After teaching music and the arts on and off for the past 40 years, Mrs. Salerno has decided to retire. 

Salerno has taught at Notre Dame Academy since 2013, concluding a decade here. She taught at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay from 1992 until she came to NDA. 

She always knew, without a doubt, that she wanted to teach music. She grew up in a family where the arts were prevalent and prioritized. Her father was a pianist and vocalist and performed in several different music groups, and Salerno was inspired by this. 

She waited to teach full-time while her kids were young, but she felt as they got older, it was time for her to move to a full-time position. 

“As my kids were growing older, I felt like it was time to do something full-time. I always wanted to work with Mr. Bill Hill (the previous band director),” said Salerno. 

What Salerno will miss the most about NDA is her students, along with faculty members. She has greatly enjoyed getting to know everyone over the past ten years and creating lifelong relationships. 

“I’ll just miss how everybody treats everybody so nicely,” said said the choir director. She felt that after the COVID-19 Pandemic, all of the faculty members and students have gotten closer, kinder and more accepting of one another. 

“I’m really going to miss having Mrs. Salerno as my teacher. I loved having her positive and kind energy every day,” said Madeleine Wied, a freshman in her Academy Choir class. 

Although choosing just one experience to reflect on, one of her favorite memories at NDA was when she took the newly formed Tritones to a vocal jazz festival in Jefferson, Wisconsin. They had time to spare before a concert, so they all went shopping and out to dinner together. 

“It was just a real comradery type of experience,” reflected Salerno. 

As for the future, she might teach part-time at UWGB in the music department. She currently directs their Vocal Jazz Ensemble and plans on staying involved with that. She may also do some subbing for classes, but she’s still deciding on that. 

One thing she and her husband are planning on doing is traveling. They both love Italy and can’t wait to get back there. 

If she could tell her colleagues and students anything, it would be to cherish what you have at NDA with your teachers and friends and that the memories you make today are going to be unforgettable times you will look back upon in the future. 

 “I’ll be back,” she promised.  “I’ll come to concerts and shows. And don’t forget me!”