Staff
Leadership
Fr. Cook
Pastor
Margaret Beale
Principal
Marian Congdon
Dean of Students, Art Teacher
Andrea Avery
Pre-K Director
Fr. Cook
Pastor
What is Father Cook’s background?
Father Cook was born in High Point, North Carolina, and was baptized and made his First Communion at Immaculate Heart of Mary.
When did he first know he wanted to be a priest?
He moved to Asheville in third grade at St. Eugene and Asheville Catholic School. He enjoyed serving at Mass there and being with the priests of the parish, but he didn’t feel his true calling until he was practicing law in Raleigh. “It took a few years to sort out the call,” he remembers.
What Scriptural passage was instrumental in the discernment of his vocation?
From Psalm 4: “O men, how long will your hearts be closed, will you love what is futile and seek what is false?” Father Cook began to realize that loving his corporate career was loving something false and futile, relative to his soul, and it helped him to detach from his corporate life. He left for seminary in 2011.
What are Father Cook’s hobbies?
He loves to read, hike, and spend time with his family, including his father, younger brother, and sister. They are all very close, and he loves to travel to see them. He also enjoys fraternal time traveling with other priests. In addition, he loves sports and likes going to games or watching them on TV.
What is his favorite thing about Immaculata?
Margaret Beale
Principal
What is Ms. Beale’s background?
She has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts in Education, both from Virginia Tech. Ms. Beale grew up in New Martinsville, West Virginia, a tiny town nestled next to the Ohio River.
What was Ms. Beale like in K-8 grade?
She always wanted to be the wake-up fairy in kindergarten but was never selected. Now she gets to fulfill her lifelong dream and help wake up our pre-k students from their nap.
What was her best vacation?
Going to Italy. Walking through the Vatican and other holy sites was priceless to her.
What hobbies does she have?
Ms. Beale loves reading, cooking, and watching and playing sports.
About Ms. Beale’s family
She is the oldest of seven children and is from a family of educators. Her mother and three of her siblings teach in some capacity. They are all very close and enjoy playing various card games and board games when they get together. They are all huge WVU Mountaineer fans and love going to watch them play as a family. Their faith is very important, and one of her brothers is a Dominican priest.
What is her favorite quote?
“Cheerfulness prepares a glorious mind for all the noblest acts.” – Elizabeth Ann Seton
What is her proudest moment?
Marian Congdon
Dean of Students, Art Teacher
What is Mrs. Congdon’s background?
Mrs. Congdon has a BFA degree in painting and printmaking from Miami University with an art history minor, an MFA from University of California, Berkeley, and graduate courses in behavior analysis for BCBA certification from Florida Institute of Technology. She grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio.
What was Mrs. Congdon’s best vacation?
Her best vacation was going to Munich, Germany, with her husband. They stayed with friends and visited castles, cathedrals, Bavaria, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, Austria. They rode an Alpine coaster in Meiders, Austria, and ate delicious food.
What are her hobbies?
Mrs. Congdon took up crochet when Covid lockdowns started. She likes to use scrap yarn, plarn (made from plastic bags), and old t-shirts.
About Mrs. Congdon’s family
She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 1994. He is a musician. They have four adult children, and three of them attended ICS! They have two cats, two dogs, and an aquarium full of snails and some fish.
What is her favorite quote?
“The simplest and most practical lesson I know is to resolve to be good today, but better tomorrow.” – Catherine McAuley
Who influences or inspires her?
Andrea Avery
Pre-K Director
What is Mrs. Avery’s background?
Mrs. Avery grew up in Hendersonville and has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Western Carolina University.
What are her hobbies?
Mrs. Avery enjoys crafting, swimming, and baking.
Tell us about her family.
Mrs. Avery’s family is loud and fun. She lives with her husband, Mike, and three children, Meredith, Aaron, and Aliza.
What is something random that we might not know about Mrs. Avery?
She was in the Pride of the Mountains Drumline.
