Staff Biographies

Maryanna Charley
Educational background:
   Masters in Ed.S - Univ. of St. Thomas 2004
   MA - Univ. of St. Thomas 1998
   BS - Mankato State - 1970
   AA - U. of Minn. - 1967
   Cosmetology License 1965
Work experiences:
   Became Principal in 1993. In the late 1980's began teaching 7th & 8th grade departmental.

   I began my teaching experience in 1970 at St. Michael School as 6th grade teacher.
Interests/Hobbies:
   Motorcycling and spending time with 3 grandchildren. Walking dog Rex.

 

Mrs. Katie Breckenridge

Educational background:
  University of South Dakota

Work experiences:

   Kindergarten teacher at St. Joseph Cathedral School in Sioux Falls, SD.

   She taught a diverse classroom of Hispanic, Sudanese and Caucasian students, learning to accommodate

   the varying abilities and background knowledge. .
Interests/Hobbies:

   Mrs. Breckenridge and her husband moved to Minnesota last year (2007) and she has been a substitute 

   teacher in Inver Grove Heights. As one reference stated, she is “Knowledgeable, dependent,

   compassionate  and dedicated describe her best. As a team player, she fully supported our mission to form

   a community of faith and learning.”
    

 

Mrs. Jill Ann Peck
Educational background:
   BA in Education K - 6 - College of St. Catherine
Work experiences:
   32 years at St. Michael School
   1 year Northeast Regional School.
Interests/Hobbies:

   I enjoy spending time with my family, working in my home and yard and reading.

Mrs. Cheryl McNellis
Educational background:
   BS in Elementary Education
Work experiences:
   11 years Director of Religious Education (1-10 Grades)
   Many years substitute and teaching St. Paul Schools and full time teaching Sauk Rapids.
Interests/Hobbies:
   Drawing and classical music.

 

Mrs. Maryann Stevens
Educational background:
   BA Child Development (major), Child Psychology (minor) from

   Rockford College, Rockford, Illinois.
   Numerous credits from Hamline University's education program.
Work experiences:
   Began teaching at St. Michael School in 1970 - 1971 school year.
   3 years teaching second grade in Rockford, Illinois.

Interests/Hobbies:
   Avid reader, former member of Morava Serbian folk dance group,

   play piano, loves traveling and cats.

Mrs. Barb Ruhlmann
Educational background:
   Bemidji State University-BS in Elementary Education K-8 with a Specialty in Communication and

   Language Arts 6-8

Work experiences:

  This is my 3rd year teaching 4th grade at St. Michael.
  13 Years in St. Michael's "A" Team, a remidial reading

  and math program.
   Volunteer work at Annunciation (Mpls) and St. Michael's including

   classroom aid and computer lab.
Interests/Hobbies:  Fitness activities, reading, gardening, movies, spending time with

    My hobbies are music, dance, walking with friends

    and their dogs (some day I hope to have a dog again),

   gardening, caring for wild birds-especially blue birds in my

    backyard, reading, movies, spending time with my

    husband and kids, and extended family, and

    spending time in northern Minnesota.

Mr. Joe Harvey
Educational background:
  Bemidji State University - Bachelor of Science

 Elementary Education Grades 1-6 - Coaching Certificate - History Minor
Work Experiences:
  St. Columba Catholic School- 17 years

  Nevir Public School
Interests/Hobbies:
  Classic cars, playing golf and softball, sports, pets, and history.

Mrs. Sue Walker

Educational background:
   St. Catherine - BA Elementary Education

   St. Mary's University - Masters in Teaching and Learning

Work Experiences:
   St. Michael School - 3 years
   Teaching other schools  8 years

Interests/Hobbies:

   Golf, Reading and Coaching sports.

Miss. Clare Barrowman Casey

We are pleased to announce that Clare Barrowman Casey has accepted the job of History teacher. Miss Casey received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College of St. Benedict. She has her license in Elementary Education and Social Studies. She performed her student teaching at St. Odilia School in Shoreview teaching History to grades 6 & 7. She has a definite understanding of the likes and needs of Middle School students. We welcome Miss Casey into our school and family community.

 

Mrs. Jane Landreville

Educational background:    College of St. Benedict - BA Speech/Theatre Arts

   Licensed in Secondary Education Grades 7-12

   St. Mary's University - Masters in Education Teaching and Learning

Work Experiences:

   St. Michael School - 8 years
   St. Paul Public Schools - Discover Program Gifted and Talented - 2 years

Interests/Hobbies:

  Antiquing - Traveling to historic sites - visiting our lake home in Wisconsin

 

Mrs. Doreen Orbita
Educational background:

  University of Minnesota – BA Geology

  College of St. Catherine – Second Major Certificate Elementary Education
Work Experiences:

  Research – University of Minnesota

  Maternity of Mary/St. Andrews – 1 year

  St. Odilia – 1 year K-12

  Substitute Teacher – 5 years

Interests/Hobbies:

  Reading, Scrapbooking, Bug Collecting, and Rock Collecting

     

   

Sr. Geran Madison
Educational background:

