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Our Lady of Perpetual Help School 80 Wellington Avenue Daly City, CA 94014 (650) 755-4438 School Hours: 8:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Extended Care: 7:00 A.M. - 8:00 A.M. and After School to 6:00 P.M.

Staff Bios MRS. MARY LUCETT Mrs. Lucett is an experienced teacher having over thirty years dedicated to educating middle school students, twenty-nine of those years at OLPH. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and teaching credential from the University of San Francisco. She continues to be captivated by her students' great intellect, creativity and sense of humor. She knows that nothing is more rewarding as dedicating her professional life to the education of children. Mary is the 8th grade homeroom teacher. She coordinates the Confirmation preparation program, serves as student council and yearbook moderator as well as co-moderator of the annual junior high play. MRS. SHEILA ORTEGA Mrs. Ortega earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and multiple subject credential from San Francisco State University. She began her teaching career seventeen years ago and has worked at OLPH for the past fourteen years. She is currently 7th grade homeroom as well as jr. high science teacher. She is the school's vice-principal, facilitates the school science fair, choreographs the school plays, serves on the grant writing committee and helps moderate the school fundraisers. MS. MARY TUNNELL Ms. Tunnell grew up on the S.F. Peninsula, graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Communication Studies, and from Boston University with a Masters in Mass Communication. She has a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University at Monterey. Now in her sixth year at OLPH, she is the school website coordinator and also helps with the jr. high drama production. Before OLPH, she taught Math at Junipero Serra High School. MS. JAIME STELLA Ms. Stella grew up in San Francisco and graduated from San Francisco State University with her undergraduate degree in sociology. She later attended UCSB where she received her Masters of Education as well as a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Before becoming the 5th Grade teacher at OLPH she worked as a computer teacher and classroom aide for the upper grades. She is on the technology committee as well as coordinating the spelling bee. MRS. AMELIA AXLER Mrs. Axler, who has been in the education field for sixteen years, currently serves as the fourth grade teacher at OLPH. During her first two years, she worked as a substitute teacher at various grade levels in many different schools. During that time, she completed multiple-credential courses, while completing her Masters degree. She graduated from San Francisco State University in 1996 with a Masters in Education. Her undergraduate courses were completed at the University of the Philippines, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Developmental Communication. SISTER PHILOMENE GOLONKA, RSM Sister Philomene is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She received her B.A. from the College of St. Mary. She also spent one full year studying at the Jesuit Graduate School of Applied Theology in Berkeley. She has received credit in theological updating from USF and Dominican University. Sister is the third grade teacher at OLPH. She is moderator for the Holy Childhood Association and serves as religion coordinator for the school. She is the OLPH CYO athletic director and enjoys being involved in furthering good sportsmanship among the student athletes. She represents the school on the OLPH Parish Council. As a native daughter, Sr. Philomene enjoys outings in beautiful California. MRS. KERSTIN DeFRANCIS Known as Mrs. D. by her students, Mrs. DeFrancis has been the 2nd grade teacher at OLPH since 2000. As part of the second grade curriculum, she is responsible for preparing the students for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion. She is a San Francisco native where she attended Catholic schools from first grade through high school. She received both her B.A. and teaching credential from San Francisco State University, where she also met her husband. Together they raised four children who were enriched by parochial school education. She is grateful that with her children finally raised, she can fervently pursue her passion for teaching full-time. MRS. CASILDA LAZALDE A native of San Francisco, Mrs. Lazalde received her Associates of Science, Associate of the Arts and Early Childhood Education Certification from Skyline College. She completed her Bachelor Degree in Liberal Studies from Notre Dame de Namur University and is completing her Multiple Subject Credential at the same school. She has worked as a teachers aide, a substitute and a teacher in the Archdiocese of San Francisco for eleven years. MRS. GEMMA GLEAN Mrs. Glean has experience working with different age groups. She worked with young pre-schoolers for 7 years at Genentech's 2nd Generation in South San Francisco. She had the opportunity to work with bilingual middle school students at Fernando Rivera School in Daly City, and has been teaching Kindergarten since 1999. Mrs. Glean graduated with a degree in Secondary Education from the University of the Assumption, majoring in English. She took master's courses in Guidance Counseling and hopes to be a guidance counselor some day. She obtained a Preliminary Single Subject Teaching credential in 1998. While working as preschool teacher, she went back to school to take Early Childhood Development classes at Canada College in Redwood City. She is taking classes, has passed all tests required by the CCTC, and is currently fulfilling the last few requirements for a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. MR. WILLIAM KOVACICH A product of local Catholic Schools, Mr. Kovacich received his B.A., California Teaching Credential, and Administrative Masters Degree from the University of San Francisco. He has worked in education for thirty-eight years, over thirty of them as a principal in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Besides his administrative duties, he teaches 8th grade English and writes and directs the school plays. He served on the Principals' Administrative Council, chaired over a dozen WASC evaluation committees, and has coached and officiated various sports at both the grammar school and high school level. He is serving his fifth year as principal of OLPH. Return to Staff listing