tEACHER fEATURE

This year, we welcomed five new talented teachers to Cathedral High School! Hear from Mr. Nick LaFragola and Ms. Elizabeth Hughes on music, literature, and the powerful role of the arts in the human experience. (And yes, alumnae, Mr. LaFragola will be learning and teaching the Cathedral High School song…!)

Tell us a little bit about your academic and professional background.

Mr. LaFragola: For my undergraduate degree, I attended Stevens Institute of Technology and received a BA in Music & Technology. For my masters, I attended Hunter College and got an MA in Music Education (K-12). I previously student taught at two schools in Manhattan, one of those being Eleanor Roosevelt High School. 

Ms. Hughes: I grew up in New Jersey and attended a high school founded and run by the Sisters of charity, the Academy of St. Elizabeth. While studying English and Philosophy at the Catholic University of America, I worked in the Writing Center as a tutor and was the editor-in-chief of an academic journal which published undergraduate research in the Humanities. I spent one year in Virginia as a middle school English teacher at an independent school for girls and most recently worked as an elementary teacher in the Bronx. 

What attracted you to Cathedral?

Mr. LaFragola: I always wanted to be a part of a school with rich history, traditions, and culture. Also, the prospect of building our new music program from the ground up was super appealing to me. After being involved in music programs all my life and going to school for it, I have a really solid idea for what a successful and enjoyable music program looks like. I look forward to being a part of the revamped arts program here and contributing to our culture.

Ms. Hughes: I was attracted to the holistic education that Cathedral offers its students and families. Girls are taught to recognize their human dignity and are encouraged to be better because of that intrinsic dignity. Success in life is larger than college readiness, though they are equipped with those skills. Girls are given the essential understandings and skills needed to flourish throughout their whole life and even after.

What are your impressions of the students after this first week?

Mr. LaFragola: I think the girls seem really excited about the opportunity to participate in music this year. So many of them have asked already if they can try different instruments and about what's planned for them. So far, they have been super respectful and shown a lot of eagerness. I feel blessed to teach them and grateful to be in this position.

Ms. Hughes: The students are joyful, coming into classes with smiles on their faces. Laughter fills the halls. They are confident in themselves, and because of this surety, they are able to reach out to others. I was so impressed with the many girls who introduced themselves to me in the hallways or cafeteria. Even though I don't teach them, they still felt it important to meet the new teachers and welcome them to the Cathedral community. 

What do you love about the subject matter that you teach?

Mr. LaFragola: Well, this is hard to put into words. I don't think our world would function without music. At the end of the day, music enhances every experience that we have. Many songs that we enjoy remind us of a specific event, person, place, or a fond memory. Music is everywhere without us even realizing it, which is how deeply ingrained it is in the human experience. I thank God every day for the gift of music.

Ms. Hughes: I teach English, and I love how literature empowers girls to think deeply about a subject and formulate an opinion about it. Good books raise enduring questions about the nature of life and happiness, and I love raising these questions and seeing the students wrestle with what the text suggests to them. 

Please tell us one fun fact about yourself and what you like to do when you’re not teaching.

Mr. LaFragola: Besides being the music teacher, I am also a coach for the Cathedral softball team. I played baseball all throughout my life and currently play softball, so I'm really excited to be a part of that, as well. Outside of school, I write songs and am a music producer, and I work as a mixing/mastering engineer for local music projects. 

Ms. Hughes: My favorite book is the Book Thief. Taking place during World War II, it depicts an unlikely but beautiful friendship during extremely difficult times. Outside of class, I love playing ultimate frisbee, hiking, drinking tea, and listening to music.