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Administration and Faculty Profiles
Administration
Richard Meyer, Headmaster
rmeyer@northridgeprep.org / ext. 115
B.A. University of Illinois, M.A.Ed. Benedictine University, M.A. Middlebury College
Year Appointed: 2007
- Bio
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Mr. Meyer joined Northridge Prep as the Headmaster in 2007. Prior to this he spent eight years teaching both overseas at Colegio Altocastillo in Spain and at Neuqua Valley and Hinsdale Central in the Chicago suburbs. An alumnus of the University of Illinois, Mr. Meyer also has an M.A.Ed. in English Education from Benedictine University and an M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Middlebury College. He came to Northridge after working as an educational consultant for a regional technology firm. Rich and his wife, Anne, have six children – two of whom are on the fast track to become future Knights.
Joseph Lechner, Head of the High School
jlechner@northridgeprep.org / ext. 111
B.S. Illinois State University, M.A.T. University of Chicago
Year Appointed: 1982
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As a high school student at Maine North, Mr. Lechner was both captain of the gymnastics team and co-founder of the school's drama club. While in college, he was elected a member of the student assembly and performed as an acrobat in a fraternity circus that raised money for charitable purposes. After earning his Master of Arts in Teaching in Social Sciences and History at the University of Chicago in 1979, Joe taught for three years at Palatine High School, where he founded the Advanced Placement course in History and served as the technical director for ten major school dramatic productions. Joe joined the Northridge faculty in 1982 and is a member of both the national and state Associations for Teachers of Social Science. Mr. Lechner and his wife, Diane, have seven children and live in Deerfield.
Peter Searby ('95), Head of Middle School
psearby@northridgeprep.org / ext. 100
B.A. University of Dallas
Year Appointed: 2009
- Bio
- Mr. Peter Searby is a graduate of Northridge Prep, Class of ’95. He hails from Virginia, where most of his family now lives. He graduated from the University of Dallas in 2001 with a BA in Political Philosophy. After University, Mr. Searby directed a supplemental education program for boys from the inner-city in Washington DC called The Tenley Achievement Program. He continued on his professional path in education by teaching at the Heights School for five years. During that time Mr. Searby taught a variety of subjects--mostly at the middle school level. He also helped direct, and wrote the music for, two school musicals. During his time at the Heights Mr. Searby produced a music album and performed at various local venues in the DC area. After teaching at the Heights he moved to New York City and began working at Anchor Academy in Norwalk, CT. Mr. Searby has now returned to Chicago to teach at his Alma Mater.
Will Rey, Athletic Director/Religion
wrey@northridgeprep.org / ext. 117
B.A. Northeastern Illinois University, M.A. Concordia University
Year Appointed: 2004
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Will Rey has coached basketball for more than 33 years at the high school and college levels. During his tenure as Northridge’s head coach, the varsity team has accumulated a 95-50 (.648) overall record and a 47-15 (.758) mark in conference games. In addition, Northridge teams have captured two IHSA Class AA Regional Championships, advanced to the state’s “Sweet 16” in 2009, captured one conference championship, three conference 2nd place finishes, and 2 holiday tournament championships. He was voted Conference Coach-of-the-Year in 2006-07 and 2007-08, and IBCA District Coach-of-the-Year in 2008-09. In 2002, Coach Rey was inducted into the Five-Star Basketball Hall-of-Fame. He and his wife, Diane, have three children.
William Whalen, Dean of Students
bwhalen@northridgeprep.org / ext. 141
Year Appointed: 2009
- Bio
- Mr. Whalen comes to Northridge Prep as Dean of Students after finishing a 30 year career with the Chicago Police Department. Much of his police career was spent in the Detective Division, specialiing in Cold Case investigations. He and his wife, Michele, have resided on the northwest side of Chicago for the past 30 years. They have two daughters who graduated from the Willows Academy and two sons who graduated from Northridge Prep. He is a member of the basketball coaching staff and is currently the head coach for the freshman team. He is an avid fan of the Chicago White Sox and attempts to play golf.
