Our Faculty and Staff

Welcome to our wonderful school! I have been a kindergarten teacher for over 25 years. I love working with these little ones. I originated from Akron, Ohio. I graduated from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania and am also certified as a Wilson Reading Specialist. I feel so blessed to be able to use my special God-given talents in an environment in which we can openly live and share our faith!

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways submit to Him and He will make straight your path.' Proverbs 3:5–6

Mrs. Bennett is blessed to serve as second grade teacher at SJPII. She is the product of eight years of Catholic education. She holds a bachelor of science in education (K-12) with a concentration in special education from the University of Akron in Ohio. Over the past thirty years she has taught in public, private, and homeschool settings, as well as in Catholic faith formation. She has taught in grades Pre-K through twelfth. Mrs. Bennett feels that teaching is a passion and a calling to serve.

Mrs. Bennett is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst. She resides in Aberdeen with her former high school sweetheart and husband of 27 years, Shawn, their four children, three dogs, cat, bunny, and two turtles. In her spare time Mrs. Bennett enjoys reading, writing, crafting, and gardening.

Kendra Teclaw is a certified Broadfield English teacher holding a lifetime licensure from the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. After graduating in 2016 from University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point with a bachelor of arts in English (minoring in creative writing), Mrs. Teclaw taught for five years in a public high school. She attended Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduating with a master's degree in education while teaching full time as an English teacher. Her courses included but were not limited to American literature, senior creative writing, freshman literature and composition, advanced placement freshman literature and composition, sophomore literature and composition, junior literature themes and composition, reading and writing workshops grades nine and ten.

Mrs. Teclaw relocated to North Carolina last year, where her husband is currently stationed. Mrs. Teclaw attends St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church where she sings in the choir. She loves playing jazz music on her phonograph, riding her horses, hiking with her dog, and writing. She is so excited for this upcoming school year serving in His Glory as a substitute teacher at St. John Paul II Catholic School.

'Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself.' - St. John Paul II

Mrs. Felicetta considers herself beyond blessed to share her love of Christ and her passion for literacy with her students in a Catholic school setting for the last 29 years. Her goal as an educator is to develop a community of lifelong learners through self-motivation, self-regulation, cooperation, prayer, and a positive attitude while maintaining a high level of expectation from all students.

In addition to teaching language arts and religion, Mrs. Felicetta is the PLC leader for grades four through six, is a member of the leadership team, and represents our school in the Moore County Reading Association. She is an active member at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Southern Pines.

Mrs. Felicetta resides in Whispering Pines with her husband Frank and she has two daughters, Cristina and Sofia (SJPII class of 2016). She enjoys spending time with her grandsons, exercising, reading, and cooking.

Mrs. Felicetta attended Rutgers University on a full academic scholarship as a governor’s teaching scholar and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor's of arts in psychology. She is certified K-8 in New Jersey and K-6 in North Carolina.

Having received her degree from St. Andrews University in education, Pamela Francis additionally holds a North Carolina professional teacher's license. She has been teaching for about twenty years. In 2022–2023 she will be teaching fifth- and sixth-grade math, science, and social studies. This will be her fourth year teaching at St. John Paul ll Catholic School.

"Catholic education aims not only to communicate facts but also to transmit a coherent, comprehensive vision of life, in the conviction that the truths contained in that vision liberate students in the most profound meaning of human freedom." - Saint John Paul II

Mrs. Konz teaches middle school English language arts, and she is passionate about sharing her love of the Catholic faith and literature with her students. She believes that the study of language arts connects students to the world around them, prepares them to be effective communicators and critical thinkers, and helps them come to know what is good, true, and beautiful. She continuously strives to build engaging learning communities using effective teaching strategies that ensure all students benefit from meaningful instruction. Her professional goal is to create lifelong learners with a deep appreciation for the written word.

Mrs. Konz received a bachelor's of science degree in human development and family studies from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and she received a post-baccalaureate certificate in teaching from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Over the course of her career she has taught in high school, middle school, and preschool. Mrs. Konz is a member of the Moore County Reading Association and the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE).

Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, she is married with one son, and has called the Southern Pines area home for over a decade. Mrs. Konz enjoys cooking, reading historical fiction, cheering on the Auburn Tigers, and spending time outdoors with her family. They are active members of their local Catholic church.

Patrick O'Connell is married to his wife Mary and has three children. He is originally from New York and has been in North Carolina teaching upper elementary and middle school since 2011. He received all of his education from Catholic schools and is happy to be back in the Catholic school system.

Lori D'Argenio and her family have lived in the area since 2009, when the military brought them here. Two of her four children graduated from St. John Paul II Catholic School. She was born in Pennsylvania and received her bachelor's degree in political Science from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. After the privilege of twenty years as a stay-at-home mom, Lori joined our faculty in 2012. She is licensed in middle school social studies and language arts. Mrs. D'Argenio loves the collaborative and inquiry-based nature of our middle school curriculum, which leads all to search for truth.

As a four-decade teaching veteran, Mrs. Haley’s passion for teaching and learning increases every year. Mrs. Haley believes that all students crave the intellectual stimulation afforded by rich and engaging mathematical investigations. It is her professional goal to develop and continually strengthen classroom strategies that provide her students with meaningful learning opportunities. Mrs. Haley shares that she values the daily opportunity she has to share her faith and to pray with her students. Mrs. Haley has a master’s degree in middle grades mathematics and earned national board certification in early adolescent mathematics. She has been married for over forty years, has three grown children, and, at present, six wonderful grandchildren.

My name is Therese Nickens but my family and friends call me Terry. I am a veteran science teacher for middle and high school with over twenty years of experience. I am also a registered nurse who has practiced in the area of obstetrics, mostly in labor and delivery at First Health.

I love science! I love learning how and why things work. I love hands on experiments and creating and building knowledge by doing. I believe science should be fun! I love being at SJPII because I am free to express my Catholic faith and because I am with people who desire to love and serve God. I have been married 39 years; I have three sons and five grandchildren. I love the beach, sea turtles, and reading.

Originally from Connecticut, Jenny Peters went to Pace University in New York for her bachelor's degree in communications and went on to get her master's in elementary education from Grand Canyon University. After teaching second grade for a few years at a Catholic school in Washington State, in 2019 she moved to Southern Pines and started teaching art for Pre-K through eighth grade at St. John Paul II Catholic School. Pablo Picasso said that "every child is an artist" and Mrs. Peters relishes the opportunity to bring out the creativity of the students here at SJPII!

Ann Quinlan has been at SJPII for seven years and she welcomes all comers. She started on this journey when her son was in the first grade. She worked in aftercare her first year at this school and then moved into our first grade TA position. She enjoys assisting the children with reading, writing, math, and other tasks. Ms. Quinlan is married and has one son, their family living right here in Southern Pines. They all have a love for the area and the community here.

Originally from Iowa, Kendra Tranel and her family moved to North Carolina in 2012. Ms. Tranel holds an associate's degree in paralegal studies, as well as a bachelor’s degree in political science from Iowa State University. Prior to moving to North Carolina, Ms. Tranel worked for many years as a paralegal before taking advantage of the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom. Ms. Tranel is a wife and the proud mother of four children. Her three sons have graduated from SJPII, and her daughter is currently a student in SJPII’s middle school. Ms. Tranel’s time at SJPII began as a library volunteer and has since transformed into many years as a middle school aide. During the day, you can find Ms. Tranel in any number of middle school classrooms, helping in multiple capacities with multiple academic subjects.