English
Philosophy/Objectives
The ultimate goal of the English Department is to develop Catholic young women who are prepared to take a lead in both their secular and religious worlds. Through literature, writing, and speech, the department members encourage students to seek the values, ideas, and skills necessary for intellectual growth. The following goals define how the department applies our philosophy. The English curriculum fosters appreciation and understanding of literature as a reflection of the human experience; helps students analyze and interpret works of literature; promotes effective use of written language and oral communication; teaches clear writing and helps students realize that writing is an on-going process of discovery and learning; develops and enhances critical thinking skills; helps students to learn the process of library and Internet research and to understand the structure and content of the research paper; and presents students with opportunities to read and critique various types of texts, including TV, film and advertising.
Course Offerings
- Freshman English Honors
- Freshman English College Preparatory
- American Literature Honors
- American Literature College Preparatory
- World Literature I Honors
- World Literature I College Preparatory
- Advanced Placement English
or
- World Literature II Honors
- World Literature II College Preparatory
All seniors taking Honors or College Preparatory World Literature II must also take one of the following electives: Argument College Equivalency, Creative Writing, Literature and Writing for College, Public Speaking College Equivalency or College Preparatory, Texts and Popular Culture.
Juniors may also take the Public Speaking courses.
Instructors
Mrs. Jean Ann Streiff, chairperson, teaches Advanced Placement English, Public Speaking College Equivalency, Argument College Equivalency, Texts and Popular Culture and Public Speaking CP. Her academic background includes a B. A. in English and Mathematics from Duquesne University and a M. A. in Rhetoric and Communication from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as additional study at Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and Harvard University; her professional commitments have included President, Vice President and Executive Secretary of the Pennsylvania Communication Association, Second Vice President and member of the Executive Council of the Eastern Communication Association and current chair of the Elementary and Secondary Section of the National Communication Association and member of its Legislative Assembly.
Mrs. Paula Foley teaches World Literature I College Preparatory, Communication Skills College Preparatory and Texts and Popular Culture. She has a degree in Secondary Education from Robert Morris University.
Ms. Letitia Marsico, an English teacher for over 35 years, has a B. A. in English from the College of Steubenville (Franciscan University) and graduate credits in Education from the University of Pittsburgh and Carlow University. Besides teaching American Literature and Creative Writing, Ms. Marsico has many other passions in her life, including numerous ministries in the Catholic Church.
Ms. Cindy McNulty teaches American Literature Honors, World History II Honors and AP World History and received both her B.S.Ed and Master of Liberal Studies from Duquesne University with additional graduate work at Duquesne and the University of Pittsburgh. Cindy has been awarded two NEH Fellowships, the Fulbright-Hays Fellowship, two All-Star Educator awards and the World Affairs Council’s George C. Oehmler Award.
Mrs. Lynn Riale teaches World Literature I College Preparatory and Freshman College Preparatory English. Her academic background includes a B. A. in English from Edinboro University and a M. A. in English from Slippery Rock University, as well as a Secondary Certificate in English Education from Carlow University. Before teaching at Oakland Catholic, she taught English and theater at Bishop Canevin, Port Allegany, and Pine-Richland high schools.
Kelly Kaufmann currently teaches Freshman English, World Literature I and World Literature II courses. While this is her first year with Oakland Catholic, Ms. Kaufmann has been teaching English Literature and Writing for the past three years in Washington, DC. Ms. Kaufmann is a Pittsburgh native, having grown up and attended school in West Jefferson Hills. After high school, she moved to Michigan where she earned a BA in Theater and English Literature from Michigan State University in 2001. During that time, she had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in London where she interned at the Globe Theater with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She is also an alumni of the University of Pittsburgh where she earned her MAT in English Education in 2005. A dedicated hiker and climber, Ms. Kaufmann can rarely be spotted around Oakland during the summer when she travels with the Outward Bound program “into the woods” in the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina.
Vincent Adiutori is an Erie native, Vincent earned his BA at Mercyhurst College and his MA at the University of Pittsburgh. He currently teaches Freshmen English Honors, Junior World Literature I, and Senior World Literature II Honors.