   1989 - 2003 - Various Adult Art Ed. Classes
   1988 Sabbatical year: Institute of Culture and Creation Spirituality, Aug. - Dec.
   1984 Univ. of MN, Duluth Writing and Illustrating Children's Literature
   1979-1982 Credo Program
   1976-1978 Redding Ridge, Connecticut Inst. of Children's Literature: Master's Program
   1977 College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
   1971-1974 Univ. of MN, Mpls. 13 art credits
   1969-1970 Univ. of WI, Milwaukee 2 art credits
   1968 ILL Stat Univ. - Normal 5 art credits
   1966-1967 Mount Mary College, Milwaukee 2 art credits
   1966 Edgewood College, Madison, WI, B.S.: Major: Education; Minor: English
Professional Experience:
   1989-2003 St. Michael - Art
   1987-1988 Our Lady of Grace School, Edina, MN
     Teacher: Language Art, Religion
   1984-1987 Regina High School, Mpls., MN
     Teacher: English
   1970-1984 Resurrection School
   Co-Principal, 1977-1984
     Teacher: Art, Religion, and Language Arts
   1965-1970 St. Rose of Lima School, Milwaukee, WI
   Co-Principal 1969-1970
     Teacher: Language Arts, Art
   1959-1965 Visitation School, Chicago, IL
     Teacher: Art, Grade 2
 Interests/Hobbies:
   Skiing, Painting, Hiking, Reading

 

Mrs. Maura Klimisch
Educational background:
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering - Texas A&M University
Work experiences:

Private Piano Teacher since 1996, Private Guitar Teacher since 2006, taught choir and geology in a  home-school co-op for 2 years. Taught theory and music history for piani students for 5 years.

Additional comments:
Her areas of expertise are many; piano/keyboard performance and instruction, recorder, guitar,

bass guitar, choral/vocal performance and instruction, rhythm instruction, use of technology in

studio/classroom and music history.

Interests and Hobbies:

Reading; Playing, listening to and composing all styles of music; beading; computer and online games; studing about autism, music and teaching; taking care of my 4 children; hosting foreign exchange students and (therefore) learning about other cultures, especially their food (yum!); and being ctive in my church communities (St. Michaels and Community of Christ Redeemer).

Ms. Connie Wees
Educational background:
   BS Degree in Physical Education/Health K-12.

   Drivers Education/Coaching certificate   Additional: classes, workshops, conferences.
Work experiences:
   PE teacher: St. Michael/St. John Vianney - 11 years.
   Canby High School - 4 yrs. Nanny - 15 years
Interests/Hobbies:

   Dog Agility
   Volleyball, Skiing, Camping, Kayaking, Scouting

   Woodworking, Sewing, Reading, Coin and Stamp Collecting

 

 

Mary Koenigsberger
Educational background:    2 years College - attended Mt. Mary College - Milwaukee, WI.
   3 years Catechesis training.
Work experiences:
   Taught 3rd Grade Religion
   6 years as an aide at St. Mike's - Gr. 2, 3, 4, Jr. High Math Summer

   Math and Reading tutor
   In-home child care provider for 2 years
   1 year in infant program of ECFE Program in South St. Paul
   4 years as an aide in formal child care
Comments:    Home schooled her 3 children for 7 years.
   Worked with Good Shepherd religious education program for 20 years.

   Worked with pre-school through Grade 3. Taught CCD classes for 4 years

   at St. Mike's, 3rd grade for 1 year and 2nd grade for 3 years.
Interests/Hobbies:
   Sew, Walk, Crochets, Garden, Reading, Works with orphaned animals.

 

Phyllis Grundtner
Work experiences:   11 years as school secretary
   Co-athletic director
   Parish secretary/bookkeeper for 17 years.
   Volunteer director of the pre-school program prior to employment at St. Michael's.
   Volunteer Girl Scout leader for 5 years.
Interests/Hobbies:
   Sewing for the missions, embroidery, reading, going on cruises with her

   husband and friends, visiting children out of town and spending time with

   her grandchildren.

Comments:   "My husband and I have been members of the parish for 34 years.

   We have volunteered in various ways in the school and parish over the years.

   A stewardship thought I work hard to live by:
   Stewardship is like a diamond. In the ground, uncut and unpolished,

   a diamond is like any other rock-dull, lifeless and unappealing.

   After cutting and polishing, a diamond is a remarkable, brilliant stone with

   many exciting facets. Similarly, stewardship may appear dull and unexciting.

   Through prayer, study and practice, it becomes a brilliant jewel in our life."
   Working at St. Michael's school is part of my stewardship in life.

   We are all called to do our share in life, my part is sharing my time and  

   talents with those I come in contact  daily.

Linda Winston

Work Experiences:

   Heavy customer service duties, office supervision, clerical duties, heavy phone contact and computer skills.

Interests/Hobbies:

  I am the music Cantor at the 5pm and 8am masses here at St. Michael's Church. 

Comments:

  I am so thankful for the opportunity to help St. Michael's School as the part time office secretary. 

  I will never "replace" Phyllis but I am happy that I can help my St. Michael "family" as well as my own family.    

  Music is such a huge part of my life:  

  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord, my heart!

  My whole life, give praise,

  Let me sing to God as long as I live.

  ---Psalm 146:1-2