Fr. Javier del Castillo, Chaplain
jdelcastillo@northridgeprep.org / ext. 102
B.A. Cooper Union, B.A., M.A., & PhD. Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome
Year Appointed: 2009
- Bio
- Fr. Javier del Castillo was born in Mexico City. He graduated from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1998. He subsequently worked as an RF engineer for Symbol Technologies in Long Island. He also studied at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Theology and a Master's and Doctorate degree in Philosophy. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2005 for the Prelature of Opus Dei. Prior to joining Northridge, Fr. del Castillo served as the chaplain at The Heights School in Potomac, Maryland.
Faculty
Dr. Bernoli Baello, Science & Math
bbaello@northridgeprep.org / ext. 122
B.S. The University of the Philippines, PhD. University of Illinois, Chicago
Year Appointed: 2000
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A native of the Philippines, Dr. Baello completed his doctorate in Biophysical Chemistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the spring of 2000. He was a teaching and research assistant at UIC and has published various articles and given several presentations in his field. He has also served as a volunteer instructor and advisor in programs for young people at Chicago's Midtown Center.
Thomas Bulgrin, Music
tbulgrin@northridgeprep.org / ext. 135
B.M. University of Wyoming, M.A. Brooklyn College
Year Appointed: 2006
- Bio
- Prior to coming to NRP, Mr. Bulgrin spent twelve years building the band program at Providence St. Mel High School. Accomplished in a wide variety of instruments, he has performed with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the St. Cecilia Orchestra, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and toured throughout Europe with the international company of “A Chorus Line.” Mr. Bulgrin lives with his wife in Chicago.
Michael Burns ('93), Latin/History/Religion
mburns@northridgeprep.org / ext. 143
B.A. - University of Dallas, M.Ed. Lewis University
Year Appointed: 2000
- Bio
- Mr. Burns grew up in Rogers Park on the north side of Chicago and is the 19th of 21 children. He and his wife, Pascale, have four children: Barbara, Simone, Gabriel, and Nicole. In his free time, he likes to read classic literature, follow the Cubs, play cards and critique movies. He points to his heroes, his parents and John Paul II, as his inspirations.
Jack Conroy ('03), Director of Admissions
jconroy@northridgeprep.org / ext. 112
B.A. University of Illinois
Year Appointed: 2008
- Bio
- A member of Northridge Prep’s Class of 2003, Mr. Conroy attended NRP for the full seven-year stretch from 6th through 12th grade. He went on to study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated in 2007 with a B.A. in Speech Communication and a focus in Political Science. Upon moving back to Chicago, Mr. Conroy returned to Northridge in early 2008 as Director of Admissions. He is a die-hard Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks, and Bulls fan, and also enjoys music and attempting to snowboard.
Charles Cushnie, Math
ccushnie@northridgeprep.org / ext. 160
B.S. Notre Dame / M.S. Marquette University
Year Appointed: 1996
- Bio
- Mr. Cushnie hails from Kailua, Hawaii, and sometimes still wonders why he ever left there. After a BS in Chemical Engineering from Notre Dame, a short stint working at UOP in Chicago, and an MS in Chemistry from Marquette, he finally settled down in Chicago where, when not occupied with Math, he likes to immerse himself in Chicago's cultural offerings.
Bill Dardis, Civics
bdardis@northridgeprep.org / ext. 100
B.B.A. University of Notre Dame
Year Appointed: 2009
- Bio
- Mr. Dardis moved to Chicago in 2005 after realizing how much he had enjoyed “lake effect snow” during his four years at Notre Dame. Since his brief stint with the U.S. Navy, Mr. Dardis has enjoyed a consulting gig with Ernst & Young in New York, founding the UrbanFUTURE mentoring program in the inner-city of St. Louis, and running the educational programs of the Wespine Study Center in Kirkwood, Missouri. When he’s not in a Northridge classroom, he’s running service projects and summer camps in the U.S. and Mexico with Youth Service International, including three Katrina Relief projects in his home town of New Orleans. He also directs the high school programs of the Sauganash Study Center on the north side of Chicago.
