Middle School Resource Support – Joanie Cassidy Friel
Joanie Friel, a native Washingtonian, grew up attending Catholic schools. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Marquette University and a Master of Education degree from the Catholic University of America. Her first teaching position was at the Chelsea School working with high school students with learning differences. After her children entered school, she went back to teaching, this time teaching resource class in Catholic schools - first at Our Lady of Lourdes and now at our own Holy Cross. Here, she continues her mission of supporting students academically in a faith-filled environment. As the Upper School Resource teacher, Mrs. Friel focuses her expertise on helping students strengthen their study skills, organization, planning, reading, and self-advocacy skills.
Lower School Resource Support – Mrs. Katie Shaffer
Katie Shaffer earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Special Education from the Catholic University of America. Mrs. Shaffer taught First Grade for five years at St. Ann's Academy. After receiving her graduate degree, she went to St. Bartholomew School to be the resource teacher for Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. While at St. Bartholomew School, she also taught Second Grade and received the Knights of Columbus Teacher of the Year award in 2005.
Mrs. Shaffer stayed home to raise her four children and tutored at night during her time away from the classroom. She has also worked for the Catholic Business Network, which raises money for Catholic elementary schools. She is now the lower school resource teacher at Holy Cross School. Mrs. Shaffer has implemented a phonics-based reading intervention that she uses with her lower school resource students. This multi-sensory phonetic approach makes learning interactive, intensive, and fun!
School Counselor - Sarah Osborn LCSW-C
Sarah Osborn earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Social Work from Augusta University in Augusta, GA and a Master in Social Work from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Mrs. Osborn began her career with the Catholic Guardian Society in New York City helping to start and provide therapy to 2 integrated group homes for children in the foster care system with severe social, behavioral and physical challenges. Most recently she has worked as a Mental Health Therapist with Advanced Behavioral Health – Montgomery County serving a wide population from ages 4 – 60. She has training in Play Therapy, TF-CBT, and CBT. Mrs. Osborn holds a Licensed Certified Social Work – Clinical licensure from the state of Maryland. Mrs. Osborn has 3 children who went through Holy Redeemer Catholic Elementary School and St. John’s Catholic High School. She is passionate about helping children through trauma and learning skills to effectively navigate the daily challenges of life in healthy ways.