By: Joseph Nolan ‘20

Mr. John Maldonado, one of the newest members of the English department, attended Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens. As a student, Mr. Maldonado’s intelligence and participation in a vast array of extracurricular activities (which included basketball, tennis, track, science-fiction club, and the bagpipe band) landed him a spot at Fordham University, where he double-majored in English and psychology.  He earned his M.Ed. in Special Education from Pace University, and he is currently pursuing an M.A. in English from Queens College.

“One of the most exciting things about coming on board at Chaminade is the ability to provide a class that allows kids to express their opinions in a way that makes them feel valued, as opposed to their just being high-school students and, oftentimes, reduced to a number,” explained Mr. Maldonado. “Getting kids to think critically about the material we are reading, see how it relates to their lives, and develop their own, independent thought processes are some of the things I hope to bring to the table as a teacher.”

 Another additionto the English department is Ms. Meaghan Dodson. The sister of a recent Chaminade graduate, Ms. Dodson is certainly familiar with what constitutes a “Chaminade Man.”

Upon graduating from Sacred Heart Academy, Ms. Dodson attended Providence College, where she studied English and sociology.  “I’m particularly excited to bring my love of literature and my background as a writing tutor to help assist Chaminade’s students,” she said.  Additionally, her experience with journalism has already resulted in her joining us as one of the head moderators of Tarmac. She hopes to immerse herself in the layout and design process as she begins her tenure in our Publications Center.