Warren Diem, Religion/Spanish
wdiem@northridgeprep.org / ext. 106
B.A. University of Navarre, M.A. University of Wisconsin, Madison, PhD. St. John Lateran
Year Appointed: 1976
- Bio
- A native of Milwaukee, Dr. Diem is a charter member of the Northridge Prep faculty. Prior to coming to Northridge, Dr. Diem taught at two Wisconsin schools, Waukesha Memorial School from 1967 to 1969 and the New Berlin Eisenhower High School from 1969 to 1976. In 1976 he helped begin Northridge Prep and has been a member of the faculty ever since. For over twenty years, he organized and taught at Summer Leadership Programs for junior high students and for many years has served as a staff member at Midtown Center . In 1973, '75, and '77, he was a member of a staff that accompanied three different groups of high school students on tours of Mexico. An associate of the American Classical League, Dr. Diem also enjoys photography and reading in History and Philosophy.
Michael Egle, Physical Education
megle@northridgeprep.org / ext. 147
B.S- Illinois State University
Year Appointed: 1988
- Bio
- Mr. Egle is a graduate of Maine East high school where he was an all state cross-country runner. An accomplished competitive runner, he is a Horton physical education award winner, a national championship masters runner, ran an astonishing 4:07 mile in college, Chicago Area Runner of the Year three times and Chicago area masters runner of the year four times. Mike and his wife have one son, Justin.
Thomas Herman ('83), English
therman@northridgeprep.org / ext. 127
B.A. Columbia College, M.Ed. University of Massachusetts
Year Appointed: 1993
- Bio
- A native of Deerfield, Mr. Herman graduated from Northridge in 1983. He earned his M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1988 and has taught at several schools, including Boston Latin and The Heights School. He joined the NRP staff in 1993 and has taught English and various others courses throughout the school. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he founded and moderates the Debate Club. In 1995, he won an NEH grant to study children's literature at Princeton and in 1998, he earned a summer scholarship to study the history of theatre at the University of Chicago. He also likes the guitar and silent movies.
Patrick Hunt ('88), Physical Education
phunt@northridgeprep.org / ext. 142
B.S. Loras College
Year Appointed: 1998
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- Pat graduated from NRP in 1988 and went on to St. Leo's College in Florida where he played Baseball. After graduating from Loras College with a degree in Physical Education in 1993, he taught five years at St. Mary of the Angels school in Chicago, before joining the Northridge team in 1998. While teaching at St. Mary's, Pat also coached Varsity Baseball at the Latin School, where he was named conference Coach of the Year. He was named Varsity Baseball Coach of the Year in the Chicago Prep Conference three out of six years. Pat and his wife Josette have four young children.
Dr. Thomas Kelliher, History
tkelliher@northridgeprep.org / ext. 159
B.A. Columbia University, PhD. Notre Dame University
Year Appointed: 1992
- Bio
- Dr. Kelliher is originally from New Jersey where he grew up rooting for the Yankees. After teaching at The Heights School in Maryland for six years, he went to graduate school at the University of Notre Dame. He has taught at Northridge since 1992, except for when he was Principal of Kingswood Academy for two years. He organizes Civil War trips for the school and enjoys reading, playing Diplomacy, and playing tennis.
Dr. Paul Keough, Biology
pkeough@northridgeprep.org
M.B.A. Michigan Ross School of Business, Ph.D. Northwestern University
Year Appointed: 2010
- Bio
- Dr. Paul Keough holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. in Finance and Health Management from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. He has published several biochemistry journal articles, dozens of biotechnology industry and company reports, and over 100 medical science articles. While volunteer teaching for over 20 years, Dr. Keough has worked on Wall Street as a biotechnology equity research analyst, a healthcare venture capitalist, and a biotechnology consultant. Paul and his wife, Lisa, have four children and reside in Westchester.
