Joseph Higley holds a BA in K-12 Physical Education and Health certification from Kean University. While teaching in Catholic schools in New Jersey, Mr. Higley also officiated track and field and basketball, helped to develop lessons and activities at the 21st Century community learning center, and coached soccer, volleyball, and basketball. Mr. Higley brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to his classes.

This is Mrs. Messina’s sixteenth year teaching art at St. Raphael Catholic School. She graduated from William Paterson University majoring in Art Education and Graphic Design. 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 where she won a John Caples Award and a Direct Marketing Creative Guild Award for her design in advertising. Many art projects at SRCS reflect her design experience and love of art history. 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.

Angela Santucci received her BA in Music from Northern Arizona University, where she studied with Paul Kiesgen, and her Master of Arts in Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Ms. Santucci taught theatre and private voice for thirteen years at Ravenscroft School, and 2010 she received the school’s highest teaching accolade, the Qubain Excellence in Teaching Award. She has performed with the North Carolina Master Chorale, North Carolina Opera, Seed Art Share, Delta Boys Theatre Company, City Ballet, and Burning Coal Theatre. She serves on the board of directors for Burning Coal Theatre and the North Carolina Master Chorale and is a member of the StageStruck board of trustees. Ms. Santucci maintains a private voice and piano studio and also conducts musicals and directs shows for local schools and theatre companies.