Mrs. Mary Ellen Faubert has taught in Catholic Schools since 1977 and has been the second grade teacher at Our Lady of Refuge since 1985. She earned her B.S. in Education degree from Worcester State College, in Worcester, Massachusetts, and did graduate work at Long Beach State University.

She is the mother of three grown children and has two grandchildren. For four years she and her husband Roger were in deaconate formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; he was ordained a permanent deacon on June 12, 2004.

Mrs. Faubert believes children need consistency, practice and the feeling of accomplishment to do their best in a school setting. She uses her own enjoyment of music and singing to help reinforce reading skills. Her lifetime work as an educator has brought her much joy and fulfillment.

Maria was born in New York, lived on Long Island and attended St. Clare's Elementary School. Christ the King High School and St John's University. She and her husband moved to California in 1979. Her husband was in banking and she became a financial analyst for Paccar Inc. (owners of Peterbilt and Kenworth). She graduated from California State University at Long Beach and received her degree in Business Management. In 1991, she changed careers, went back to school and became a Montessori teacher. During the past 13 years, she taught and directed in 3 Montessori schools, Westerly School and Long Beach Unified Public Schools. She is currently enrolled in the Credential Program at California State University Long Beach.

She and her husband of 29 years, Ed, have 3 daughters - Caralyn (19 Yrs. old), Michelle (16 yrs. old) and Jamie (11 yrs. old). They have been members of Our Lady of Refuge parish since 1981 (even though they now live in Cypress). Maria is a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) team. She is the catechist for the children receiving their sacraments. Recently, she has also joined the Liturgy Committee. She has been on the boards of several non-profit organizations and continues to do community service and charitable work with her family. She believes in building children's self-esteem and that "character" counts. She and her family live by the phrase, "Make time for God, He'll always make time for you!" She is very excited to join the faculty at Our Lady of Refuge.

Rosemary Mongeluzzo ?????? is in her fifth year of teaching at Our Lady of Refuge. She attended St. Joseph Elementary School in Long Beach and  Los Alamitos High School. She graduated from the University of California, Davis, where she was a Communication major, a collegiate athlete, and involved in various school activities. She has had a desire to teach since the age of 13 after attending Catholic School for 9 years. Dana was raised in Rossmoor, CA and has two sisters and a brother.  She was married on New Year's Eve last year, owns a home in Lakewood, and is looking forward to starting a family of her own.

Dana is a true believer in a Catholic education. She feels it provides not only an exceptional education, but a strong moral foundation.

Chimene Ovalle has taught Language Arts for the Los Angeles Archdiocese for eight years. This is her first year at Our Lady of Refuge. She attended California State University, Long Beach majoring in English Education, and she is currently attending Loyola Marymount University in a dual Masters and Single Subject Credential Program. She is very passionate about the subject matter she teaches, and she thoroughly enjoys teaching Junior High. Mrs. Ovalle and her husband have resided in Whittier for 15 years. She and her husband have three daughters and two granddaughters.

Toni Napier was born at Queen of Angeles Hospital in Los Angeles and was raised in Inglewood, attending St. John Chrysostom Elementary and St. Mary’s Academy. She earned her B.A. in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and has completed her courses for a Masters degree in Education, with a major in Educational Technology, at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Mrs. Napier and her husband, Kent, have been members of Our Lady of Refuge parish since they moved to Long Beach in 1980. Their three children graduated from Our Lady of Refuge School, and Mrs. Napier has been on the faculty since 1991. Mrs. Napier enthusiastically supports the belief that life in the 21st century demands life-long learning in a global community, and to that end she strives to promote true integration of technology across subjects, grades and interests. Mrs. Napier is a member of the Los Angeles Archdiocese’s Early Literacy Committee and has been a Writing to Read trainer for the Archdiocese. Her greatest hope is that the PeaceBuilders program at OLR will advance a true Christian commitment to peace, service and brotherhood.

Art is a native of the Philippines, who immigrated to the United States when he was eleven years old. He is the eldest of three brothers in a family of musicians. Art began his involvement in music ministry while a student at La Salle High School, and remained active in it ever since. 

Art previously served as music director at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in San Bernardino, at Holy Innocents in Long Beach and at historic Mission San Gabriel.

Kathy Schroeder is the physical education teacher/athletic director at Our Lady of Refuge. She has taught at Our Lady of Refuge for six wonderful years. She received her bachelor of science degree in physical education at Florida Southern College in 1998. She then taught for three years in Florida before returning to Long Beach. Her passion is volleyball and she enjoys both coaching and playing the sport.