Meet Our Team

Gregory A. Farno
Chancellor of Education
Gregory A. Farno holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Gettysburg College, laying the groundwork for his deep understanding of economic dynamics and financial landscapes. With a remarkable 45-year career in the banking industry, he brings a wealth of leadership and strategic expertise to his role overseeing the business operations of the Catholic school system.

 

Dr. Donna Hargens
Superintendent
Dr. Donna Hargens graduated Summa Cum Laude from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University. Dr. Hargens joined the Department of Catholic Schools in 2018 after serving as Superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky. She has over 39 years of experience in education, including a role as Chief Academic Officer for Wake County Public Schools in North Carolina, Interim Superintendent of Wake County Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction (PK-12), and Western Area Assistant Superintendent. In addition, she has been a principal, assistant principal, and a high school Spanish and English teacher.

Karen Murphy
Associate Superintendent
Karen Murphy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology from the University of Maryland and a Master of Education in School Administration and Supervision from Loyola University.  With 26 years of experience in elementary education, she has served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in the Archdiocese before becoming Associate Superintendent.

Greg Komondor
Associate Superintendent
Gregory earned a degree in teaching from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and holds a master’s degree from Loyola College in School Counseling. Gregory also received his administration certification from Loyola College. Before coming to the archdiocese Gregory worked in the Harford County Public School system for over 30 years where he was a Social Studies teacher, football coach, and assistant principal, and served as principal for the past 12 years. Gregory also has been trained through a variety of school safety programs and is a trained presenter in this area.

Dr. Annette Jones 
Associate Superintendent
Dr. Annette Jones earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Wittenberg University and a Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Butler University. She obtained a Specialist in Education degree in School Superintendency and a Doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision from Ball State University. With over 30 years of experience in educational leadership, she served as the Assistant Director for Leadership Development and School Leadership at the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), principal, assistant principal, and teacher in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and Diocese of Lafayette (Indiana).  Dr. Jones joined the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 2020, serving as principal of St. John Regional Catholic School in Frederick. In 2023, she transitioned to the Department of Catholic Schools as an Associate Superintendent to offer her expertise, creativity, and support to school leaders throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Kathleen Russo-Garcia, LCPC, NCC 
Director of Student Support Services
Kathleen holds a Master’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Loyola University and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. She is a national and board-certified counselor (NCC), a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), and an approved licensed clinical professional counselor supervisor. Kathleen has over twenty years of experience counseling students and families in hospital and school settings, including the Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic schools.  She also has an extensive background in psychoeducational testing.

Joe Oleszczuk
Director of Educational Technology
Joe Oleszczuk is an experienced educator, technology enthusiast, and responsible for developing and implementing a standardized robust technology platform across all schools in support of the Archdiocesan curriculum.

 

Laura Mooney
Director of Enrollment Management
Laura Mooney holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She started her career in the OperationTEACH program and continued teaching in the Archdiocese for eight years. In 2016, Laura transitioned to the Catholic Center to work with schools on strategies and initiatives to sustain and grow enrollment.

Lauren Robinson
Director of Marketing
Lauren Robinson graduated from Towson University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Electronic Media and Film. She possesses a background in both corporate and non-profit marketing. Lauren joined the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 2012, serving as the Director of Advancement and Marketing at St. Ursula School. In 2016, she transitioned to the Catholic Center to use her creativity, expertise, and passion for Catholic education to grow the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese, and elevate their profile within the region.

Cailin Colegrove
Director of Instruction and Professional Development
Cailin Colegrove is an experienced educator and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Duquense University. Cailin received her Masters’s Degree in Educational Technology from Loyola University of Maryland as well as the Administrator I and II certifications from Goucher College. In July of 2022, Cailin joined the Archdiocese of Baltimore to support educators with meaningful professional development in order to help improve student achievement.

Jennifer Lindstrom
Educational Technology Support Analyst
Jennifer acts as the primary data analyst for student and school performance-related data, providing functional support to all student and school data end-users.  Jennifer graduated from Notre Dame of Maryland University with a degree in English and Music. She has over 10 years of experience in education, primarily in the Higher Ed field, and happily joined the Archdiocese in 2016.

 

Mindi Imes
Principal on Loan
Mindi Imes is an experienced educator, administrator, and mentor, serving in Catholic schools in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. schools since 2000. Her teaching experience spans from middle school through to the graduate level at Johns Hopkins University. Mindi earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame. She obtained a Master of Education degree with a concentration in curriculum and instruction as well as Administrator I and II certifications from Loyola University Maryland. Mindi is currently completing her Doctorate in Education in leadership and learning in organizations from Vanderbilt University. Mindi joined the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 2014 and served as principal of St. Mary’s High School in Annapolis for nine years. In 2023, she transitioned to the Catholic Center to offer her expertise and support to school leaders across the Archdiocese as the Principal on Loan.

Jane M. McClure
Administrative Assistant to Associate Superintendent for School Leadership and Community Programs
Jane McClure has worked at the Catholic Center for 23 years for the Department of Catholic Schools. In addition to the general support of the entire Department, Jane provides assistance to Associate Superintendent Dr. Brown.

 

Alex Herzberg
Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
Alex assists Superintendent Dr. Hargens and provides support to the entire Department of Catholic Schools. He has been with the Archdiocese of Baltimore since September 2021 and is a parishioner at Saints Philip & James Catholic Church.

 

April Bain
Fiscal Accountability Manager
April Bain is the Fiscal Accountability Manager for the Child Nutrition Program. She has worked for the Archdiocese of Baltimore since August 2000.

 

Isabelle Gerber
Child Nutrition Program (CNP) Supervisor
Isabelle Gerber oversees all aspects of the school meal programs for the schools that participate in the Archdiocese of Baltimore CNP. Isabelle supervises the food service staff of day-to-day operations, enforces USDA requirements and guidelines, menu planning, food production, sanitation, customer service, record keeping, marketing, and professional development, and evaluates the program in order to meet the nutritional needs of the children, as they relate the to the CNP.