Get to Know Miss Jacqui
When my son was born in 2007, I made the decision to become a stay-at-home mom. Being there for him during those early years was one of the most rewarding decisions I have ever made. When he reached preschool age, I was ready to return to the workforce, but I wanted a position that would allow me to be available for my son’s schedule. That is when I took a position at Good Shepherd Preschool in Charlestown. I began working there as an administrator and eventually became certified to teach preschool. For 13 years, Good Shepherd was a very special part of my life. In addition to my administrative responsibilities, I often stepped into the classroom whenever there was a need. I loved working with the children and being part of the Charlestown community.
In 2024, Good Shepherd underwent a reorganization, and my position was eliminated. Although it was difficult to leave, I will always be grateful for my 13 years there. It was a wonderful place for both me and my son, and I cherished being part of such a special community. In the summer of 2024, I saw an advertisement for a Teacher’s Aide position at Saint Patrick School. I wasn’t sure whether I had all the experience they were looking for, but I decided to take a chance. My motto has always been, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
My husband, Paul, and I have one son, Nicholas, who is a sophomore at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is studying Finance and is a Midshipman 3rd Class in the Tulane University NROTC program. I am originally from New Jersey,but have lived in Charlestown for the past 23 years. For 18 years, I worked in higher education. My last position was at Northeastern University, where I served as the Associate Director of Financial Aid for the Graduate and Continuing Education division.
I called Saint Patrick School and had a wonderful conversation with the Principal, Mrs. Schmidheiser. She encouraged me to send in my resume which I did. Shortly afterward, I was invited for an interview. From the moment I walked into Saint Patrick School, I felt something very familiar. The warmth and welcoming spirit brought me back to my own Catholic elementary school experience growing up in New Jersey. It felt right. To my great delight, I was offered the position as the Pre-K3 Teacher’s Aide.
I spent two wonderful years as an aide in the Pre-K3 classroom. I absolutely loved working with the children and getting to know the faculty and staff at Saint Patrick School. I was looking forward to another year with the three-year-olds when, during my second-year annual review, Mrs. Schmidheiser asked me if I had ever considered teaching.
My honest response was, “I never gave it a thought.”
Mrs. Schmidheiser was incredibly encouraging and supportive. She saw something in me and encouraged me to consider teaching the Pre-K4 class. Her confidence in me gave me the courage to say yes. And I am so glad I did. Although I have only been teaching for a short time, I am thoroughly enjoying my Pre-K4 class and feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful assistant by my side. My greatest joy is seeing the children's smiles each day. Watching them learn and discover the world around them is truly inspiring. Their reactions and excitement remind me that what may seem like a simple moment of curiosity to an adult can be a profound learning experience for a child. In such a short time, my students have already learned to recite poems and songs, participate in our daily prayers, and become part of our classroom routines and lessons.
I am excited to watch them learn, grow, gain confidence, and develop the skills they need as they prepare for kindergarten. I am incredibly grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from the Saint Patrick School community. I love working with children, and I feel very blessed to be part of such a warm and caring school. Saint Patrick School has truly become an extension of my family, and I am so thankful to be here.
