Meet Our Team
Administration
Fr. Jeff Statz
Pastor
Mark Schwerdt
Principal
Amanda Bemis
Front Office
Christina Garand
Business and Admissions
Your Incredible Teachers
Mrs. Jean Jordan, Early Childhood
Mrs. Jordan is a graduate of North Shore Community College and has been working at St. Francis School since 1990. She began her teaching career as an aide in kindergarten. When the preschool was established four years ago she moved to help develop the program. Mrs. Jordan has two children who are both graduates of Saint Francis School. Her daughter Valarie also became a teacher. Her son Brian followed in his father’s footsteps and became a police officer. Mrs. Jordan has been married to her husband Richard for 36 years and has four beautiful grandchildren.
Sister Holly Gauthier, Early Childhood
gauthierh@StFrancisSchoolNH.org
Sister Holly Gauthier has been a Sister of the Presentation of Mary for 16 years. The mission of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, to make Jesus Christ known and loved, especially to the young, is deeply rooted in her heart. Sr. Holly graduated from Rivier University in Nashua, NH with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Early Childhood Studies. She has had over 15 years of experience working with young children in a preschool environment, both as a lead classroom teacher and administrator. Sr. Holly is an active member of St. Luke the Evangelist parish. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, volunteering at the parish food pantry, and spending time outside. Read her vocation story.
Mrs. Lisa McLaughlin, Early Childhood Aide, Lunch Director
mclaughlinl@StFrancisSchoolNH.org
Mrs. McLaughlin is a graduate of Manchester Community College with a medical assisting degree. She has been working at St Francis School 2014. She and her husband Richard have been married for 36 years and have four children, three of them are graduates of St. Francis School. She also has four grandchildren and two of them attend St Francis School. In her free time, Mrs. McLaughlin loves spending time on Newfound Lake.
Mrs. Nancy Chalifour, Kindergarten
chalifourn@StFrancisSchoolNH.org
Mrs. Chalifour is a lifelong resident of Manchester, NH. She received her B.A. Degree from Notre Dame College in Manchester, NH, with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She began teaching 4th grade at St. Francis of Assisi School in 1985. When the school decided to add a kindergarten program in 1987, she developed the program and has been a kindergarten teacher ever since. She and her husband Don have been married 35 years and they have 3 grown children. She is an active parishioner of St. Pius X. During her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading and spending time at the beach.
Mrs. Karen Guepy, Kindergarten Aide and St. Clare Atrium Director
Karen Guepy lives in Manchester NH with her husband Greg of 23 years and their 4 children. She is a long time parishioner of St Matthews Church in Windham NH where she has also been the Faith Formation Coordinator for grades K-5 for the past 4 years. At St Matthews, she also enjoys running the Faith and Play program where she teaches young children about the Gospels with puppets and other hands on learning activities. In between fun summer days at Long Sands Beach in York ME, Karen and her family enjoy participating in the Vacation Bible School Program.
Mrs. Raeanna Williams, St. Clare Atrium
Raeanna is a wife & mother of 9 children. Four of her children have graduated from St. Francis & two currently attend.
She graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with a Bachelors’s Degree in Theology. She served as Assistant Director of Admissions at Holy Family Academy in 2019-20. She has helped mentor young women in Leaders Now International. She has volunteered many years as a homeschooling Mom & Religious Educator. She loves children & teaching.
She mostly loves to read, run and spend time with her family especially her 2 new Grandchildren JoeJoe & Maggie.
Mrs. Carey Follansbee, First Grade
follansbeec@stfrancisschoolnh.org
Carey Follansbee lives in Londonderry NH with her husband Steve and her three children Haley, Abby, and Brady. She is a parishioner of St Mark’s Church in Londonderry. Carey is a core member to the Edge youth group program and has taught summer CCD for many years.
Carey received her Bachelor’s Degree in American History from Franklin Pierce College and is currently pursuing her NH teacher certification at NHTI through their TECP elementary education and general special education program.
She has enjoyed working as an aide at St Francis of Assisi School. She has also worked as a substitute teacher, a special education assistant, and a tutor for the Londonderry School district for over 10 years.
Miss Erika Deana, Multi-Age and Grade 1 Aide
Miss Erika Deana is a 2005 graduate of Curry College in Milton, MA where she was a dual major in elementary education and liberal arts. Miss Deana is a parishioner at St. Francis and has two daughters who currently attend St. Francis and a son will join his sisters in a few years! Miss Deana enjoys reading, going to the beach with her family, exercising and walking with her dogs. Miss Deana is looking forward to her first year at St. Francis and thanks God for the opportunity to teach and guide your children.
Mrs. Karen Walsh, Multi-Age First & Second Grade
Mrs. Walsh received her Master’s Degree in Education from Lesley University in 2001. Her undergraduate studies were completed at North Adams State College where she earned a B.S. in Education and a B.A. in Sociology. She has over 18 years of teaching experience working with children grades Pre-K through 5th grade in both general education and special education classrooms. Mrs. Walsh lives in Candia, NH with her husband, three children, and yellow lab named Martha.