What is the most famous (or infamous) thing someone in her family ever did?
She is distantly related to Mark Twain and Thomas Jefferson.
What does she love about teaching?
Mrs. Avery loves watching kids develop a love of learning and books and finding community.
What is Mrs. Avery’s favorite quote?
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” – Dr. Seuss
How does God play a role in Mrs. Avery’s life?
Felicia Carter
Middle School Math, 6th Grade Social Studies, 6th Grade Homeroom, 6-8 Team Leader
Matthew Tanner
STEM, Middle School Science, 7th Grade Homeroom
Sarah Bell
Religion, 8th Grade Language Arts, 8th Grade Homeroom
Sunday Parker
6th and 7th Grade Language Arts, 7th Grade Social Studies
Felicia Carter
Middle School Math, 6th Grade Social Studies, 6th Grade Homeroom, 6-8 Team Leader
What is Mrs. Carter’s background?
Mrs. Carter has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from UNC Asheville. She is a rare Hendersonville native and was on the school cheerleading team.
What are her hobbies?
Mrs. Carter likes to read and spend time with her family. She also enjoys shopping.
About Mrs. Carter’s family
She is married to her high school sweetheart, Matt, and has a son named Jackson who attends East Carolina University majoring in business and pre-law. She also has a Germen Shepherd named Axel.
What is something random we might not know about Mrs. Carter?
She danced for former President George H. W. Gush with other students from Pat’s School of Dance when he attended the Apple Festival in Hendersonville in 1992.
What is her favorite quote?
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” – Mother Teresa
What is one of her favorite childhood memories?
Matthew Tanner
STEM, Middle School Science, 7th Grade Homeroom
What is Mr. Tanner’s background?
Mr. Tanner grew up at the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and loved to be outside. He liked math and guitar classes and enjoyed playing soccer. He has a BA in Anthropology from University of West Florida and is working on a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education at Western Carolina University.
What is his favorite place?
Mr. Tanner loves the good food and funky music in New Orleans. It is where he and his wife, Mariana, went for their honeymoon.
Tell us about Mr. Tanner’s family.
He has a beautiful and amazing wife, Mariana, and a very special daughter, Emma. Mariana is from Colombia, and that led to his best vacation there.
What is one of his favorite childhood memories?
Mr. Tanner and his brother, John, loved exploring the swamp at their grandma’s down in Alabama. They would cross a pine tree at a narrow part of the bayou and wander around in the woods on the other side.
How does God play a role in Mr. Tanner’s life?
He is thankful for the Church and the many blessings, as God has given him a beautiful life. Mr. Tanner hopes that his love for God continues to grow every day and that God remains at the center of his and his family’s busy lives.
What does he love about teaching?
He loves watching how students progress and being there to work with the students and make adjustments as needed to help them reach their goals. He also enjoys the opportunity to be a positive role model for the students.
What is his funniest teacher moment?
When he was coaching soccer, he was right in front of the goal when the ball went to him. He decided to go for the goal, but the ball bounced back and hit him in the face! It was a little embarrassing, but he and the whole team laughed!
What is his favorite quote?
“Dear young people, do not be afraid of making decisive choices in life. Have faith; the Lord will not abandon you!” – Pope Francis
Who influences or inspires him?
Sarah Bell
Religion, 8th Grade Language Arts, 8th Grade Homeroom
What is Ms. Bell’s background?
Ms. Bell has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Humboldt State University. She grew up in Shafter, California, where she enjoyed playing sports, especially gymnastics.
What are her hobbies?
Ms. Bell enjoys walking with friends and embroidery.
About Ms. Bell’s family
She has two amazing, enthusiastic kids, Lindsey and Ian.
What is her favorite quote?
“It is easy to talk about the cross; it is not easy to carry your cross.” – Fr. Mike Schmitz
What does she love about teaching?
