Faculty & Staff Biographies - Lower Elementary Team

Donna Leopardi – Lower Elementary Teacher
For many years, Donna served her family as a stay-at-home mom, raising her four children.  She also took on the role of teacher for her children, as she led them in homeschooling for a number of years.  Prior to her work at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori, Donna worked as an assistant teacher at St. Ursula Villa, helping with art classes and with the first grade.  Donna completed her Montessori elementary training at Xavier University, and joined the lower elementary staff at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori in 2002.  An Orton-Gillingham-trained tutor, she has made significant contributions to  our spelling and reading programs.  Donna also completed a training seminar with the Institute for Excellence in Writing and assists children with our writing program. 

Amy Scuglik– Lower Elementary Teacher
Amy received her B.S. in Montessori Education from Xavier University in 1999.  She then helped create one of the first elementary Montessori programs in Northern Kentucky while teaching at Prince of Peace School in Covington from 1999-2003.  Amy returned to X.U. and earned her M.Ed. while completing her 9-12 Montessori training. Amy has been a lower elementary teacher at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori since the fall of 2003.  She is also a certified Orton-Gillingham tutor.

Noreen Sullivan - Lower Elementary Teacher
After an internship at the Xavier Montessori Lab School, Noreen graduated with her Master’s in Montessori Education in 2007. Her thesis on homework tied for the American Montessori Society’s award for Outstanding Montessori Research the same year. Prior to her studies, Noreen parented her children and in doing so, discovered and appreciated the beauty of the Montessori method.   After beginning her career as a lower elementary Montessori teacher in 2007, Noreen joined the lower elementary staff at GSCM in 2008.  She particularly enjoys sharing her passion for reading and books with her students. Noreen is currently on the Board of the Cincinnati Montessori Society. She is married and has two children, both of whom attend The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori.

Jeana Olszewski - Lower Elementary Teacher
Jeana earned a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Cincinnati in 1994, and a Masters in Montessori Education from Xavier University in 1997. She served as a lead pre-primary teacher for four years at Jefferson Montessori School (part of the Dayton Public School system) from 1997-2000. Jeana served as extended care director at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori from 2007-2009. After completing her elementary Montessori training at Xavier University Jeana started as a lower elementary teacher at GSCM in 2009. In her free time she enjoys running and serves as a volunteer for the Girls on the Run program. Jeana and her husband Steve are the parents of four children, all of whom attend GSCM.

Theresa Bruemmer – Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher
Theresa earned her B.A. from Edgecliff College (Our Lady of Cincinnati). After helping to raise her eight children, Theresa began as Director of the Pregnancy Center East in 1986. She served in this capacity for 14 years, helping it grow from a small ministry to a viable community service. Education has always been key in the Bruemmer household. Theresa’s husband Don worked for Cincinnati Public Schools for 35 years, her children attended Montessori school, and she has a daughter in the teaching profession. Theresa began working at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori as an assistant teacher in 2003, and her warm ways have enhanced the loving atmosphere of our school. She is the proud grandmother of 15.

Peggy Robinson:  Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher
Peggy Robinson grew up in Cincinnati and attended Catholic schools through college. She began her Montessori training at Xavier University. She married her husband, Harry, and moved to Houston where she completed the training. Harry and Peggy have three children, and the family has enjoyed moving several times in the United States and Canada. They are members of St. Gertrude's Parish. Peggy says she was led to Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori at "just the right time in my life. It is a blessing and a joy for me to assist the teachers and to be with the children."

Faculty & Staff Biographies:

Administrative Staff
Pre-Primary Team
Lower Elementary Team
Upper Elementary Team
Middle School Team
Special Classes Faculty
Support Staff