

MEET OUR FAMILY

Principal
Mrs. Melissa Castro
Mrs. Castro has been with MSMCS for over 25 years. Mrs. Castro holds BS in Elementary Education (1-8) and Specific Learning Disabilities from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Director of Admissions
Mrs. Judy Jamaica Saldaña
Mrs. Saldaña hold an Associates Degree in Accounting from Dallas College. She has over 15 years of experience working with communities in how the education system functions. Mrs. Saldaña enjoys watching her kids play club soccer over the weekends and spending time with the family.

Toddler Montessori Lead Guide
Mrs. Vanessa Gurrusqueta
Mrs. Gurrusqueta has over 7 years of experience in the education arena. She’s completed her Montessori training as Lead Guide for ages 0-3 several years ago. She enjoys baking, flower arranging, reading and spending time with my family and 9-year-old son.

Children's House Lead Guide
Mrs. Ivana Abrate
Miss Abrate was born in Argentina and has over 15 years of teaching experience. Miss Abrate fell in love with the Montessori philosophy years ago with the style of education and the spiritual mission that we as educators have in the lives of children.

Children's House Lead Guide
Mrs. Cynthia Iturralde
Mrs. Cynthia Iturralde comes with experience in the Montessori education field for over 5 years. Her formal Montessori education comes from the Association Montessori Internationale and attended college at Cisco Junior College, majoring in dance. As a guide to tomorrow’s leaders, she embraces these words by Dr. Maria Montessori “Of all things, love is the most potent.”

Children's House Lead Guide
Ms. Barbara Rejfur
Ms. Rejfur has many years of experience in a Montessori classroom (MEPI Certified) as well as in a traditional kindergarten classroom. Ms. Rejfur was born and raised in Poland. She graduated from the University of Lower Silesia, Wrocław, Poland with B.Ed., with major in Primary and Preschool Education including teaching English as a second language, and M.Ed. in the specialization field of Pedagogical and Psychological Counselling, and Teaching Polish as a foreign language.

First Grade Teacher
Ms. Cecilia Malloy
Ms. Malloy has a BA in philosophy from the University of Dallas and AMS Montessori certification. She has taught students in every grade from preschool to eighth grade

Second Grade Teacher
Mrs. Brenda Powers
Mrs. Powers has an Elementary Education degree from Texas Tech University specializing in Early Childhood Education. She has been a MSMCS parent for 22 years..

Third Grade Teacher
Miss Melanie Zacharias
​Miss Zacharias has three years of teaching experience. She always had a desire to teach since she was a young girl. She has received her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Tarleton State University and is an active member of the Catholic Campus Ministry.

Fourth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Diane Chavez
Mrs. Chavez has many years of experience. She is a member of the Christian Community of God's Delight and has taught at Prince of Peace Community School/Mount St. Michael as well as other schools.

5th Grade & 7th/8th History/Language Arts
Mrs. Jessica Lynch
Mrs. Lynch graduated from the University of Dallas with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies. This is her 18th year as an educator, and has been part of MSMCS for over three years. Her three children currently attend MSM. In her free time she enjoys watching baking shows, cross stitching, reading, and cheering on her kids at all their extra-curricular activities.
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6th Grade & Pre-Algebra Teacher
Miss Dayne Patillo
Ms. Patillo graduated from the University of Dallas with a BA in English with a concentration in Mathematics. This is her first year teaching, and she is very excited to serve MSM and give back to Catholic education.

7th/8th Grade, Algebra & 5th, 6th Science
Mrs. Terry MacLellan
Mrs. Terry MacLellan has been with MSMCS for many years. She had worked here teaching 6-8th grade science, math, and religion for over 5 years Both of her children graduated from MSM and went on to THS and then to Benedictine, and Franciscan University of Steubenville. In her spare time, she loves to hike and canoe with her husband and visit with family and friends.

Physical Education Teacher
Mrs. Dawn Schell
Mrs. Schell has been with MSMCS for over 20 years. She’s also a parent of MSMCS alumni. Mrs. Schell comes with years of experience in keeping our children active throughout the school day as our physical education teacher.
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Director of Development
Mrs. Shannyn Chance
Mrs. Chance has worked in the MSMCS Development office for 10 years. She has a B.A. in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. In addition to heading up our development team, Shannyn has also been a parent at MSMCS for over 20 years.
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Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Graciela Gaspar
Mrs. Gaspar has worked in a school as a teacher’s aide for several years with Uplift Education. She and her husband along with their son Jacob are excited to be a part of the MSMCS Community.

Athletic and Dining Director
Mr. Seth Benavides
Mr. Seth Benavides, or Mr. B., has been part of the MSMCS community for over 10 years. He attended youth groups at MSM back since 2006 until 2011. He has younger siblings that have attended/attend MSM. He loves to help where he’s needed. He’s very happy to be at MSM and serve wherever he can.

Senior Office Director
Mrs. Martha Mendez
Mrs. Mendez has been with MSMCS for over 20 years! Mrs. Mendez has been our “go to” queen for many years. She is also a former parent of our school

Managing Director
Mrs. Eve Mearns
Bio coming soon!

Children's House Assistant Guide
Miss Diana Velazquez
Bio coming soon!

Children's House Assistant Guide
Mrs. Joohenn Flores
Bio coming soon!

Agricultural Studies Teacher
Mrs. Cecilia Mezulic
Mrs. Mezulic has been a part of the MSMCS Family for the past three years. Mrs. Mezulic has been helping with the Farm on the weekends and throughout the summers when she is not visiting her hometown in Italy. Last year she and Mr. Chance started an after school Bee Keeping club and harvested our first batch of honey this summer. Mrs. Mezulic along with Mrs. Chance will be teaching the Agricultural Studies Class this year.

Catecheist
Mrs. Libby Upham
​Mrs. Upham is returning to Mount St. Michael as our Atrium Catechist. She is certified in Levels 1-3 with CGS.

Library Manager
Mrs. Maria Gutierrez
Mrs. Gutierrez returns to MSMCS in a new role. Students in 1st – 6th grade will visit the library weekly. She will also provide story time to the Montessori students at times throughout the year.
BECOME PART OF OUR TEAM
We would love for you to be part of our family!
(214)-337-0244