Sunday Parker
6th and 7th Grade Language Arts, 7th Grade Social Studies
What is Mrs. Parker’s background?
Mrs. Parker grew up in Texas, where she was a book worm who loved sports, horses, painting, and music. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Writing from Loyola University in New Orleans and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from University of New Orleans.
What is the most famous or infamous thing someone in Mrs. Parker’s family ever did?
She is related to the former director of the CIA, James Jesus Angleton, and also to Charles Floyd, the quartermaster of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
What is her favorite quote?
I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
What is her favorite place?
Tracy Lewis
3rd Grade Teacher, 3-5 Team Leader
Louis Torchio
4th Grade and Pre- K-4 Music Teacher
Michelle Edwards
5th Grade and 5-8 Music Teacher
Tracy Lewis
3rd Grade Teacher, 3-5 Team Leader
What is Mrs. Lewis’ background?
Mrs. Lewis has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bemidji State University in Bemidji, MN, and a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN.
About Mrs. Lewis’ family
Her family consists of a grown daughter who lives in California, a grown son serving as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force stationed in South Korea, and a husband who moved with her from Minnesota to North Carolina in 2018.
One of Mrs. Lewis’ funniest moments teaching
Once when Mrs. Lewis was about 42, she told her 5th grade class that she was 25. Apparently, this became the talk around the dinner table, and even though she had a 16-year-old daughter and some of her kids were pretty good at math, a group of moms brought her a 25th birthday cake on her birthday!
Mrs. Lewis’ proudest moment
“My proudest moment was when my son was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant.”
What are Mrs. Lewis’ hobbies?
Louis Torchio
4th Grade and Pre- K-4 Music Teacher
What is Mr. Torchio’s background?
Mr. Torchio has a Music Business degree from Montreat College and a Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education from Western Governors University.
About Mr. Torchio’s family
He has a wife of four years and a 16-month-old son.
Where did Mr. Torchio grow up?
Mr. Torchio grew up in Centreville, MD
Where is his favorite place?
Charleston, SC, is his favorite place.
Who influences or inspires him?
He is inspired by Jesus, Eddie Vedder, Bob Dylan, Ghandi, and Buddha.
What is his favorite quote?
Mr. Torchio’s favorite quote is, “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
What are his hobbies?
Michelle Edwards
5th Grade and 5-8 Music Teacher
What is Mrs. Edwards’ background?
Mrs. Edwards grew up in Westerville, Ohio, a small town north of Columbus with brick streets and friendly, caring neighbors. She graduated Cum Laude from Ohio Dominica College with a Bachelor of Science in Education.
What hobbies does she have?
Mrs. Edwards enjoys growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers, playing the piano, baking, swimming, walking her two dogs, and taking care of her nine chickens.
Tell us about Mrs. Edwards’ family.
Her husband, Bobby, retired from Blue Ridge Community College where he taught at Schenk Job Corp. They had three children, Andrew, Mary, and Matthew. Matthew and his wife, Ashely, have a son (her grandchild), David.
What is one of her favorite childhood memories?
Growing up on a farm, taking care of the animals and gardens. One day her dad brought home an old Morgan horse that he had saved from the “glue factory.” To Mrs. Edwards, she was absolutely beautiful!
What is something random we might not know about Mrs. Edwards?
In 1995 she volunteered for a month at Haitian Christian School for the Deaf in Port au Prince, Haiti. She has been an interpreter for the deaf using ASL (American Sign Language) off and on for over 30 years.
What does Mrs. Edwards love about teaching?
She says that teaching is not just a job, but rather a way of life, as teachable moments are all around us. Regardless of the grade level or the subject, guiding and motivating students to reach their full potential has been very rewarding.
What is her favorite quote?
“Keep your face to the sunshine, and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do.” – Hellen Keller
What is the most famous or infamous thing someone in her family ever did?
