A Principal and Administrative Advisor working with a Board of Trustees made up of Catholic laity oversees the Academy's operations. Spiritual direction is provided by Fr. Joseph Kehoe of Durhamville, New York. There are many other area priests who assist and provide guidance as well.

The Academy employs qualified teachers who are committed to the students, the curriculum and to the Church's teachings. On average, teachers have nearly 20 years teaching experience. Many volunteer their time and those who are paid receive a modest salary for the work they do. This is truly an apostolate, built upon dedication and sacrifice.

2009-2010 Faculty and Staff

Therese Maciag - Trustee, Administrator/Principal

Margaret Miller - Trustee, Administrative Advisor, Religion 11

Scott Nelson - Director of Advancement

Barbara Rudd - Social Studies/History

Bill Marchak - Math 7,8,9, 10

Mike Romano - Math 11,12

Mary Ellen Shaver - Librarian

Eric Belusar - Spanish

Deacon James Chappell - Government and Economics

Robert Zeller- 7-8 Science, Earth Science,

    Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Tutor, Study Skills

Stan Cehonski - Computer

Wendy Abbe - Graphics, Religion, Guidance

Scott Rutledge - Music, Choir, Band

Carol Cramer - English 7,8,9

Jerry Williams - English

Elizabeth Moses - Religion

Jolene Nelson - Religion, Latin, Schola, Music

Lory van Lieshout - Art

Monica Patterelli - Lunchroom

Zoe Morrissey - Cafeteria

Deborah Miller - Secretary

Sandy Finley - Secretary

Kathy Cobb - Bookkeeping

Pat Collins - Athletic Director

Coaches: Pat Collins, John Vanderhoof, Kim Herter, Scott Nelson, Dave Watson

Cleaning: Herter, Anderson, families

 

Board of Trustees

Daniel Miller: President

Dr. James Vanderhoof: Vice President

Paul vanLieshout: Treasurer

Therese Maciag: Member

Margaret Miller: Secretary

 

Here is a sampling of some of HCA's faculty profiles:

Eric Belusar, USAF (Ret.)

Spanish

 

“Holy Cross has entered my life as another family.   There are many personal interactions between teacher and student that public school just doesn’t afford. The annual Thanksgiving dinner, the school plays, the sports, and the picnics are just examples of what HCA does for me.”

 

Eric Belusar joined the faculty in 2004, following a lengthy 35 year career in public and adult education. 

 

Mr. Belusar graduated from Juniata College (B.A. Spanish) and later from Colgate University (M.A. Teaching).  He also completed the Teacher Certification Program at the University of Houston. 

 

He joined the United States Air Force in 1964 and was stationed both in the United States and Spangdahlem, Germany.  Mr. Belusar retired after eight years with the rank of  Captain.  

 

As a teacher in the Oneida City Schools, Mr. Belusar taught French and Spanish in the seventh and eighth grade classroom for 19 years, and Level Two French and Spanish in ninth and tenth grades for 16 years.  He spent 4 years in evening Adult Education (Conversational French and Spanish) where he developed his own program. 

 

Mr. Belusar has also taught at the Madison/Oneida B.O.C.E.S.,  Monson Academy, Monson, MA (now Wilbraham & Monson Academy), and Saint Bernard’s School, Gladstone, NJ.

 

Interests outside of Holy Cross Academy include family, children and grandchildren, model railroading, automotive maintainance, and foreign travel. Recent trips have included Spain, France, Quebec, Hungary and Slovakia, Greece, and Ireland-Scotland.

 

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Rev. Mr. James Chappell

Economics/Government

 

“This is a great place to teach and to learn…Spirit-filled and faith-enriching…and where ‘peer pressure’ is positive.”

 

James Chappell, ordained as a Roman Catholic Deacon since 1981, has been teaching at Holy Cross Academy since 2006.

 

He holds a B.A. from St. John Fisher College, M. Div. from St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester, NY, and has pursued graduate studies at the Colgate Rochester Divinity School – Bexley Hall-Crozer Theological Seminary.

 

Deacon Chappell taught for three years at the Aquinas Institute in Rochester, has been involved with the Syracuse Diocese Formation for Ministry Program, and has taught Religious Education at several diocesan parishes.

 

As a former City Councilor and Mayor of Oneida, Deacon Chappell brings economics and government to life for students both in theory and in practice. 

 

A father of four, Deacon Chappell exercises his diaconate ministry at St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s Parishes in Oneida.  He is also the Catholic and Coordinating Chaplain both at Mohawk Correctional Facility and Walsh Regional Medical Unit in Rome, NY.

 

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Margaret Miller

Admin. Advisor/Religion

 

“God has smiled on Holy Cross Academy and showered us with blessings we never could have imagined.”