Mrs. Cynthia Lynch, Second Grade
Mrs. Lynch has been teaching at St. Francis of Assisi School since 1986. She attended St. Francis School for first through eighth grade, and received a BA in Elementary Education from Notre Dame College. Her three children have attended St. Francis. Mrs. Lynch is a Eucharistic Minister for St. Francis of Assisi Parish and she and her husband were also advisors for the parish youth group for 6 years.
Mrs. Christina Negron, Third Grade, Director of Special Education
Mrs. Negron received her Masters Degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Rivier College in Nashua, NH where she also obtained her post-graduate degree in Specific Learning Disabilities. She has taught both in the public school system and in a parochial school setting. A mother of three, she resides in Derry with her husband Alfredo, her children, and her two dogs. She enjoys shopping, the beach and participating as a foster parent to a special group of children. She is a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas in Derry.
Mrs. Ann Louise Jones, Fourth Grade, Lead Teacher
Mrs. Jones graduated from Temple University with a BS in Elementary Education. She is certified by the State of New Hampshire and as a Highly Qualified Teacher. Teaching for the last 28 years in most grade levels, her passion lies in the third through sixth grades. The excitement of watching the children grasp new concepts inspires her high energy and innovative teaching techniques. As the mother of four grown children, she is now enjoying the wonders of her grandchildren. Mrs. Jones has lived in 10 different states and countries. She enjoys kayaking with her husband.
Mrs. Courtney Ryan, Fifth Grade
Mrs. Ryan received her Masters Degree in Education from Rivier College and her Bachelors Degree from
UMASS, Amherst. She has taught both in the public school system and in private schools as well. She is
considered a Highly Qualified Teacher per the Department of Education in NH. She is a mother of four
children two of which are adult children and the other two living at home. She resides in Groton, MA
with her husband Kevin, her children, and her two dogs. She enjoys reading historical fiction novels,
crocheting and knitting, and spending time at her cottage in Maine. But most of all, she enjoys spending
time with her family and her two grandchildren. She is a former parishioner of St. Mark’s in
Londonderry and a new member of St. James Church in Groton, MA.
Mrs. Andrea Lester, Sixth Grade
Mrs. Andrea Lester graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Business. She is a certified tutor with the College Reading and Learning Association. While at UNH, she worked with college students on composition, research, and economics. More recently, she has worked for the Nashua and Amherst School Districts in upper elementary and middle school. She holds a Statement of Eligibility in Elementary Education (K-6) and Middle School Mathematics. She lives with her husband Brian of 35 years in Nashua and is a Eucharistic Minister at St. John Neumann Parish. Mrs. Lester has two adult children and two granddaughters, with whom she has spent a great deal of time in Japan. She enjoys sharing that culture with students. Mrs. Lester is excited to be part of the St. Francis School Community.
Mrs. Liz Neville, Speech Pathologist
Liz Neville is a New Hampshire State certified speech and language pathologist who has been practicing in the field for over 25 years. She has vast experience working both with the preschool and school-age populations. Her areas of expertise include speech sound disorders (including apraxia of speech), language-based learning disorders, and expressive and receptive language disorders.
Mrs. Sheryl Gallagan, Music & Director of After School
gallagans@StFrancisSchoolNH.org
Mrs. Gallagan has been a member of St Francis of Assisi School staff for 22 years. She is a member of the Church choir, a cantor, and a communicant of our parish. Mrs. Gallagan has lived with her husband Brian in Manchester since 1997. She has two adult children Michael and Megan, both are teachers.
Ms. Sharyn Tighe, Art Director
Ms. Sharyn graduated from Montserrat College of Art with a BFA in Illustration. She has worked at St. Francis School since 2017, starting as the aide in Kindergarten classroom and teaching art for Preschool through 1st grade. This will be her 3rd year teaching art for all of the grades at St. Francis. She is a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish and runs both the Baptismal Prep and the Evangelization ministries. She lives in Litchfield with her husband of 17 years, Ken, and their two children, Zachary and Noah. She enjoys painting, reading, and spending time on the Maine coast and at Spofford Lake in NH.
Mrs. Sue Huettner, Latin Language
Mrs. Huettner comes to Saint Francis with 25 years of teaching experience at Hampstead Academy. She has taught Theater to grades 1-8 and Language Arts and Latin to grades 6-8. Mrs. Huettner has a Master of Education from Lesley University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education from Salem State University. She is excited to teach at SFS where two of her grandchildren are students. Recently retired, Mrs. Huettner enjoys reading, sketching, and swimming.
Mrs. Kelly Merryfield, Natural Sciences Outdoor Classroom
Mrs. Merryfield is a graduate of Colby College in Maine. She is an Advanced Master Gardener with lifetime status and a UMass Green School graduate. She lives in Mont Vernon with her husband, Leif of 25 years and their two children and an ark of pets. When not running her garden design business, Mrs. Merryfield can be found somewhere outdoors in the woods, on the water, on a mountain or camping year-round. She will be teaching Natural Science which is now in its SIXTH YEAR!! Every year we grow our students even more!
