Six Teachers Welcomed to St. Anthony Schools

St. Anthony of Padua Parish Pastor Peter Harman has announced the addition of six new teachers for the upcoming 2023 - 2024 school year.

St. Anthony High School welcomes two new educators, and St. Anthony Grade School adds four to its teaching roster.

Principal of St. Anthony High School, Greg Fearday, welcomes the additions to his teaching staff, Mr. Ian Harris and Mr. Ben Zuber.

Ian Harris, a St. Anthony School alumnus, joins St. Anthony High School as a Math teacher. He most recently taught math and physics in Nashville, Tennessee, at Nashville Christian School. He has also served as a chaperone for the St. Anthony summer work camp trips to Grand Rapids, MI, Memphis, TN, and Cincinnati, OH. Mr. Harris received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. Originally from Effingham, he and his wife have returned to live and work in the Effingham community.

Ben Zuber is welcomed as a new St. Anthony High School Theology teacher. Before joining St. Anthony High School, Mr. Zuber was a Business teacher at Charleston High School and Chrisman High School. He has also served as Director of Faith Formation at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fairview Heights, IL. Mr. Zuber received his Bachelor of Science in Workforce Education from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. A native of Teutopolis, he and his wife reside in Effingham with their two children.

St. Anthony Grade School Principal Cody Rincker welcomes four new teachers this school year.

Natasha Sandschafer joins the Grade School as a new 1st-grade teacher. She has previously worked at St. Anthony Grade School as a Substitute teacher. Mrs. Sandschafer earned her Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University. She currently resides in Effingham with her husband and their three children.

Aubrey Myers is a new 3rd-grade teacher at St. Anthony Grade School. She has spent the last 16 years of her career teaching students in the Danville, IL area, previously teaching 1st-grade students at Danville District 118 for seven years, eight years teaching religion and social studies to junior high students at Schlarman Academy, a Catholic school in Danville, and a year at Bismarck-Henning Junior High with 5th graders. Mrs. Myers earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University, an Ed.M in Education Policy Studies from the University of Illinois, and a Middle Grades endorsement from St. Francis University. Originally from Bismarck, Illinois, she resides in Dieterich with her husband and four children.

St. Anthony Schools alumna Ms. Abigail Schmidt joins the Grade School to serve as a 5th-grade teacher. Ms. Schmidt has previous experience at St. Anthony Grade School as a paraprofessional and substitute teacher. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. Ms. Schmidt has been a lifelong parishioner of St. Anthony Parish and lives in Effingham.

Blake Malatestinic also starts as a 5th-grade teacher at St. Anthony Grade School. Before joining the Grade School, Mr. Malatestinic served as a private lesson baseball coach and camp counselor at Charleston Summer Day Camp. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University as a student-athlete. He earned his Master of Science Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Eastern Illinois University as well. Mr. Malatestinic was a member of the EIU Newman Catholic Center and received the Julian Hamerski Student Leadership Award.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish is a Catholic Church founded in 1858, with a congregation of more than 1300 families and nearly 3200 members. One of the founding missions of St. Anthony Parish included Catholic Education and Formation. Today, St. Anthony is the only preschool through grade 12 Catholic school system in downstate Illinois and educates an average of more than 700 students annually. St. Anthony Schools are Catholic, co-educational schools that provide a learning environment steeped in tradition and committed to excellence in education. The school system offers a comprehensive curriculum for students to discover and develop their talents and potential while confirming values and living in faith. More information can be found at www.stanthony.com.