 

Margaret Miller is a co-founder, Board Member, former Principal, and Administrative Advisor at Holy Cross Academy.

 

She graduated cum laude from Nazareth College (B.S. Art Education), and studied further at the graduate level with Syracuse University (Art) and Notre Dame Institute (Theology).

 

Mrs. Miller brings forty years’ experience in public and private schools, teaching Art, Religion, English, Spanish, Language Arts, and Library.  She has served as Interim Principal at St. Patrick’s Elementary School in Oneida, DRE at St. Agatha’s Parish in Canastota and catechist trainer at the Holy Cross Catechetical Center.  She is also a recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Diocese of Syracuse.

 

Mrs. Miller counts among her many blessings her fifty years of marriage, and she enjoys family activities, reading theological and religious books, and viewing classic movies.

 

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Elizabeth A. Moses

Religion

 

“I am honored to be a part of HCA where young minds, spirits and bodies are formed with the knowledge and stability necessary to face and surmount the physical, mental and spiritual challenges they will face in today’s culture.”

 

Elizabeth “Betty” Moses joined HCA in 1997 as a volunteer in the Main Office and also began teaching that same year.

 

Mr. Moses holds an Apostolic Catechetical Diploma from Magdalen College, NH

 

Her teaching career started with Father Thomas Riley, at Holy Cross Catechetical Center, in New London, NY in 1988 and continued at Our Lady of Good Counsel parish in Verona, NY until 1999.

 

Mrs. Moses’ personal interests include cooking, gardening and reading.

 

 

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Jolene Nelson

Latin, Religion, General Music

 

“Holy Cross students are privileged to learn in a community of friends - seeing their enthusiasm and hard work in activities that they love, like the drama program, never fails to inspire me.”

 

Jolene Nelson first joined the Holy Cross faculty in 2005, teaching art, religion, Latin, choir and assisting with the drama program.

 

She graduated from Magdalen College, Warner, NH, with a B.A .in Liberal Studies and an Apostolic Catechetical Diploma.  During her first two years at HCA, she also received a Plenary Teacher’s Certificate from NAPC*IS and plans to pursue the Certificate of Master Teacher.

 

From 2007-2009, Jolene was employed as the choir director and part-time library and teaching assistant at Magdalen College.  She was delighted to return to HCA in 2009, where she started the school’s first-ever Gregorian Chant schola.

 

Outside of Holy Cross Academy, Jolene enjoys expanding her musical experience by singing with the Oneida Area Civic Chorale and playing piano and organ, sewing, drawing and painting, and spending time with her husband, Scott.

 

 

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Scott Rutledge

General Music/Band

 

“I believe Holy Cross is one of the few safe, healthy, accepting, loving, nurturing educational environments I have ever experienced.  I have never been around a happier student body. They respect each other, and themselves. The sense of self esteem and well being here is real.”

 

Scott Rutledge joined Holy Cross Academy in 2008, looking for the opportunity to teach in a dynamic environment.  He found students enthusiastic about music, singing, praise, and the pursuit of perfection.

 

He holds a B.A. from the Crane School of Music, S.U.N.Y. Potsdam.  In a career spanning thirty years, Scott has taught general music, choir, and band at public schools throughout central New York.

 

From 1999-2003, Mr. Rutledge served as Director of Music, Instrumental and Choral ensembles at St. Peter's School, Rome NY.  He was also the Founding Director and Director of Music, Ensembles, and Curriculum at the Rome YMCA Center for the Creative Arts from 2003-2008.  He has led youth choirs and bands to championships in state and national competitions. 

 

Scott currently is Director of Music for two Catholic parishes:  St. Joseph's, Lee Center, and St. Patrick’s, Highmarket.

 

“I love the Lord and my family very much,” says Scott. “They are number one in my life.”  He is an avid hunter, fisherman, distance runner, and skier.  He enjoys traveling and touring, with a special love for Germany and Austria.  

 

 

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Rob Zellar

Science (7-12)

 

“I particularly enjoy working in such a faith-centered school that lives up to its Catholic identity.  Strong parental support and good-natured, motivated students are also a highlight of teaching here.”

 

Rob Zellar joined Holy Cross Academy in 2004, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in various scientific fields.

 

Mr. Zellar attended Hamilton College, where he majored in Biology and minored in Philosophy.  He then pursued graduate studies at the University of Delaware School of Life and Health Science, focusing on microbial ecology and evolutionary biology.

 

He spent four years teaching undergraduate biology at the University of Delaware, and went on to an eight-year tenure teaching science at Good Shepherd Catholic School in Perryville, MD.

 

Outside of teaching, Mr. Zellar enjoys spending time with his wife Tammy, and working on a local dairy farm. 

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