Angie Scarduzio
Kindergarten Teacher
Noelle Harralson
1st Grade Teacher, K-2 Team Leader
Kathleen Kauss
2nd Grade Teacher
Denise Seidensticker
Kindergarten Teacher Assistant
Angie Scarduzio
Kindergarten Teacher
What is Ms. Angie’s background?
Ms. Angie studied Early Childhood Education. She grew up in Indiana and Ohio. Her family moved a lot, so making new friends was always a daunting task, as she was very introverted.
What are Ms. Angie’s hobbies?
She enjoys reading, playing cards with her family, and hiking with her dog.
About Ms. Angie’s family
She has been married for over 25 years and has three children. Her oldest attends UNC Greensboro and plans to join the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco. Her middle child is studying to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant, and her youngest attends Henderson County Early College.
What does she love about teaching?
Watching a student discover the answer and make the connection. She loves the family atmosphere at Immaculata.
What is her favorite quote?
“If you think you can do a thing or you think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” – Henry Ford
What is her funniest teacher moment?
Noelle Harralson
1st Grade Teacher, K-2 Team Leader
What is Mrs. Harralson’s background?
Mrs. Harralson has a Humanities degree from the University of Maryland and served in Teach For America.
What is one of Mrs. Harralson’s favorite childhood memories?
Flying home from the Philippines on a cargo plane, the pilots let her into the cockpit to watch the sunrise. “It appeared as if we were outracing time as we flew from night into day.”
What are her hobbies?
Mrs. Harralson loves to read, and she enjoys gardening in the summer.
What is her favorite quote?
I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” – Michelangelo
Where did she grow up?
Kathleen Kauss
2nd Grade Teacher
What is Ms. Kauss’ background?
She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts and French Language.
What hobbies does Ms. Kauss have?
Outside of school, she enjoys reading, going to the movies, traveling to warm beaches, shopping, and spending time with her family and friends.
What does Ms. Kauss love about teaching?
She loves watching her students grow in their faith and become inspired by what they are learning.
What is her favorite thing about Immaculata?
She feels blessed working with dedicated teachers and staff.
Who influences or inspires her?
Denise Seidensticker
Kindergarten Teacher Assistant
What is Ms. Denise’s background?
Ms. Denise grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida. She is married to Scott and has four children, two grandchildren, one cat, two dogs, and three chickens.
What hobbies does Ms. Denise have?
She loves fixing old, broken things, doing anything crafty and lots of laundry.
What is one of her favorite childhood memories?
Riding bikes around the neighborhood to get Slurpees at the 7-11.
Who influences or inspires Ms. Denise?
Teachers – the most unselfish group of people she has ever met.
What is Ms. Denise’s favorite quote?
“May the force be with you.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi
What is something random we might not know about her?
Sara Melendez
Pre-K3 Teacher
Lupita Aguillon
Pre-K4 Teacher
Marbella Monteil Gonzalez
Pre-K3 Teacher Assistant
Sara Melendez
Pre-K3 Teacher
What is Mrs. Melendez’s background?
Mrs. Melendez grew up in Guanajuato, Mexico and has an Associate’s degree from Blue Ridge Community College.
What are her hobbies?
Mrs. Melendez loves visiting her sisters and going on long walks with her husband.
[Skills Section] Tell us about Mrs. Melendez’s family.
She comes from a large family and is the 7th of nine children. She came to the United States when she was 17 years old. She is married and has four children, three girls and a boy. All four children graduated from Immaculata and are following in their parents’ footsteps to pursue higher education.
Who influences or inspires her?
Mrs. Melendez credits her husband as being the inspiration for their family’s success in education and says he is their pillar and their strength. Her daughter’s teacher from Head Start also inspires her.
What is her proudest moment?
Graduating from Blue Ridge Community College.
What does she love about teaching?
Mrs. Melendez loves seeing how the children grow and mature each year.
What is Mrs. Melendez’s favorite thing about Immaculata?
She loves the teaching of God, the discipline, and how the children are able to stay innocent for a longer time, giving them time to mature before they go to high school.
