General Information
Staff
All St. Mary teachers have a Bachelor of Arts/Science degree. They have all attained Michigan Teacher Certification and are highly qualified under state regulations. All staff go through a thorough background check; fingerprints on file; have attended, and kept up-to-date on a program entitled “Protecting God’s Children” as required of all our employees by the Diocese of Grand Rapids. All volunteers are required to have a thorough background check before interacting with our students.
Principal: Barbara Borth
bborth@stmarybr.org
Mrs. Borth has been Principal at St. Mary Catholic School for three years. She retired from the Big Rapids Public Schools after twenty-one years as an administrator and thirteen years as a teacher in the district. Mrs. Borth’s first teaching position was at Our Lady of the Lake in Prudenville, Michigan where she taught fifth and sixth grades for four years. She has a Master Degree in educational leadership, a Bachelor Degree in elementary education with a minor in philosophy and theology.
School Secretary: Barbie Norstrandt
bnorstran@stmarybr.org
Mrs. Norstrandt just completed her first year at St. Mary Catholic School. She resides in Big Rapids with her husband and young daughter.
Preschool: Trisha Kwant
tkwant@stmarybr.org
Mrs. Kwant has taught preschool at St. Mary Catholic School for the past eleven years. Mrs. Kwant graduated from Ferris State University with an Associate Degree in early childhood development. She lives in Big Rapids with her husband and 2 children.
Kindergarten: Melissa Hastings
mhastings@stmarybr.org
Mrs. Hastings has been teaching at St. Mary Catholic School for seven years. She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a degree in English/language arts and elementary education. She resides in Tustin with her husband and two children.
First Grade: Melissa Scheilbe
mscheilbl@stmarybr.org
Mrs. Scheible has been teaching at St. Mary Catholic School for two years. She is a 2006 graduate of Ferris State University with a major in elementary education. She resides with her husband in Big Rapids.
Second Grade: Amy Norton
anorton@stmarybr.org
Mrs Norton is a new teacher for St. Mary's School this year.
Third Grade: Delphine Defever
ddefever@stmarybr.org
Mrs. Defever has been teaching at St. Mary Catholic School for five years. She is a graduate of Ferris State University with a degree in elementary education. She resides in Big Rapids with her husband and three boys.
Fourth and Fifth Grades: Andrea Cooley
acooley@stmarybr.org
Mrs. Cooley has been teaching at St. Mary Catholic School for two years. She is an alumnus of St. Mary Catholic School and graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor Degree in elementary education with an emphasis in creative arts. She resides in Big Rapids with her husband and three children.
Sixth and Seventh Grades: Angela Reeder
areeder@stmarybr.org
Ms. Reeder has been teaching at St. Mary Catholic School for two years. She is a 2006 graduate of Grand Valley State University with a degree in elementary education. Mrs. Reeder also is certified to teach English to grades sixth through eighth. She lives in Big Rapids.