Faculty and Staff Directory

Mrs. Mintzer has been a member of the math department at Notre Dame since 2004 and currently serves as Department Chair.  She holds degrees in Mathematics from La Salle University (B.A.) and the University of Pennsylvania (M.A.).  She is a member of the Mathematical Association of America and was the Rotary Club of Easton Teacher of the Year in 2015. When not in the classroom, Mrs. Mintzer enjoys spending time with her husband, five children and granddaughter, Ella.

This is Heather’s fifth year teaching Spanish at Notre Dame. Before teaching at Notre Dame, Heather taught for four years at St. Thomas More School in Connecticut and St. Anne’s Episcopal School in Delaware in addition to a temporary position at Pius X High School. Heather learned Spanish studying abroad in Zaragoza, Spain during her junior year of high school. Additionally, Heather studied in Salamanca, Spain and Santiago, Chile. She is currently working on her M.Ed.

Albert J. Shimkus, Jr. is Notre Dame High School’s Music Teacher and Director of Bands. Mr. Shimkus has twenty years of teaching experience in grades four through twelve with fifteen years in the Allentown Diocese. As a native of Nazareth, PA and a member of Holy Family parish, he graduated from Holy Family Elementary School and Nazareth Area High School.  He attended West Chester University, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education and later Hofstra University, receiving a Master of Arts Degree in Secondary Education, with a concentration in Wind Band Conducting. Since 2015, Mr. Shimkus has been the director of the Easton Municipal Band, also. He resides in Allentown, PA.

Mr. Shimkus’s teaching career began as percussion instructor and assistant for the Marian Catholic High School Band of Tamaqua, PA while a junior at West Chester University.  After graduation, he established an instrumental music program in Marian Catholic’s seven-partner elementary schools. This experience led to his first tenure at Notre Dame High School.  As his career expanded, he spent time as a public school teacher and in the private sector.  In 2015, Mr.Shimkus returned to Notre Dame High School. Throughout his teaching career, he has been the director of marching, concert and jazz bands, as well as small ensembles such as percussion and brass ensembles, pit orchestra and even a school rock band.

Norman Steinruck has been teaching at Notre Dame for the past four years. Prior to that, he taught at St. Ann’s in Emmaus and at the Seton Keough High School in Baltimore. He attended Kutztown University, where he met his wife, Jenna (ND Class of 2002). He lives in Bethlehem Township with his wife, two sons (Lincoln 3 and Lane 1) and Old English Sheepdog, Muppet. He also coaches middle school boys basketball at Moravian Academy.

Mrs. Vaca has been a teacher in the Diocese of Allentown for nearly four decades. She has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from East Stroudsburg University. In addition, she has completed graduate work at Allentown College, ESU, and Wilkes University. Mrs. Vaca also holds Master Catechist Certification.