KEY STAFF MEMBERS & QUALIFICATIONS
Our employees are teachers with master’s degrees, each having over 30 years of teaching experience. Our mission and successful leadership practices help address our community’s needs effectively.
Executive Director
Sister Maria Therese, SND, is a lifelong educator, earned her Master of Education degree from Xavier University, and is trained in teaching and administration. She has taught for 25 years, served as principal at St. Augustine School in Covington, Kentucky, for seven, and has been NDUEC’s director since August 1, 2018. Sister Maria Therese was awarded the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce in 1996 and the A.D. Albright Award for Excellence in Leadership Top Administrator in Northern Kentucky in 2014. She earned her BA in Education from Thomas More College (University) and her MEd in Education from Xavier University.
Education Director
Maria Schappert is a retired educator who taught in the Diocese of Covington for 30 years. Maria is a reading specialist certified in the Orton-Gillingham Approach, an evidence-based instruction for remediating reading, writing, and spelling difficulties. Maria was also awarded the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. She joined the NDUEC staff on August 1, 2018, directing NDUEC’s four transformational education programs: Early Learning, Homework Plus, Summer Academics, and Family Support. Maria received her BA in Education from Thomas More College (University) and her MEd from Northern Kentucky University.
Director of Development & Mission Advancement
Erin Woods joined the NDUEC family on October 1, 2020. She is responsible for implementing strategic plans to raise funds for the center. Her duties include overseeing and managing fundraising initiatives and annual appeals, maintaining communications with donors and patrons, cultivating relationships with prospective donors, and securing funding through grant writing. She earned her BA in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of Kentucky and her MBA from Thomas More University.
Early Learning Teacher
Julaina Bishop is a retired teacher with 30 years of experience teaching Kindergarten and remedial reading and several years as a substitute teacher. She is certified in the Orton-Gillingham Approach, evidence-based reading instruction for remediating reading, writing, and spelling difficulties. Julaina joined the NDUEC staff on August 1, 2019, and began NDUEC’s Early Learning program. She received her BS in Education from Northern Kentucky University and her MEd from Xavier University.