Faculty & Staff Photos

Ms. LaHood is an alumnus of Christendom College. This is her first full year teaching at OLSHA. Before coming to teach at OLSHA, she worked in special education at Lena Elementary School. She has one daughter, Noreen, who loves her friends and teachers here at OLSHA, and five of her twelve siblings are OLSHA alumni. Her hobbies include fine arts, especially playing the piano.

Mrs. Parnello graduated from Rock Valley College with an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been teaching for thirty years, and she has been teaching Kindergarten at OLSHA for the last five. When she’s not teaching, Mrs. Parnello enjoys reading, gardening, and hiking.

Miss. Neujahr is excited to begin her first year of teaching at OLSHA as a first-grade teacher! Teaching first grade has always been her dream. She graduated from Rockford University in May with a degree in Elementary Education and an endorsement in Early Childhood Education. She is engaged to her high school sweetheart, David, and will be getting married in May 2027. As the oldest of five siblings, she loves spending time with family and enjoys photography, reading, traveling, and fishing.

Mrs. Dan Pra brings over 40 years of experience in education, including the past six years at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy. She earned her degree in Elementary and Special Education from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. She and her husband  are active members of St. James Parish in Belvidere and have been blessed with six children and eight grandchildren, three of whom attend OLSHA. She is grateful for the opportunity to continue sharing her love of teaching and making a difference in the lives of her students

Mrs. Manuel has been teaching for six years and is passionate about Catholic classical education and the opportunity to help children grow in knowledge, faith, and virtue. She earned her bachelor's degree from Cardinal Stritch University and received her teaching certificate from Judson University. Mrs. Manuel believes education is about more than learning facts; it is about forming good character, developing a love of truth, and growing closer to God. As both a teacher and a mother, she understands the importance of nurturing each child's individual gifts and helping them develop confidence, responsibility, kindness, and a love of learning. She feels blessed to be part of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart school community. Her hope is that every student leaves her classroom knowing they are loved by God, capable of great things, and called to treat others with kindness and respect.

Mrs. Nelson is proud to lead our Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade community in an authentically Catholic, classical education. Guided by the conviction that God calls us all to be saints, she works daily to cultivate an environment where students--from their earliest years of discovery to their graduation milestones--can grow in their personal relationship with Jesus and unlock their potential to be lifelong learners, seeking the truth, goodness, and beauty that can be found all around them. Mrs. Nelson earned her masters in Education, Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Phoenix and her bachelors in Elementary Education with a distinction in English at Dominican University. She holds certifications in ESL from National Louis University and Theological, Ministry, and Spiritual Formation from the Archdiocese of Chicago. In addition to her leadership role, she teaches language arts to the fifth and sixth grade class. Outside of OLSHA she enjoys taking cooking classes and planning road trips with her family. 

Mrs. Nelson is proud to lead our Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade community in an authentically Catholic, classical education. Guided by the conviction that God calls us all to be saints, she works daily to cultivate an environment where students--from their earliest years of discovery to their graduation milestones--can grow in their personal relationship with Jesus and unlock their potential to be lifelong learners, seeking the truth, goodness, and beauty that can be found all around them. Mrs. Nelson earned her masters in Education, Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Phoenix and her bachelors in Elementary Education with a distinction in English at Dominican University. She holds certifications in ESL from National Louis University and Theological, Ministry, and Spiritual Formation from the Archdiocese of Chicago. In addition to her leadership role, she teaches language arts to the fifth and sixth grade class. Outside of OLSHA she enjoys taking cooking classes and planning road trips with her family. 

Mrs. Carlson is a graduate of Augustana College having completed University of Indiana geology field camp. Her Master of Education is from Ohio University with her research study creative writing effecting self-esteem proved statistically significant. She taught third grade in Illinois, Ohio and Washington DC in both public and private schools. She homeschooled her children. She taught parents how to teach writing and spoke both locally as well as internationally at home school conferences. She worked as an educator at Burpee Museum, participating in their dinosaur digs. While at Burpee she made presentations at Geologic Society of America and other societies. She participated in two National Science Foundation research expeditions. Hobbies include gardening, knitting, lace making, sewing, and baking. She is the mother of 4 children and grandmother of 11. Married to Allan Carlson and lives on the farm where she grew up. Teaching at OLSHA is an absolute joy for her.

