The Joliet Catholic Academy family is proud to announce that one of its own faculty members is being honored tonight at the Joliet Area Great Teachers Banquet by the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Spanish teacher Lauren Finaldi has been selected for her excellence in teaching along with several other other area teachers. The program was started in 2008 to honor outstanding local educators.

Lauren Finaldi, a teacher for 26 years, has been part of the JCA family for five years. She teaches Spanish and is the moderator of Spanish Club, La Esperanza and National Spanish Honor Society. She is a graduate of Bradley University in Peoria with a degree in secondary education and Spanish and has done graduate studies at the University of Salamanca, Spain. Finaldi lives in Naperville.