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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 since 2006. 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: Kim Brejcha
kbrejcha@stmarybr.org
Our new Administrative Assistant is not really a 'new' face. Mrs. Brejcha served St. Mary School for five years in this position before marrying her husband, Mark, who served in the armed forces for 30 years. Mrs. Brejcha holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math and Business. They live in Big Rapids with two of their five children, Katie and Jackson.
Preschool: Trisha Kwant
tkwant@stmarybr.org
Mrs. Kwant has taught preschool at St. Mary Catholic School since 1997. Mrs. Kwant graduated from Ferris State University with an Associate Degree in early childhood development. She lives in Big Rapids with her husband and three children.
Kindergarten: Melissa Hastings
mhastings@stmarybr.org
Mrs. Hastings has been teaching at St. Mary Catholic School since 2002. 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 has two grown children.
First Grade: Molly Zarb
mzarb@stmarybr.org
Ms. Zarb joins St Mary Catholic School this year. She is a graduate of Lake Superior State University and started her teaching career at St Mary's of Gaylord.
Second Grade: Amy Norton
anorton@stmarybr.org
Amy Norton is the newest member of the staff. She has been teaching at St Mary Catholic school since 2009. She is a graduate of Ferris State University with a degree in elementary education. She resides in Big Rapids with her husband and daughter.
Third and Fourth Grades: Katie Mendenhall
kmendenhall@stmarybr.org
Katie is our third and 4th grade teacher. She is an alumnus of St. Mary Catholic School and Central Michigan University. Katie has a Bachelor degree in Elementary Special Education and resides in Big Rapids.
Fourth and Fifth Grades: Andrea Cooley
acooley@stmarybr.org
Mrs. Cooley has been teaching at St. Mary Catholic School since 2007. 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, Seventh and Eighth Grades: Angela Reeder
areeder@stmarybr.org
Ms. Reeder has been teaching at St. Mary Catholic School since 2007. She is a 2006 graduate of Grand Valley State University with a Bachelors degree in elementary education. Ms. Reeder also is certified to teach English to grades sixth through eighth. She lives in Big Rapids.