Bob Barder

Presenter

Robert Barder is a graduate of Northridge’s class of 1993. Bob worked in the non-profit sector for fifteen years at Misericordia Home, Lions Clubs International, and Midtown Educational Foundation before coming to Northridge. He has also taught for programs in Lithuania, México, and Spain. Bob is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with experience working with children, adults, couples, and families. With his interest in literature and psychology, he has taught courses at Northridge’s Parent University on Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina as well as a course entitled “Temperament Dynamics in Marriage and Family Life.” Bob and his wife, Julene, have five children.

Kieran Driver

Presenter

Kieran grew up in England and first came to the U.S. right out of High School as a youth missionary for NET Ministries. After this gap year, he returned home and pursued his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from University of East Anglia, while also serving as a student-officer in the Cambridge University Royal Navy Unit. He then came back to the States after receiving a full-ride Fellowship for a Masters in Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas. While there he married his sweetheart, Kayla, before moving to her homeland of the Central Valley in California to pursue a career in education. Over the course of four years, he transitioned from teaching to administration, serving as Dean in his final years.

Kieran and his family returned to the Midwest in the midst of the COVID pandemic to work at Northridge, excited about the opportunity to be a part of the leadership team at a school whose mission he is deeply passionate about. Kieran and his wife live in Des Plaines, with their four children.

Joseph Rhee

Operations Lead and Presenter

Joe graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2015 with a B.A., Political Science and Pre-Health Studies, and earned his M.A., Education, through Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Program in 2017. Before joining Northridge in 2017, Joe taught Chemistry and Algebra II and coached Varsity Football at Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School in East Los Angeles. Since arriving at Northridge, he has led the Dangerous Camp for Boys, launched a varsity wrestling program, and served as Head of Middle School beginning in 2019. In 2024, Joe was named Assistant Headmaster while continuing to teach Physical Science in the Middle School. He lives in Park Ridge with his wife, Grace, and their four young children.

Mike Stangel

Presenter

Mike grew up on the Northwest side of Chicago and attended Northridge as a freshman and sophomore before finishing his final two years at Maine South High School. Mike earned his B. S. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and spent five years as an engineer. While working in industries including manufacturing, LED lighting, and RF microwave amplifiers, Mr. Stangel found the most enjoyable parts of his jobs to be the sharing of knowledge amongst his coworkers. Inspired by his past teachers, his own experience teaching at the Midtown Education Program, and his love of Math and Science, Mr. Stangel switched careers and the core values led him back to Northridge. In addition to spending time with his wife and three young children, Mr. Stangel enjoys playing guitar, building/repairing electronics, playing basketball and 16-inch softball.

Shane Ayers

Content Director and Presenter

Shane brings a wealth of teaching experience along with a love of the liberal arts to Northridge. He earned his B.A. in Literature from Patrick Henry College and earned his M.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College, Annapolis. For the past decade, Shane has taught humanities, directed Shakespeare productions, and led wood shop class, in addition to editing and writing curriculum. He has also worked for Bill Bennett (former Secretary of Education under the Reagan administration) doing research for The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood. A Protestant convert to the Church, Shane, along with his wife, Teresa, and their children, celebrated their reception into the Catholic Church at Easter in 2017. Shane currently teaches philosophy, literature, woodworking, and mentors new teachers at Northridge. From time to time, Shane still writes on forming young people and the liberal arts.

Niall Fagan

Institute Strategy

Niall serves as Headmaster of Northridge and teaches Business. Niall grew up in Washington, DC, the oldest of eight children, and attended The Heights School from third through twelfth grade. He graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 2003 with a B.A. in Classics. Niall then taught Latin and Religion at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx before joining Chicago private equity group from 2005 to 2008, leading projects to improve companies they had acquired. He earned his M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 2010. Upon graduation, Niall joined the Leadership Development Program at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, where he held various marketing and strategy roles before becoming Director, Dealer Development, responsible for the company’s strategy for its 1,300 dealerships in over 80 countries. Niall joined Northridge in 2015 and was named Headmaster in fall 2016.

Our Team