Marist High School recently welcomed a new religion teacher who is getting much praise from her students. 

Ms. O’Leary is in her third year teaching and first year at Marist. She originally started at St. Patrick, an all-boys high school, in which she learned the basics.

“I found Marist High School to be a better environment,” says O’Leary. “At Pat’s, I had to teach all four grades in theology.” 

Now she teaches both freshman and juniors. 

O’Leary has stayed local to her family for most of her life and that is another reason why she prefers Marist.

“Marist is a much closer commute of 10 minutes compared to my time at Pats,” says O’Leary. 

Growing up near the Mt. Greenwood area,  O’Leary has always had a sense of community while surrounded by family and friends. She didn’t even travel far to go to college. 

“I went to Dominican University which is in River Forest, so around an hour away from here,” says O’Leary. 

Even though her college experience was interrupted by COVID, O’Leary graduated from the University with a degree in English secondary education.

Outside of school, she’s interested in media and creative hobbies. 

“I’m a big fan of the arts and do really enjoy painting and drawing,” says O’Leary “I’ve been a big fan of Bridgerton and I’m trying to start looking into other period pieces.” 

Both freshman and junior students have really enjoyed what they describe as her calm demeanor and classroom environment.  It also helps that she attends multiple school sporting events such as football and volleyball games. 

“I always feel like Marist has so much going on all the time,” says O’Leary. “ I’ve been trying to go to all the games and events recently.” 

All in all, she says it’s been a positive switch.

“I think teaching has made a lot easier here with all of the support that I have and how seamless the transition has felt,” says O’Leary.