What is her favorite quote?
“It is interesting to notice that where life is simple and natural and where the children participate in the adult’s life, they are calm and happy.” Maria Montessori
Tell us about Mrs. Melendez’s family.
Lupita Aguillon
Pre-K4 Teacher
What is Ms. Lupita’s background?
Ms. Lupita has an Associates degree in early childhood education. She grew up in Hendersonville where she loved being on a jump rope team.
About Ms. Lupita’s family
She is married to a “superhero.” She has a two-year-old and an almost five-year-old.
What are her hobbies?
Ms. Lupita loves jumping rope, running (but has a hard time finding time), and doing hair.
What is something random we might not know about Ms. Lupita?
She teaches Mexican dances.
What is her favorite quote?
Never follow where the path may lead. Instead, make your own path and leave a trail.
What does she love about teaching?
Marbella Monteil Gonzalez
Pre-K3 Teacher Assistant
What is Ms. Marbella’s background?
She grew up in Hidalgo, Mexico, and that is still her favorite place.
What are her hobbies?
Ms. Marbella loves to read.
Tell us about Ms. Marbella’s family.
She came to the United States when she was 16. She is married and has three children, two girls and one boy. All three currently attend or graduated from Immaculata.
What is her proudest moment?
When she became a U.S. citizen.
What is her favorite subject or skill to teach?
Ms. Marbella loves teaching art.
What does Ms. Marbella love about teaching?
She loves it when the kids fabricate their own stories.
What is the most famous or infamous thing someone in her family ever did?
Support & Specials
James Lally
PE Teacher, Athletic Director
Kelli Then
Academic Support
Catie Russell
Spanish Facilitator, 4th and 5th Grade Religion
James Lally
PE Teacher, Athletic Director
What is Mr. Lally’s background?
He grew up in Manchester, England, where he loved acting on the stage but did not enjoy math. Mr. Lally has a degree in Hotel Business Management.
What was his best vacation?
Mr. Lally most loved going to France with his family.
What hobbies does he have?
Mr. Lally enjoys swimming, cycling, and running. He also enjoys going to church with his family.
Tell us about his family.
Mr. Lally is married to Claire, and they have two children, a daughter and a son.
What is one of Mr. Lally’s favorite childhood memories?
Going to church on Christmas day with his family, and then going home and opening gifts in front of a roaring fire.
What is something random we may not know about him?
Mr. Lally wanted to be an actor.
What is the most famous or infamous thing someone in Mr. Lally’s family ever did?
His father was an actor and appeared on British television on a soap opera.
What does he love about teaching?
Making an impact on at least one person in their life.
What is his favorite quote?
Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
What is Mr. Lally’s favorite thing about Immaculata?
Kelli Then
Academic Support
What is Mrs. Then’s background?
Mrs. Then grew up in Hendersonville, North Carolina, a rare native! She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a minor in English from University of North Carolina Greensboro. She has 20 plus years teaching experience in private, public, and international schools.
What is her favorite place?
Mrs. Then’s favorite place is her home with all family members present.
What was Mrs. Then’s best vacation?
The Kenyan coast. She lived in Kenya for four years, and she says vacationing at the beautiful coast was an amazing experience!
What does Mrs. Then love about teaching?
Teaching is her passion because nothing compares to watching a child unlock their God-given strengths while learning new material ensuring future success.
What is her favorite subject or skill to teach?
She loves teaching all subjects, but she is especially passionate about literacy. She is trained in the Orton Gillingham approach and loves helping students crack the code to become better readers.
What is her favorite quote?
I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Tell us about her family.
Catie Russell
Spanish Facilitator, 4th and 5th Grade Religion
What is Ms. Catie’s background?
Ms. Catie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Belmont Abbey College. She grew up here in Henderson County, where she liked to sing and dance. She was in the band and theater in middle school.
What are her hobbies?
