
Carrie Griffith
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Teacher
cgriffith@saintraphael.orgUniversity of Chicago
MST (Master in the Science of Teaching), B.A. (Psychology)
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level I (ages 3-6) and Level II (ages 6-9) Certificates
Carrie Griffith began her career as a counselor in a residential treatment center for children with emotional/behavioral disorders. Once her own children came along, she began working in school settings with primary-aged children, as both a teacher and as a program director. Moving to North Carolina, she spent 25 happy years as a teacher and then Director of St. Raphael Preschool. She was instrumental in bringing the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program to the Preschool; upon retirement from the directorship, she has been committed to expanding this rich faith formation program to the primary grades at Saint Raphael Catholic School.

Joeseph Higley
Physical Education Teacher
jhigley@saintraphael.orgBA - Kean University
Physical Education and Health
Mr. Higley grew up in New Jersey and has lived in North Carolina since 2016. Joeseph taught PE and Health K through 8 in a Catholic school setting since 2010, officiated high school track and field, middle school basketball and soccer, and helped to develop lessons and activities for the 21st Century Community Learning Center after school program. Mr. Higley also coached middle school soccer, volleyball, and basketball and will be coaching our boys' soccer team this fall. Joeseph brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to SRCS, both in his classes and on the field.

Cindi Messina
Art Teacher
cmessina@saintraphael.orgBFA - William Paterson University
Art Education and Graphic Design
Mrs. Messina initiated the art program at SRCS in 2001. She has also taught advertising design at the Montclair Art Museum and New York University School of Continuing Education. Mrs. Messina has ten years’ experience in advertising as a Senior Art Director in New York City where she won a John Caples Award and Direct Marketing Creative Guild Awards for her design in advertising. Many art projects at SRCS reflect her design experience and love of art history. Mrs. Messina teaches art clubs after school. She and her husband, Michael, have three children. Mrs. Messina was the 2015 recipient of the Diocese of Raleigh Lewis Award which recognizes excellence in teaching. She is a member of the National Art Educators Association.

Kelleigh Russo
Physical Education Teacher
KRusso@saintraphael.orgBS - Kennesaw State University
Health, Physical Education, Recreation
Mrs. Russo started her career teaching at St. John Neumann in Lilburn, GA, married and moved to Raleigh. After having three children, she returned to teaching at Saint Raphael and has been here since 2004. Mrs. Russo's hobbies are tennis, cycling, golf, working out, and spending time with her family. She coached SRCS basketball for 3 years and has coached high school volleyball and ultimate Frisbee.

Angela Santucci
K-5 Music Teacher, Drama Teacher
ASantucci@saintraphael.orgBA in Music - Northern Arizona University
MA in Global Studies - University of North Carolina Greensboro
Angela Santucci has taught drama and music at Saint Raphael since 2015. She performs regularly with the North Carolina Master Chorale, North Carolina Symphony and North Carolina Opera and has also appeared on stage with the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, City Ballet, and Burning Coal Theatre. She has served on the boards of directors for Burning Coal Theatre and the North Carolina Master Chorale. Ms. Santucci maintains a private voice and piano studio and also conducts musicals and directs shows for local schools and theatre companies.

Phyllis Zagrobelny
Librarian
PZagrobelny@saintraphael.orgB.S. - University of Virginia
Applied Math and Computer Science Engineering
M.L.S - North Carolina Central
Library Science, specialization School Media Centers
Mrs. Zagrobelny is the school librarian. She has been managing the school library program since 2008, where she combines technology skills with her love of reading. She holds a North Carolina teaching license specialization for School Media Centers. She is a member of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a member of the NC School Library Media Association (NCSLMA), and a member of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
As a founding school family, Mrs. Zagrobelny feels privileged to give back to our school through serving the students of SRCS.