Mrs. Kelly

Second Grade Teacher

St. Hilary School second grade teacher Mrs. Kelly truly enjoys her students’ excitement about learning. “The children are really enjoyable,” she says. Mrs. Kelly has been a member of the St. Hilary faculty since 1996.

Mrs. Kelly appreciates the fact that her students are well behaved and have a great deal of support from home. She says this allows her to do more with her students than she could otherwise do, especially knowing that what is taught at school is reinforced at home. Mrs. Kelly feels the support of parents, both at school and at home, makes her job easier.

Particularly fond of teaching math and reading, Mrs. Kelly says it is gratifying to see students who have had difficulty with reading come to grasp the concept. “It is like a light bulb goes on,” she says. Mrs. Kelly also likes the fact that religion is incorporated into the school’s curriculum, which allows her to have honest faith-based discussions with her students.

A graduate of Mount Union College and the University of Akron, Mrs. Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Pre-K certification. Married with two children, she is a sports fan and especially enjoys supporting the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Mrs. Klenotic

Second Grade Teacher

Since 1986, St. Hilary School second grade teacher Mrs. Klenotic has enjoyed watching her students' enthusiasm "light up" when they are able to achieve something. The variety of students she works with each year adds to her enjoyment of teaching. While she delights in the time she spends with her students each year, Mrs. Klenotic says she also enjoys watching them grow and mature in the following years. "At graduation, it is a true pleasure to witness what young ladies and gentlemen the eighth graders have become," she says.

Mrs. Klenotic says she most enjoys teaching at St. Hilary because of the role she plays in guiding the faith journey of each of her students. "I enjoy preparing students for reconciliation and first communion," she says. "I have the opportunity to celebrate the Last Supper with the breaking of the bread on Holy Thursday with the children in my class each year."

She also credits working with the faculty, especially her long-time second grade counterpart teachers, with making her work at St. Hilary a joy. She says that working with the other second grade teachers over a long period of time has allowed for a wealth of idea and strategy sharing.

Many special events and activities help Mrs. Klenotic's students fully absorb the material they are learning. Students enjoy celebrating "colonial day", on which they make butter, pottery and candles. Mrs. Klenotic enjoys using the SmartBoard to enhance her lessons, as well.  In social studies, students learn about the first Thanksgiving and colonial times.  In math, the SmartBoard helps with learning about polygons, parallel and perpendicular line segments, angles, and symmetry.  Visiting educational websites on the SmartBoard is another activity Mrs. Klenotic's students enjoy.  For example, Brain Pop, Jr. allows students to learn about various science topics, such as states of matter, weather, and plants.

Mrs. Klenotic believes the more demanding curriculum offered by St. Hilary differentiates it from other schools. "We encourage our students to surpass the statndards for the state of Ohio," she says. "The level of expectation is set much higher." She adds that parents are responsive and helpful in working together with faculty and students to meet the school's higher standards.

A product of Catholic education from elementary school through college, Mrs. Klenotic has taught only in Catholic schools. "I love my religion and truly feel blessed to be here at St. Hilary," she says. She is married with three children. Mrs. Klenotic enjoys fishing in the summer, and visiting with her sisters. Mrs. Klenotic holds a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from the College of Mount Saint Joseph.