ogburn is originally from Fort Myers and a proud alum of both St. Francis Xavier and Bishop Verot High School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from the University of Florida. She taught kindergarten in Texas before coming home to Fort Myers to teach kindergarten at St. Francis. She loves going to the beach, traveling, reading, and cheering on the Gators.

Lacie Braun is originally from Indiana but grew up in Fort Myers. She earned her Bachelors in Elementary Education degree and Masters in Reading at Florida Gulf Coast University. She served the Lee County community for 16 years as an instructional coach, reading coach, and K-5 classroom teacher before joining the Falcon family. She has a daughter who attends SFX and enjoys the busy gymnastics and soccer Mom life! Her husband is an educator and wrestling coach at Verot. They maximize their family time with beach trips, while also attending many high school, college, and professional sporting events! Mrs. Braun has a passion for country music and fitness too!