Marquette High School is proud to announce the hirings of Elena Brandewie and Ursula McCarthy as new Spanish and theology instructors, respectively, as the school launches its 140th year beginning this Friday.

“We are thrilled to welcome Elena and Ursula to the Marquette family. Both bring extensive and unique backgrounds that will not only enhance their teaching, but also provide our students with diverse perspectives and experiences. As products of Catholic education themselves, they each bring a genuine passion for teaching and learning, and we are excited for the energy and enthusiasm they will bring to our MQT community this year,” principal Katie Collignon said.

Brandewie possesses a comprehensive, well-traveled background that reinforces a strong commitment to Catholic education and culturally-rich instruction. Her teaching career embarked in Chicago at St. Helena of the Cross, and included multiple stops in Chile spanning 15 years. She returned home to the Catholic Diocese of Gary, where she most recently taught at St. John Bosco Catholic School in Hammond.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of Notre Dame with a double major in Spanish and Philosophy, alongside coursework from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Her background includes specialized training through Cambridge University and alternative certification from Northwestern University.

A Valparaiso native, Brandewie competed in cross country and track and field while at University of Notre Dame after completing a successful prep career at Andrean.

McCarthy is the latest paragon of the Echo Graduate Service Program, a partnership between the Catholic Diocese of Gary and the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life. The rigorous initiative places young theology graduates in the classroom as religious education teachers while they earn a Master of Arts in Theology. 

McCarthy was named to the Dean’s List multiple times during her undergraduate career at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2024.

Marquette welcomes students to campus on Friday, August 14th, for the first day of school.