Meet Mrs. Ramundo
Montrose welcomed many new and amazing teachers this year, but one very special teacher from the STEM department is Mrs. Mairead Ramundo. She joined Montrose as a Geometry teacher right after finishing college at Harvard University. Her strong faith, which partly led her to Montrose, her love of math, and her students are all important pieces of this unique member of the Montrose community.
Background and Education
Mrs. Ramundo grew up in Dorchester, Boston, surrounded by her cousins and two brothers with whom she spent hours playing sports, attending school, and enjoying the simple pleasures of childhood. Her love for learning and fascination with science led her to Harvard University, where she majored, or as Harvard says it, concentrated, in neuroscience. While at Harvard, she was deeply involved in the Harvard Catholic Center, served as Sports Chair for the Harvard Crimson, worked as an EMT, tutored students, and spent long hours in the library. Reflecting on her college experience, she realized that her experience tutoring and working with students were drawing her toward teaching, a path that would allow her to combine her love of learning with a meaningful impact on others.
Teaching Career
Mrs. Ramundo has been teaching for approximately eight months, all at Montrose. Before teaching, she worked at Boston Children’s Hospital in a neuroscience lab, but felt called to teach by Jesus. Mrs. Ramundo currently teaches Geometry at Montrose, mostly to ninth graders but also to a handful of eighth grade students as well. This aligns with her favorite subjects from school, all of which are STEM related, such as Algebra 2, Chemistry, and Biology. She chose to teach at Montrose because of what made Montrose different from other schools: Jesus is at the center of it, and it is a unique and special way to serve the Church. In her own words, Mrs. Ramundo was “inspired by how Montrose deeply strives to teach young women how to be women in a way that the world is actively fighting against.”
Life Outside the Classroom
Outside the classroom, you may find Mrs. Ramundo reading, baking, or painting, all some of her favorite hobbies. Despite not traveling much, Mrs. Ramundo has been to the Holy Land, which she called the coolest and most meaningful place she has been to. Mrs. Ramundo’s favorite book is Sophia House by Michael D. O’Brien, the first book in a fictional trilogy about the Catholic apocalypse. Her favorite movie is Rudy, a story about a young man named Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, who wanted to play football at Notre Dame University. One aspect of Mrs. Ramundo’s life before teaching that may surprise students is that she worked in a restaurant all throughout high school and college. This experience taught her the most about working and being a student.
Reflections on Teaching
Even in her first months of teaching, Mrs. Ramundo has found deep joy in being with her students and seeing them grow in confidence. One of her favorite parts of the job is simply watching students light up when something clicks or when they feel proud of what they have accomplished. She especially loved a memorable science fair experience from earlier in her life, when she helped build a calorimeter to measure energy, which reminded her how exciting learning can be. At the same time, she is honest about the challenges of teaching, especially the reality that students learn in very different ways. She explains that what makes sense to one student, might not make sense to another, which has pushed her to be flexible and patient in her approach. She also recognizes the lasting effects of COVID on learning, especially in math, and how important it is to help students rebuild both skills and confidence. Despite the challenges, she says the best part of teaching is being with her students and seeing them smile.
Faith and Values
At the center of Mrs. Ramundo’s life is her Catholic faith, something that clearly influences both her teaching and the way she lives. In college, she experienced a deep encounter with Jesus through daily Mass, prayer before the Eucharist, and discipleship with the FOCUS missionary. She reflects on this time by saying, “Being Catholic means redemption, knowing that you have a Father and Mother in heaven who love you, and being able to live in Jesus and be with Him every day through the Eucharist.” For her, faith is not just something she believes, but something she lives each day. She finds inspiration in St. Pier Giorgio Frassati’s words “to the heights,” as a reminder of keeping heaven as the ultimate goal, and often turns to Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path,” as a guide for walking with trust. She also encourages us to turn to Mary, gently reminding us that she always knows where to find Jesus. Through her faith, she inspires students by example every day.
Wisdom and Advice
Mrs. Ramundo describes success with a simple but challenging idea: striving “to the heights,” a reminder to aim for something greater than comfort or easy achievement. For her, this shows up in everyday choices, such as trying to follow where she is being led and staying open, even when it is difficult. She also shared something she wishes she had understood earlier: “your identity comes from being a beloved daughter of God,” a truth she says is easy to lose sight of in a world that focuses so much on comparison and achievement. At the same time, she holds onto the hopeful reminder from Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I make all things new,” emphasizing that God has the power to transform everything, even your own heart.
Wrap-Up
Mrs. Ramundo continues to inspire her students every day, and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know her. This summer, she and her husband will welcome a baby, and while we will miss her dearly, we are excited for this joyful new chapter in her life. During her time at Montrose, Mrs. Ramundo has made a lasting impact on her students, not just in what they have learned, but in who they will become. On behalf of the Montrose community, thank you Mrs. Ramundo!
By Cristina Florez ‘30, Clubs and Classes Editor & Sarah Tea ‘30, News Editor