Mrs. Carlson is a graduate of Augustana College having completed University of Indiana geology field camp. Her Master of Education is from Ohio University with her research study creative writing effecting self-esteem proved statistically significant. She taught third grade in Illinois, Ohio and Washington DC in both public and private schools. She homeschooled her children. She taught parents how to teach writing and spoke both locally as well as internationally at home school conferences. She worked as an educator at Burpee Museum, participating in their dinosaur digs. While at Burpee she made presentations at Geologic Society of America and other societies. She participated in two National Science Foundation research expeditions. Hobbies include gardening, knitting, lace making, sewing, and baking. She is the mother of 4 children and grandmother of 11. Married to Allan Carlson and lives on the farm where she grew up. Teaching at OLSHA is an absolute joy for her.

Mr. Rilott has taught for 25 years, including seven years at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy (OLSHA). He also serves as Director of Religious Education and Evangelization at St. Bernadette Church in Rockford. Kevin lives in Rockford with his wife, Donna, their sons, David and Dominic, and their six grandchildren.

Mr. Huston is a humanities teacher with an undergraduate degree in Philosophy & Letters from the University of Dallas. He is from a family of seven children and is originally from Orange County, California. He is currently working on his Master's in Theology and is in his second year of teaching humanities at OLSHA. In his spare time he enjoys sacred music, running, and swing dancing. 

Mr. Huston is a humanities teacher with an undergraduate degree in Philosophy & Letters from the University of Dallas. He is from a family of seven children and is originally from Orange County, California. He is currently working on his Master's in Theology and is in his second year of teaching humanities at OLSHA. In his spare time he enjoys sacred music, running, and swing dancing. 

Mr. Heneghan is in his third year of teaching science and mathematics and his first year of administration at OLSHA. He has a B.S. in Physics from the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Mr. Heneghan is an Eagle Scout and has nine years of beach lifeguarding under his belt. He grew up in Dana Point, California, and he’s lived in Rockford for two years. When not teaching, he enjoys lifting weights, swimming, running, and reading science fiction.

Mr. Heneghan is in his third year of teaching science and mathematics and his first year of administration at OLSHA. He has a B.S. in Physics from the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Mr. Heneghan is an Eagle Scout and has nine years of beach lifeguarding under his belt. He grew up in Dana Point, California, and he’s lived in Rockford for two years. When not teaching, he enjoys lifting weights, swimming, running, and reading science fiction.

Mr. Lyter has a Bachelor's degree in Music, Spanish, and Philosophy from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. This is his fifth year teaching at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. He is married with two children.

Mr. Frankiewicz began teaching high school in 2024 in Chicago and came to OLSHA at the start of the 2025 school year where he serves as a humanities and Latin teacher. He also serves as the faculty advisor for the Japanese Club, the School Events Committee, the Rome Pilgrimage Fundraising Committee, and the School Newspaper. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2018 from the University of Chicago. After working for the University in their administration and in the real estate industry for a short time, je entered the seminary in 2020 for the Archdiocese of Chicago to discern the priesthood. It was there that he earned his Master of Arts in Philosophy.

Mrs. Wagner holds a B.A. in mathematics from Northern Illinois University. She has thirty years of teaching experience across all levels. A U.S. Navy veteran and a homebound minister at St. James Church in Belvidere, she enjoys family time and walking in God’s beautiful nature.

Mrs. Gorsline has a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts from Northern Illinois University. She has eleven years of experience in classroom instruction, and this is her second year at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy. She’s married and has three sons. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Mrs. Altham earned an AB in English at Yale in 1977; she also earned credits toward a master’s at Hillsdale (teaching American history) and at the University of Southern Connecticut (number theory and how people learn—or fail to learn—mathematics). After several years in the publishing and business worlds, Mrs. Altham moved to northern Illinois; she began teaching at the academy in the fall of 2000. She is now semi-retired, but enjoying this year’s classes in Algebra I and American/Modern History. Her three daughters are all grown and flown. Her recent novel, Death Comes to Wyandotte, is available from the publisher, Os Justi Press, and from Amazon.