St. Francis Xavier School

emessineo@sfxvt.org

Hello, my name is Elizabeth Messineo and I am so excited to be a part of the Saint Francis Xavier community. 

I grew up in Georgia, Vermont, and my family moved to Colchester when I was a sophomore in high school. I attended public school in Georgia from pre-school until 8th grade. I was always a student who struggled in school and needed extra support from my teachers. I worked really hard but often left school feeling discouraged and like I was not “smart.” I started my Catholic education at Rice Memorial High School in 2017, and quickly fell in love with the atmosphere. The love and support I felt there was nothing I had ever experienced before. I loved being able to share my faith with my teachers and use our shared beliefs as support and inspiration. I no longer felt as if school was a burden, but rather a place where I could be lifted up, loved, and understood. I knew that I wanted to be someone who could provide this type of support to students and make a difference in children's lives. I decided after high school that I wanted to continue my Catholic education. I attended Salve Regina University where I got my bachelors degree in elementary and special education. I loved my time in Rhode Island but knew that God was calling me home to Vermont. 

When deciding where I wanted to start my career I knew it had to be at SFX. My two younger siblings started at Saint Francis Xavier school when I was a freshman in high school. My family was quickly welcomed and embraced by the community. We started making the drive from Georgia to attend mass at Saint Francis just because we loved the people and loving atmosphere of the community. I truly have never experienced anything like it. I felt the same love and support here that I had felt in high school. I started working in the after school program at SFX during my senior year of high school and continued to work there along with the summer camp programs during my college breaks. When I was offered the opportunity to teach in this community I knew that it was God’s calling and I could not turn it down. I am passionate about helping students and creating a space where they can grow both in their education and faith.