Ms. Catie likes to read, do arts and crafts, play the ukulele, and do Zumba.
What is her favorite quote?
“Creativity requires boredom.” – Fr. Mike Schmitz
What is one of her funniest moments as a teacher?
Annaliese Bopp
STEM & Science Support
Leslie Stott
Administrative Assistant
Gabriel Vera
Maintenance Supervisor
Annaliese Bopp
STEM & Science Support
What is Mrs. Bopp’s background?
She has a Bachelor’s in Social Work from University of West Florida and a Master of Education in Speech Language Pathology from Nazareth College of Rochester.
What was Mrs. Bopp’s best vacation?
The week she and her husband spent on a boat in the Galapagos Islands. She had always wanted to see the unique animals that live there.
What hobbies does she have?
Mrs. Bopp loves to create art quilts. Many of the quilts are of places she has seen while traveling.
What is something random we may not know about Mrs. Bopp?
She was the first female commodore of the yacht club that her husband and she belonged to on Lake Ontario.
What is Mrs. Bopp’s proudest moment?
Winning a Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science in 2018 was the epitome of her career.
What does she love about teaching?
Mrs. Bopp loves to see the wonder in students’ eyes and to see them enthusiastic about learning.
What was her funniest teacher moment?
Leslie Stott
Administrative Assistant
What is Ms. Leslie’s background?
Ms. Leslie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Florida. She grew up in a tiny town in Central Florida, where she loved reading, riding her horse, and playing in the band.
What are Ms. Leslie’s hobbies?
She loves taking hikes to find waterfalls and wildflowers, singing, growing orchids, and reading.
About Ms. Leslie’s family
She is happily married to Mike, and they have three wonderful adult children, Geoffrey, Bryan, and Sarah.
What was Ms. Leslie’s most embarrassing or funniest moment?
The first football game she ever marched in with her high school band, they marched to the 10-yard-line and split. Every other person was supposed to turn around and march back 10 yards. She forgot to turn around, but then ran back to her group. She was VERY short, VERY red, and VERY well-known from that point on.
What is her favorite quote?
God’s peace is joy resting. His joy is peace dancing.
What is something random we might not know about Ms. Leslie?
Gabriel Vera
Maintenance Supervisor
What is Mr. Gabriel’s background?
Mr. Gabriel grew up in Guanajuato, Mexico, and has a degree in mechatronics. He was a shy child but loved to assemble and disassemble things, for example, his toys.
What is his favorite place?
Any place with a mountain view.
What are Mr. Gabriel’s hobbies?
He loves music and fishing.
Tell us about his family.
He has a younger sister who works for St. Gerard House, and his parents live nearby.
Who influences or inspires Mr. Gabriel?
He is inspired by his parents and the lives of St. Francis and St. John Paul II.
What is something random we might not know about him?
Mr. Gabriel has a secret peach phobia.
What is his most embarrassing or funniest moment?
He once lost a shoe before work and had to go shoeless for the day.
What is the most famous or infamous thing that someone in Mr. Gabriel’s family ever did?
He did some research, and he might have a Cristero Martyr in his family.
What is Mr. Gabriel’s favorite quote?
“It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you…” – St. John Paul II
What is his proudest moment?
Robbin Nuckolls
Reading Specialist
Robbin Nuckolls
Reading Specialist
What is Ms. Nuckolls’ background?
Ms. Nuckolls grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and has a Bachelor’s degree from Francis Marion University in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree from The Citadel in Education. She was a very quiet, hard-working student, and reading was her favorite subject.
What is her favorite place?
Ms. Nuckolls’ favorite place is Lake Summit. Her grandparents built a house there many years ago, and they still enjoy going there as a family.
What are Ms. Nuckolls’ hobbies?
She enjoys swimming, gardening, cooking, reading, and spending time with her Cocker Spaniel, Buddy.
What is Ms. Nuckolls’ favorite quote?
Hope springs eternal!
