DALTON, Mass. — St. Agnes Academy has announced the appointment of several faculty members for the 2021-2022 school year. 

 

The academy filled positions in math, English language arts, pre-K, art, and music. The school also announced that in-person classes will begin Wednesday, Sept. 1, with faculty, students, and staff required to wear masks. 

 

The Academy enters the new year with an enrollment of 150 students, an increase of 19 students compared to the 2020-2021 school year. 

 

"We're thrilled that these highly experienced educators are joining our staff,"  said Principal Fadia Makdisi. "They are passionate and committed about teaching and I look forward to their important contributions during the upcoming year." 

 

The appointments include: 

 

Math teacher - Judy Zahn 

Judy Zahn served for 23 years in the Pittsfield Public Schools, mostly as a math teacher, retiring at the end of the 2017 academic year. She was a substitute teacher for a year, then worked for two years at the Berkshire County House of Correction where she taught math to inmates whose math abilities ranged from primary grade levels through high school. The goal was to prepare the inmates for success after incarceration. 

 

English language arts – Debra Belland 

Debra Belland was a Middle School teacher in the Pittsfield Public Schools and also taught at St. Mark's Middle School. She also worked as Newspaper in Education Coordinator at the Berkshire Eagle where she attended seminars, workshops and conventions to remain current on educational research and statistics impacting educational standards. 

 

Pre-K 3 teacher - Sandra J. Robillard  

Sandra Robillard is a Berkshire native and grew up in Pittsfield attending and graduating from local schools, colleges, and churches. She is a volunteer at St. Mary's of Assumption in Cheshire and has worked at Berkshire County Head Start for the past 21 years. She has been a preschool teacher for the past 19 years and during the last five years has trained new teachers in the Head Start program. 

 

Pre-K Teacher - Cassie Kelson  

For the last seven years, Cassie Kelson has been a Group Lead/Teacher/Lead Teacher at the Berkshire Family YMCA in Pittsfield. Previously, she was a camp counselor at St. Agnes Vacation Bible Camp in Goshen, Mass. She also has worked as a home Nanny/ Home school Teacher. In 2015, she was awarded the "Say it Proud Award" by the Berkshire United Way for being involved in positive activities and being a good role model for her peers and the children. 

 

Music Teacher - Jessica A. Passetto  

Jessica Passetto was the Choral Music Director and Theatre Teacher at Taconic High School for 14 years. She taught music and theater for grades 9-12 and was music director and choreographer for various spring musicals. Passetto also has taught private lessons in Voice, Piano, Sight Reading, and Music Theory since 2019. She has worked as a cantor for St. Mark's, St. Ann's, and the Shrine of Divine Mercy. At Taconic, Passetto also organized fundraisers and trips to NYC, Virginia, London, Rome, and Pennsylvania.  

 

Computer Teacher -Kathy LaPointe 

Kathy LaPointe retired from the U.S. Navy Supply Corps after 20 years of service and worked as a business consultant, leading naval bases around the world through regionalization efforts.

​She has been a catechist for over 25 years and a substitute teacher for over 15.  

 

Kathy also volunteers as PTO President at the school, as a member of the Diocese of Springfield's Catholic Committee on Scouting, as a Key Adult Member of Cub Scout Pack 8 and was a girl scout leader for 15 years.  

 

Nurse - Amy Green  

Amy Green, RN has been a nurse for over 30 years. Since 2004, she worked in the Pittsfield Public Schools, first as a school nurse at the elementary level, then for the last 14 years, as a teacher in the Career Technical Education Department at Taconic High School. Green resides is in Pittsfield. 

 

Kindergarten Aidę - Stacy Radzick  

Stacy Radzick will be moving to work with kindergarten teacher Darcy Patti. She has been a Pre-K aide for several years and has been involved with the school for over 10 years between substitute work and volunteering. 

 

Art teacher -Sue Doucette 

Sue Doucette of Dalton has taught early childhood and elementary school for many years, and at the college level since 2015 (BCC, MCLA and Elms). She has served as an administrator, workshop trainer, television producer and host (PCTV), developer of curriculum materials, and advocate for families and children. Doucette is President of Berkshire County Head Start's Board of Directors and also serves on the Board of Directors for Pittsfield.