History

The purpose of this board is to promote and advance the mission of this Catholic school for the education and instruction of students in assisting them to “reach the fullness of the Christian life.” (See canon 794 §1). In keeping with the principles of the Roman Catholic Church, this board ensures that this school fulfills its mission of forming the human person for our final end and for the common good. (See canon 795). The board also ensures that the finances of the school remain healthy and ensures a course of education as prescribed by the Archdiocese of Boston and the applicable policies, rules, and regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

With assistance from the Healey Foundation, a Board of Specified Jurisdiction was formed in 2020. A full copy of the bylaws and operating principals is available upon request. 

Current Members

Jerry McElroy, Chairman - Attorney, Zelle LLP

Jerry McElroy, the Chair of the Board since August 2020, is a Senior Partner at the national litigation firm of Zelle LLP. Jerry has practiced as a civil litigator since graduating from Yale Law School in 1977. Jerry has a strong interest in Catholic education – having attended Catholic schools through college and graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1972. Jerry received a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University in 1977 and also has a strong interest in political theory and international relations. Jerry and his wife Tara have two children and two grandchildren.

Mr. Tom Bent - Bent Electrical Contractors

President & CEO of Bent Electrical Contractors, Inc. which he founded in 1979, is a full service union
electrical contractor (IBEW Local 103) servicing the diverse electrical needs of a wide range of clients
including many of the Greater Boston’s commercial, industrial, educational and healthcare institutions.
Tom is a product of a Catholic education graduating from Don Bosco Technical High School in Boston,
taken courses at Bunker Hill Community College, Northeastern and Purdue Universities; he has been a
lifelong member of St Catherine’s Church. He along with his wife Roseanne are the parents of two
wonderful daughters who graduated from St Catherine’s School (now St Theresa’s). Tom is currently a member of St Louis & Zelie Martin Parish Finance Committee. An interesting note is that Tom and Roseanne’s mothers were both in the first graduating class of what was then St Theresa’s School.

Very Rev. Brian McHugh, Pastor - Episcopal Vicar for the Northern Region, Pastor of St. Theresa Parish in North Reading

Fr. Brian McHugh joined the Somerville Catholic community in 2003 as Pastor to what is now St. Louis and Zelie Martin Parish with St. Theresa Catholic School. In 2023, Cardinal Sean asked him to move to the North Region to be Episcopal Vicar based at St. Theresa's in North Reading. Since his ordination in 1988, he has been assigned to parishes with Catholic Schools. His undergraduate degree is in education and he continues to update his certification. He is a firm believer in the importance of Catholic education for planting the seeds for a strong foundation in faith and development of the entire individual. The community is blessed to offer this opportunity for you and your family.

Tricia Fraser, Finance Committee, Chair - VP Finance & Administration, Saint John's Seminary

Tricia Fraser has worked as a finance professional for the parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of Boston since 2008.  She currently serves as the Vice President of Finance and Administration for Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA.  Tricia has a heart and passion for Catholic education as she herself attended Catholic schools from elementary through college. She is married with two grown children and two grandchildren.  She enjoys hiking in the White Mountains and boating on Cape Cod.

Danielle V. Auriemma, Development Committee, Chair - Managing Director, Alumni Affairs and Development, Harvard Medical School

Danielle V. Auriemma is a fundraising and alumni relations professional with 10+ years of experience at Harvard Medical School, MIT, and Boston College. She is a product of Catholic education, having earned her undergraduate degree in economics and graduate degree in higher education administration from Boston College. Danielle is a member of several Councils and Committees with educational-focused missions and is passionate about supporting formative and whole-person education.

Job Noelsaint, Enrollment Committee - parent

Job Noelsaint was raised by Catholic parents and has mostly attended Catholic schools. Out of college, Job built a career in banking management now at over 16 years serving our surrounding communities. He is a strong believer in the foundation of Catholic Education and has been a parent at St. Theresa for the past 12 years . He believes "there’s no better place for the kids to learn skills and values that matter most."

Mary MacDonald, Enrollment Committee - alumna and parent

Mary MacDonald has been a member of the St. Theresa’s School (formerly St. Catherine’s) community since childhood.  As both an alumna of the school and the mother of two sons who have graduated from St. Theresa’s, Mary along with her husband have always valued the benefit of a Catholic school education.  The academics and values instilled through St. Theresa’s contributed to her furthering her learning and ultimately earning a Master’s degree in Licensed Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy.  Currently, Mary works as an Art Therapist working with children on the Autism Spectrum. 

Pope Carlos, Development Committee - Associate Creative Director, PrecisionEffect

A passionate proponent of a well-rounded Catholic education, Pope Carlos joined the board in the fall of 2020, lending his expertise in branding, marketing, and communications. Having spent his formative years being schooled and "raised" in the Jesuit tradition at Ateneo de Manila University and Boston College, he takes to heart the tenets of being "a person for others" and doing things well "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" above all. He currently serves as the Creative Director of Forge, a boutique Back Bay ad agency helping companies who do meaningful work do more.

Beth Tanner, Enrollment Committee - Principal, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School

Beth Tanner is a life-long educator and a parishioner of Sts. Louis & Zelie Martin Parish.  Having spent ten years as a classroom teacher in her native Duchess County, New York, she relocated to Greenwich, Connecticut to assume the role of Director of Early Childhood Programs for Family Centers.  Always ready for a new challenge, Beth relocated to the Boston area to be the founding Director of Good Shepherd School in Charlestown.  Following many years as an inner-city Principal in Central Falls, RI and appointed member of the RI Early Learning Council, Beth was blessed to be hired as Principal of St. Catherine of Siena School in Norwood in 2019. She has a firm commitment to Catholic Education and belief that every child deserves a Catholic Education and has been a member the Catholic Schools Foundation School Advisory Committee since 2021.  Beth lives in Somerville with her husband and loves spending time with their two dogs, Cece and Willis!

Kevin Donohue - Principal and parent, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus School

Kevin Donohue joined St. Theresa's as the principal in 2021. Prior to that, he served as principal of St. Joseph School in Hawthorne, CA for four years. He has taught students in grades 3-8, in most subjects, but his favorite subject is Literature. A product of Catholic education from Kindergarten through Graduate School, he has four children, three of whom attend St. Theresa's, and a wonderful wife.

If you are interested in supporting our mission, please reach out to Mr. Donohue or a member of the board.