Academic Departments
English
St. John’s English Department combines tradition and innovation to provide a rigorous and enriching English curriculum for our students. We embrace the challenge to prepare young men and women for the world through language development, critical thinking, persuasion and empathy. We provide our students with a variety of texts - never fearing the canon, and never beholden to the conventional. We practice close reading of these texts as we analyze themes and character development that emphasize pattern recognition and inference. Students engage in compelling discussions in order to shape and explore their ideas. With our structured writing curriculum, students master how to craft an argument supported by textual evidence and critical research.
No matter the task, the English faculty of St. John’s calls on our students to be mission-minded. Our students are directed to consider their contribution to society. We work to ensure they will be reflective and action-oriented young women and men.
Course Offerings
- English 9
- Honors English 9
- American Literature
- Honors American Literature
- British Literature
- Honors British Literature
- AP Language and Composition
- Comparative Literature
- Minority Voices in American Literature
- English 12
- Honors English 12
- AP Literature and Composition
Course Requirements
At least one full credit of English is required of every student all four years. Seniors may select any of five options (Comparative Literature, Minority Voices in Literature, English 12, Honors English 12 or AP Literature) to fulfill their senior English requirement.
Extracurricular Opportunities
The Literary Magazine publishes poetry, short stories, creative narratives and essays, art and photographs. Submissions are open to all students, and the best pieces will be chosen for publication. Spots are open for student representatives in all grades to endorse the magazine and encourage submissions school-wide. Also, student editor positions are available for interested juniors or seniors.
English Faculty
List of 12 members.
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Brendan Shea
Department Chair, English; AP Literature and Composition, American Literature202-363-2316 x1912University of Maryland - B.A.
Catholic University - M.A. -
Gina Brillante
English 9, English 12202-363-2316 x1913St. John’s College - B.A.
Johns Hopkins University - M.A. -
Sara Faircloth
Honors English 9, American LiteratureUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - B.A.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - M.A. -
Christina Farello
Honors British Literature, British LiteratureCatholic University - B.A.
Catholic University - M.A. -
Marie Gelso
Director of the Writing Center; AP Language and Composition, British Literature202-363-2316 x1910University of Maryland - B.A.
American University - M.A.T. -
Cranston Gittens
Minority Voices in Literature, American Literature, English 9, Honors English 12202-363-2316Campbell University - B.A.
University of South Florida - M.A.T. -
Raymond Nighan
Comparative Literature202-363-2316 x1915University of Scranton - B.S.
University of Scranton - M.A.
Loyola University Chicago - Ph.D. -
Cristina Paluch
British Literature, Honors English 9202-363-2316 x1918Villanova University - B.A.
University of Pennsylvania - M.Ed. -
Michael Schaefer
Honors American Literature, English 9202-363-2316 x1917La Salle University - B.A.
State University of New York at New Paltz - M.A. -
Peter Thomas
English 9, American Literature202-363-2316College of William and Mary - B.A.
College of William and Mary - M.A. -
Mindy Urick
Head Girls' Lacrosse Coach; Honors American Literature, English 12202-363-2316Georgeton University - B.A. -
Madeleine Wicker
American Literature, British Literature202-363-2316Boston College - B.A.
