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Ms. Mahon knows firsthand the life-changing impact one dedicated teacher can make. As a child navigating school as a diverse learner, she struggled until her 3rd-grade teacher, Ms. Whitehead, saw her potential and took the time to invest in it. “She taught me how to translate every lesson into my own language,” Ms. Mahon recalls. “I'm very artistically inclined, so she showed me how to sing through a lot of my lessons.” 

That experience now shapes the way Ms. Mahon teaches her own students at Holy Family School. Drawing from her personal journey, she creates individualized learning experiences that meet scholars where they are and help them thrive. “I take a little bit of that and bring it into my own teaching style,” she says. “I individualize the scholars' lesson plans to their learning style, and that's been a success.”

Throughout her teaching career, Ms. Mahon catches glimpses of her own positive impact on students coming to fruition, such as running into a student she taught 15 years ago at the grocery store and being thanked for never giving up on her. Or receiving WGN’s teacher of the month award in 2024 after being nominated by a Holy Family parent. She accepted the award surrounded by her students and her mother, and invested her winnings back into her classroom. “It's still an honor, and a blessing,” she reflects. “It’s an honor to be an educator to this village. So I keep that in my spirit every time I walk through these doors.” 

Ms. Mahon strives to be someone’s Ms. Whitehead, a steady presence who is excited to meet scholars where they’re at and steer them towards excellence. Through her care and dedication at Holy Family, she has become something just as special and lasting; someone’s Ms. Mahon. “My soul feels filled when I get to teach,” she says, “I can look at myself in the mirror, and I can envision God saying, 'Well done. Well done.’”

7th grader Ayden W. is a go-getter. It’s evident in his faith, confidence, grit, and passion. As an athlete, a multi-talented musician, a student tour guide, and a leading scholar, Ayden has a schedule that keeps him sharp, and he doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon. 

Since Ayden enrolled at Holy Family in 1st grade, he’s found opportunities for his passions and talents to be stoked, and for that he credits his teachers. “My teachers give me the confidence I need to be successful,” Ayden shares, especially Chaplain Leslie Hunter. Chaplain Hunter has been like a father figure to him, which makes perfect sense as his father is also a pastor who acts as a driving, inspirational force in his life. “Pastor Hunter teaches me about the gospel. He reminds me to keep going and he reminds me that I can go further in life.” Ayden finds solace in being in community with his fellow scholars during Chapel service and is moved each week by the sermon and music. 

Looking towards the future, Ayden plans to attend a selective enrollment high school and go on to pursue his dream of becoming a professional musician. Ayden uses Philippians 4:13 as a guiding principle; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me– that’s the type of structure Holy Family has.” 

Since graduating from Holy Family in 1995, Fanisha D. has carried the lessons she learned there into every season of her life. “I felt like Holy Family was my basic training. It gave me the fundamentals for strong study skills, the ability to engage with people, the grit and resiliency to persevere despite any obstacles,” Fanisha recalls. “I learned to never give up and to choose faith over fear. I think that's what got me through most of my life.” 

After Holy Family, Fanisha attended Culver Academy for Girls, where she excelled socially, academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Fanisha went on to earn an undergraduate degree in finance from Loyola University and an MBA from DePaul University. She has had a robust career working in finance for manufacturing and pharmaceutical companies. 

Fanisha remains grounded with the help of her faith, her family, and her commitment to giving back to her community. “I am really committed to making a difference because so much has been given to me, starting at Holy Family with people who believed in me and pushed me to go further,” Fanisha shares. Over the years, Fanisha has volunteered in numerous ways, most notably through Holy Family’s mentoring program and as a member of the Board of Directors.

One of the most meaningful parts of that journey has been mentoring students who remind her of herself. Fanisha has mentored several Holy Family scholars over the years, including Micah, who she began mentoring when Micah was just entering eighth grade. What started as a middle school mentorship grew into a lifelong bond. Fanisha supported Micah through high school, college, and graduate school, attended her wedding last year, and now encourages her as she pursues law school. “Knowing where we both started at Holy Family, coming from North Lawndale, and seeing her progress has been full circle,” she says. “The power of Holy Family, the power of love, it’s full circle.”