Mrs. Debra Sell

Kindergarten Teacher and Preschool Program Director

Mrs. Sell is our Kindergarten Teacher and Preschool Program Director.

Debra spent most of her childhood growing up in Sarasota, Florida and vacationing in Pentwater, Michigan.  She enjoyed exploring nature and playing outside for hours at a time with her big sister.  She was very musically inclined and enjoyed singing in the choir and playing several instruments.

Mrs. Sell graduated with her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of South Florida in 1997.  She married her best friend, Bill Sell, in the spring of 2001.  Later, Debra returned to USF to complete her Masters Degree in Teaching-Elementary Education in 2004.  Debra originally taught kindergarten at Garden Elementary in Venice, Florida.  She took time off from teaching to raise her two sons, Liam and Logan.  Once Logan was ready for preschool, she returned to the classroom teaching at Forty Carrots Family Center in Sarasota, Florida.

Bill and Debra decided to follow their hearts and move to Michigan in 2018.  Bill a became a Police Officer with Big Rapids Department of Public Safety and Debra began teaching kindergarten at G.T. Norman Elementary in Reed City.  Liam and Logan have been attending St. Mary School since  and the whole Sell family recently joined the St. Mary/St. Paul Parish in 2022.

Debra is honored to join the staff as the new kindergarten teacher and to be apart of the good work that is going on at St. Mary School and Church.

Dr. Courtney Piercey

Music

Dr. Courtney Piercey, Music –

Ms. Paige Poling

Middle School Social Studies

Ms. Poling is our Middle School (5th-8th) Social Studies teacher and 5th grade homeroom teacher.

She is from Grand Rapids and graduated from Aquinas College in 2021.  At Aquina, she studied secondary education, history and social studies.

This is Ms. Poling’s first-year teaching within the Diocese, with previous experience substituting and in childcare.

Ms. Polling is a twin and her twin sister works within the Diocese, at Holy Trinity in Comstock Park.

Mr. Ken Ortegel

3rd Grade

Ken Ortegel is our 3rd grade teacher.

Mr. O, as his students call him, recently retired from Grand Rapids Public Schools, where he consistently obtained “highly effective’ teacher ratings throughout his tenure in education.

Ken possesses strong skills in the protocols and strategies in student services and differentiation.  He has over 30 years of teaching experience and we are very fortunate to have him share his talents with us.

Mr. O. is a resident of Cedar Springs and a parishioner of St. John Paul II.  He loves sports and was a highly decorated coach in soccer and basketball, winning multiple district championships.

Mrs. Melissa McCallum

4th Grade

Mrs. McCallum is our 4th grade teacher.

Mrs. McCallum is a graduate of Ferris State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.  She was the Owner/Director/Caregiver of Imagination Station Group Child Care from 2018-2021.  During that time, she worked closely with many state programs to ensure her program always exceeded expectations.

Through her experience and training in early childhood education with Imagination Station, she knew she had a calling to teach.  She transitioned into Reed City Area Public Schools where she taught in K-6 classrooms as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years with her focus on elementary education.  She is currently participating in Teachers of Tomorrow, which is approved by the Michigan Department of Education as an alternative route for teacher certification or endorsement.  She has a passion to help each student succeed.

Mrs. McCallum was born in Big Rapids and grew up in Osceola County most of her life.  She graduated from Pine River High School as a proud Buck.  Melissa and her husband, Brian, have two children, who attend St. Mary School.  They also have a German Shepherd, named Chica, who they love to take family walks with on the Rails to Trails.

Mrs. Michaela Wood

Pre-kindergarten

Michaela Wood is our Lead Preschool Teacher.

Mrs. Wood has been teaching Preschool for the last 5 years, most recently at Head Start in Montcalm County.
She is happily married to her husband Glenn, and they have 2 children together Alyvia(6) and Luke(4).
Mrs. Wood loves spending time with her family and seeing the world.

Mrs. Emily Theunick

2nd Grade

Mr. Scott Pieratt

Physical Education/Technology

A graduate of Central Michigan University, Mr. Pieratt has been a teacher in Big Rapids for 18 years and has had the pleasure of working at St. Mary’s for the past 13. His wife, Sarah, is also a teacher and employed by Midland Public Schools. His 14 year old daughter, Eliza, and 12 year old son, Grady, attend Sacred Heart Academy in Mt. Pleasant where they reside.

Mr. Pieratt teaches Technology and Physical Education to grades 1st through 8th. He loves to see kids grow and work hard to improve their skills in both areas. In addition to the classroom work, Mr. Pieratt coaches cross country at the Big Rapids Middle School.

In his spare time, Mr. Pieratt enjoys coaching his children in various sports such as basketball, softball and baseball.

Contact Mr. Pieratt

Mr. Pieratt’s Website

Mrs. Carey Mathewson

Middle School Math

Mrs. Mathewson grew up in Flat Rock, Michigan on the east side of the state. She graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelors of Arts in Secondary Education majoring in Mathematics and a minor in Group Science. After teaching a few years, she returned to school and received a middle school endorsement from Central Michigan University.

She moved to Big Rapids with her husband upon his graduation from the University of Detroit Dental School. Having both been given the great opportunity of a Catholic Education, they decided to continue the tradition with their three children. Brook, Chloe and Emily have all been students at St. Mary School.

Mrs. Mathewson’s responsibilities at St. Mary include teaching middle school math.  In addition to her traditional classroom responsibilities, she is a member of the Policy and Planning group for school board and the coordinator for our PALS groups.

Contact Mrs. Mathewson

Mrs. Andrea Cooley

Middle School English Language Arts

Mrs. Cooley has been working at St. Mary Catholic School since 2007.

She is an alum of St. Mary School and an active parishioner. Mrs. Cooley is married (Jack) and has three children who all attended St. Mary Catholic School.

Mrs. Cooley received her teaching degree from Western Michigan University and considers herself a townie – being born and raised in Big Rapids.

Contact Mrs. Cooley