Marquette Catholic High School welcomes five new teachers into the fold for the upcoming academic year, as announced by the school Tuesday.
Amanda Boyd, Amanda Brown-Holler, Eric Edson, JonLee Hall, and Leslie Root will augment Marquette’s theology, English, Spanish, mathematics, and social studies offerings, respectively.
Boyd, who earned her master’s degree in secondary education from Indiana University Northwest while at Marquette, returns as theology teacher. A favorite amongst the student body, Boyd led dual-credit courses in social studies through Ivy Tech. Outside of the school day, she spearheaded Student Government and worked with the Michigan City Town Council and the Youth Advisory Board. Her bachelor’s degree came from California State University Fullerton, where she graduated summa cum laude with a University Honors Diploma.
Brown-Holler taught Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 at Portage High School for the past six years but will be able to expand her reach across all levels at Marquette. During her tenure at Portage, she helped raise $3,000 as director of the Porter County Mental Health Association’s #STOPTHESTIGMA 5k race. Brown-Holler holds a pair of bachelor’s degrees from Drake University and Purdue University Northwest and is currently pursuing her master’s degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Edson joins his wife, Kristen, in Marquette’s mathematics department. A familiar face in the community, Edson has been active in the Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City and the Lubeznik Center for the Arts the past nine years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a certificate in comic book illustration and storyboarding from the International School of Comics Chicago. Edson’s classroom experience includes six years with Michigan City Area Schools, serving severe and profound special needs students.
Hall embarks on her 30th year in Catholic education beginning this fall. She served as English teacher at Brother Rice High School in Chicago from 1991-2020, having taught all levels. Hall was the instructor of the dual-credit course with St. Mary’s University of Minnesota at Winona for 14 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University Institute and a master’s degree from Governors State University. Hall will instruct English 9 and gothic literature.
Root will bolster the school’s social studies department, overseeing dual-credit American history, dual-credit U.S. Government, and U.S. history courses. She brings a blend of teaching and professional experience that will benefit students in a unique capacity. Root taught AP World History at LaPorte High School for the past two years. Before that, she worked with the Illinois State Senate (2008-2011) and Illinois General Assembly Legislative Research Unit (2011-2012) gaining valuable experience in the political sector. Root then went on to serve as Director of State Government Relations for three years at Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Western Illinois University and the University of Illinois at Springfield, respectively.
Marquette’s first full day of classes is Monday, August 23rd.
