Meet the new faculty and staff members
For the 2020-2021 school year, Cardinal Mooney hired various new staff members. This includes teachers such as Chad Rankin, Natalie Wardle, Vince Taddei, Gianna Pishotti and guidance counselor Holly Marshall. With a hectic school year, most students have not had the opportunity to meet the new teachers. Without further ado, sit back, relax, and let The Beakon provide introductions.
CHAD RANKIN
Chad Rankin teaches health, physical education, and Fundamentals of Gaming. The gaming class is a new addition to the Mooney Curriculum; students focus on different video games and gameplay. They are planning to play games such as Rocket League, League of Legends, and Fortnite.
Despite the fun that a class about video games ignites, Rankin calls health his favorite course to teach. He finds physical health a necessity due to his athletic background. However, he expresses a need for a strong focus on mental health.
Rankin said, "once you get older, you don't really realize it until you leave school and go out on your own. I think it's really important to teach young kids the importance of mental health."
Rankin dedicates himself to spreading awareness to students about mental health issues‒ at no better timing than with Covid-19.
Rankin fits right in at Mooney with his family values. The former law enforcement worker left the dangerous field to be safer for his wife and kids. Rankin can now focus on his family at home and can join the Mooney family as well.
NATALIE WARDLE
Natalie Wardle is the newest religion teacher Mooney has to offer. After being connected to Mooney through a feeder school, St. Charles, for 16 years, she now teaches Sacraments as well as Morality and Justice.
She equally enjoys teaching both classes but explains how unique it is to teach Morality and Justice. As a woman very connected to her faith, Wardle realizes how polarized the views of morality in the status quo are, compared to the Church's teachings. She tells her students to trust in God and know that He is right.
God has been a strong force in Wardle's life. Her teachers from Austintown Fitch helped her recognize her call to education; however, it was God who led her to teaching theology.
Wardle said, “I always thought I would teach English and coach basketball on the side, but God called me in a different direction, and it’s kind of interesting how he brought me to Mooney.”
Wardle grew up Catholic and was an active member of her church. It seems only right for her to help others to grow in their faith. There is no better place for her to fulfill this calling than at Cardinal Mooney.
VINCE TADDEI
Vince Taddei teaches Creative Entrepreneurship and Coding. Although Taddei has been the speech and debate coach for four years, this has been his first year as a Mooney teacher.
Creative Entrepreneurship is a personal class for Taddei. His marketing background gives him an inside perspective on entrepreneurship. Even further, he can teach students the importance of business's creative and innovative aspects. He loves the flexibility of business.
Taddei said, "You can integrate anything you want in life into your business; everything you know goes into creating a business."
Mooney and Taddei are a match made by destiny. He began coaching speech after getting an email asking for help from the previous head coach. After finishing his marketing career with Dick's Sporting Goods, he desired change. His wife suggested substitute teaching, and after a year of working for Youngstown City Schools, he began working for Mooney.
GIANNA PISHOTTI
Language at Mooney is no longer online. Gianna Pishotti has taken over the Italian department. She currently teaches Italian I and Italian III, and she will be offering Italian II next year in the fall.
Pishotti grew up with an Italian family; however, all of her knowledge regarding the language comes from her education. She found through schooling that she loved learning the language.
As she continued through college, she moved into communications but kept Italian by her side. Eventually, she was asked to help teach adults Italian and realized her passion could become her career.
Pishotti was able to find her perfect career path. She can teach everyone about the language she loves so much and the culture she embraced.
HOLLY MARSHALL
Students at Mooney are well-versed with Holly Marshall. The new guidance counselor took over for Dena O'Neill during her leave and currently helps balance O’Neill’s duties.
Marshall's job is one of many, but overall her career is to ensure every student's academic success. In high school, she was able to observe her guidance counselors as she worked alongside them. She knew she wanted to be a guidance counselor, and she is always excited to help students.
Marshall said, "My favorite part of the job is watching how happy my students are when they accomplish something they were unsure/nervous about."
Marshall teaches everyone that there is no dream too big, and students can overcome all obstacles.
CHAD RANKIN
Chad Rankin teaches health, physical education, and Fundamentals of Gaming. The gaming class is a new addition to the Mooney Curriculum; students focus on different video games and gameplay. They are planning to play games such as Rocket League, League of Legends, and Fortnite.
Despite the fun that a class about video games ignites, Rankin calls health his favorite course to teach. He finds physical health a necessity due to his athletic background. However, he expresses a need for a strong focus on mental health.
Rankin said, "once you get older, you don't really realize it until you leave school and go out on your own. I think it's really important to teach young kids the importance of mental health."
Rankin dedicates himself to spreading awareness to students about mental health issues‒ at no better timing than with Covid-19.
Rankin fits right in at Mooney with his family values. The former law enforcement worker left the dangerous field to be safer for his wife and kids. Rankin can now focus on his family at home and can join the Mooney family as well.
NATALIE WARDLE
Natalie Wardle is the newest religion teacher Mooney has to offer. After being connected to Mooney through a feeder school, St. Charles, for 16 years, she now teaches Sacraments as well as Morality and Justice.
She equally enjoys teaching both classes but explains how unique it is to teach Morality and Justice. As a woman very connected to her faith, Wardle realizes how polarized the views of morality in the status quo are, compared to the Church's teachings. She tells her students to trust in God and know that He is right.
God has been a strong force in Wardle's life. Her teachers from Austintown Fitch helped her recognize her call to education; however, it was God who led her to teaching theology.
Wardle said, “I always thought I would teach English and coach basketball on the side, but God called me in a different direction, and it’s kind of interesting how he brought me to Mooney.”
Wardle grew up Catholic and was an active member of her church. It seems only right for her to help others to grow in their faith. There is no better place for her to fulfill this calling than at Cardinal Mooney.
VINCE TADDEI
Vince Taddei teaches Creative Entrepreneurship and Coding. Although Taddei has been the speech and debate coach for four years, this has been his first year as a Mooney teacher.
Creative Entrepreneurship is a personal class for Taddei. His marketing background gives him an inside perspective on entrepreneurship. Even further, he can teach students the importance of business's creative and innovative aspects. He loves the flexibility of business.
Taddei said, "You can integrate anything you want in life into your business; everything you know goes into creating a business."
Mooney and Taddei are a match made by destiny. He began coaching speech after getting an email asking for help from the previous head coach. After finishing his marketing career with Dick's Sporting Goods, he desired change. His wife suggested substitute teaching, and after a year of working for Youngstown City Schools, he began working for Mooney.
GIANNA PISHOTTI
Language at Mooney is no longer online. Gianna Pishotti has taken over the Italian department. She currently teaches Italian I and Italian III, and she will be offering Italian II next year in the fall.
Pishotti grew up with an Italian family; however, all of her knowledge regarding the language comes from her education. She found through schooling that she loved learning the language.
As she continued through college, she moved into communications but kept Italian by her side. Eventually, she was asked to help teach adults Italian and realized her passion could become her career.
Pishotti was able to find her perfect career path. She can teach everyone about the language she loves so much and the culture she embraced.
HOLLY MARSHALL
Students at Mooney are well-versed with Holly Marshall. The new guidance counselor took over for Dena O'Neill during her leave and currently helps balance O’Neill’s duties.
Marshall's job is one of many, but overall her career is to ensure every student's academic success. In high school, she was able to observe her guidance counselors as she worked alongside them. She knew she wanted to be a guidance counselor, and she is always excited to help students.
Marshall said, "My favorite part of the job is watching how happy my students are when they accomplish something they were unsure/nervous about."
Marshall teaches everyone that there is no dream too big, and students can overcome all obstacles.