John Kestler, Math
jkestler@northridgeprep.org / ext. 105
B.A. - DePaul University
Year Appointed: 1990
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- Mr Kestler has been in the teaching profession since 1973. Mr. Kestler was born and raised in Chicago. John has coached for many years at Northridge and was the first coach to bring a Northridge Cross Country team to the state championship. He and his wife, Sharon, have been married for 35 years and have raised seven children and have six grandchildren.
Vu Nguyen, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
vnguyen@northridgeprep.org / ext. 402
B.A. - University of Notre Dame
Year Appointed: 2010
- Bio
- After getting to know Northridge through its alumni who attended the University of Notre Dame, Mr. Nguyen, [that is, “Winh”] considers himself a graduate of NRP and confers upon himself an honorary degree. A native Texan, he has plenty of warm clothes and believes himself ready for Midwest winters. Mr. Nguyen received his B.A. in Design and liberal studies from Notre Dame where he was a member of the Squash team for two years, was the advertising officer of the Right to Life Club and the lead graphic designer for “Notre Dame on iTunes U” [itunes.nd.edu]. As Northridge’s Marketing & Communications Coordinator, he is excited to get to know Northridge even better and to make sure that all of Chicago knows about it too.
Gil Lee, Math
glee@northridgeprep.org / ext. 126
B.S. University of San Jose Philippines, M.S. Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
Year Appointed: 2002
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- Mr. Lee is originally from Cebu City, Philippines. Before joining Northridge in 2002, he taught Math in Manila, Africa and Chicago. Mr. Lee and his wife have three daughters and two grandchildren. He likes to spend his free time fishing, reading and watching the news.
Robert O’Brien, English
robrien@northridgeprep.org / ext. 125
B.A. Notre Dame, M.A. De Paul University
Year Appointed: 2006
- Bio
- Mr. O’Brien has been teaching at Northridge Prep since 2006 and is Head of the English Department where he teaches British and American Literature. He also manages the Chess Club and coaches the Chess Team. Married and living in Chicago, he enjoys reading and a bit of writing, plus travelling with his wife during their summers off.
Patrick Reidy, Foreign Language/Religion
preidy@northridgeprep.org / ext. 156
B.A. St. Norbert University, B.A. St. John Lateran University Rome, M.A. Indiana University
Year Appointed: 2005
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- After graduate school Mr. Reidy spent three years serving Catholic youth with N.E.T. Ministries (National Evangelization Teams). He also spent five years studying for the Catholic priesthood in Denver, Colorado. During this time he also partially completed two theology degrees, a Master’s of Divinity and an S.T.B.. He taught for two years in Irving Texas at Cistercian Preparatory School before coming to Northridge Prep. Mr. Reidy coaches baseball and spends much of his free time travelling and giving presentations in the Catholic Spanish-speaking community.
David Reinholz, Science/Math
dreinholz@northridgeprep.org / ext. 170
B.S. United States Air Force Academy, M.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, M.S. National Defense University, M.S. Old Dominion University
Year Appointed: 2008
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Following a distinguished career as an officer in the United States Air Force, Colonel (USAF, Retired) Reinholz embarked on a second career as an educator in 2003. He earned his Master of Science in Secondary Education from Old Dominion University and is starting his fifth year of teaching science and math at the high school level. This is his first year at Northridge Prep.
Gerard Shepherd, English
gshepherd@northridgeprep.org / ext. 137
B.A. Harvard University, M.A. American University, Ph.D. Washington University
Year Appointed: 1977
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Born in Massachusetts, Dr. Shepherd holds a BA from Harvard and PhD from Washington University in St. Louis. He is the former Headmaster and current Director of Guidance at Northridge Prep, and has thirty years of experience in teaching and counseling young people in schools and supplementary education programs. In addition to several academic articles and a variety of short stories, he has previously published a six-book religion series for teenagers called Being Real (Winona, MN: St. Mary’s Press, 2005), booklets on coping with the college experience and on the moral education of children, and Bootstrapping Educators: A Self-Help Guide For High School Teachers (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1987).
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