Lee DelleMonache '82

Sports have been a constant throughout Lee (Mirenda) DelleMonache’s life. With two older brothers, Anthony ’76 and John ’79, who played on Holy Child Academy teams, it was only natural for Lee to become interested in sports. Lee, a 1982 alumna of HCA, played basketball, softball, and field hockey.

“My favorite memory of sports at HCA is that (Holy Child) Sister Barbara Foy taught me how to do a layup,” Lee said. “I have vivid memories of that gym, the basket we were at and what she taught me to do.”

Lee was named MVP of the girls’ basketball team in Eighth Grade but later experienced disappointment as a freshman at Archmere Academy. “I got cut from the basketball team,” she said. “That was very hard to go through, but I made the team the next year.”

As an athlete who played sports from grade school through her freshman year at Cabrini College, it shouldn’t be surprising that Lee’s career also involves sports. She was recently appointed as the director of the Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development at Neumann University. Lee had worked as the strategic planner of the Institute since 2005.

While exploring master’s degree programs, she decided on sports management at Neumann. “I got excited reading each course description,” Lee said. “It spoke to my heart and my soul.”

Her master’s research focused on the integration of the mission of Catholic colleges and universities into their athletic programs. During her studies, Lee did her graduate internship with the Institute. “That is how I fell in the love with the work and the mission of the Institute,” she said. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

The Institute strives to emphasize the spiritual and ethical dimension in sports and to transform perspectives and inspire behavior that reflects an awareness of God's presence in our lives.

“Sports are too important to our culture not to have a positive impact on it,” Lee said. “We strive to help those involved with sports to deepen their relationship with God even further, to help them move a little further on their faith journeys.”

Lee noted that her work at the Institute connects with Cornelia Connelly’s motto, Actions Not Words. “I will never ever forget the motto,” Lee said. “It really is true in the work I’m doing now with college students.  I tie that back to my time at Holy Child.”

In addition to her work, Lee has been married to husband David for more than 16 years, and they have two sons, Anthony (AJ) and Steven.

Spotlight on Jennifer Heness

SPOTLIGHT ON MONTESSORI EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER JENNIFER HENESS

How does a graphic designer become a Montessori early childhood teacher? For Jennifer Heness, the answer is motherhood. 

Jen, who is a second-year teacher at Holy Child Academy in Drexel Hill, has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Temple University and worked as a graphic designer at the University of Pennsylvania for five years.

While at Penn she pursued a master’s degree at the Wharton School of Business. Jen completed the first year of the program, but did not continue because she was pregnant with son Aleks, who is now seven.

After her son was born, Jen became interested in how children learn and started taking courses in child development.  When Aleks was two years old, Jen began looking for a pre-school and discovered a local Montessori school. “I spent the day there, and I was completely wowed,” she said. “This looks so much fun -- this is not only where I want my son to be, but I also would like to do this.”

Montessori appealed to Jen because of the individualized approach to educating young children. “In an early childhood setting I just loved how every child is seen as an individual, a unique package,” she said. “That’s what I love about Montessori ‑- everyone is an individual and everyone learns differently. It’s totally OK to be different.”

The children are also empowered to follow their interests in the Montessori classroom. “I like how children are free to move around and choose their own work,” Jen said. “They’re like little sponges, and if you put them in the right environment and give them an array of materials, they really can’t go wrong. It just seems like a joyful approach to educating children.”

In addition to enrolling Aleks in the school, Jen eventually became an assistant teacher there. “I just got my feet wet in the classroom and absolutely loved it,” she said.

Jen decided to pursue a master’s degree in early childhood education, and the American Montessori Society awarded her a scholarship to attend Chestnut Hill College. The college offers a master’s degree in education, Montessori certification, and state certification. “It was a perfect fit for me because I was able to channel everything into one effort,” Jen said.

She recently completed her coursework and will graduate with a master of science degree in education in May. The 3.97 GPA she attained is impressive given her work and family schedule.

Jen especially enjoys seeing children gain confidence when they learn a new skill. “It’s really exciting when a child makes a work choice and they complete their work,” she said. “I like it when they use the materials and get the results they want.”

While Jen initially chose a career in graphic design, she feels being a Montessori early childhood teacher gives her more opportunities to be creative.

“It’s funny because I started out in the creative field, but I feel more creative teaching pre-school than I ever did doing design work for a company,” she said. “Every one of the kids is a different puzzle. It’s much more creative to figure out how do I get this child to learn, how do I get this child past (counting) from one to 10, and how can I get this child to read.”