Our Faculty and Staff
Mary Immaculate is blessed with a highly qualified, fully certified staff that is committed to Catholic education. Our low teacher turnover provides a secure and stable environment. To email an MIS employee, click their name or use their first initial, full last name @mischool.org. (Ex: Rupert Smith rsmith@mischool.org)
Sister Mary Anne, O. P., Principal
Sister Mary Anne holds degrees from Christendom College (BA), Northwestern State University (M Ed) and the University of Memphis (PhD). She also has credits from Texas A&M and Franciscan University (Steubenville). Sister was raised with her six brothers on a sheep and goat ranch in Southwest Texas.
The Catholic Foundation presents “Work of Heart” awards to unsung heroes in Catholic education. Click the logo above for details.
Faculty Members
Michele Hollingsworth, PreKC
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Mrs. Hollingsworth has taught PreK for over 20 years. She’s also taught at St. Thomas Aquinas School.
Sarah Houlihan, PreKA
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Mrs. Houlihan is a Dallas native. She has been married for 10 years and they have 2 boys. In their free time, they like to travel all over Texas.
Sarah Sabo, PreKB
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Mrs. Sabo holds a BA and an MA from the University of St. Elizabeth and has experience teaching several grade levels. She has two students enrolled at MIS.
Erin Marek, PreK Aide
Mrs. Marek is originally from New England and graduated from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Tufts University with concentrations in Printmaking and Museum Education. All four of her children are enrolled at MIS and she believes the school culture here is something truly special.
Stefanie Martinez, PreK Aide
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An alumna of MIS, Mrs. Martinez holds a degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. She has two children enrolled.
Rose Harrelson, Kindergarten Department Head
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Mrs. Harrelson first came to MIS as a kindergartner - and that’s what she’s been teaching since 2001! All of her children are MIS graduates. She is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University.
Martha Schwalm, Kindergarten
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Mrs. Schwalm is a native Texan as well as a graduate from the University of Dallas with a B.A. in English and elementary education. She is currently working on a Masters in Early childhood education. She has four children.
Sara McCord, Kindergarten
Ms. McCord is an MIS graduate and she holds a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Stephen F. Austin State University. She has previously taught Kindergarten and 1st grade in Irving ISD. She is also the director for our Highsteppers Drill Team.
Kelvia Dudley, Kindergarten Aide
Mrs. Dudley holds a BA from the University of Texas at Arlington with 10 years of experience working in Early Childhood Educaiton. She is proud to have two daughters enrolled at MIS.
Alma Cruz, Kindergarten Aide
Stay tuned for more information on Mrs. Cruz.
Veronica Cruz, Kindergarten Aide
Stay tuned for more information on Mrs. Cruz.
Carmen Gutierrez, Spanish 6-8
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A graduate from Tec de Monterrey, Señora Gutierrez pursued her graduate degrees at Universidad Politecnica de Valencia. Since graduation she has been teaching different grade levels. Two of her children graduated from MIS.
Noreen Bridgeman, 1st Grade Aide
Mrs. Bridgeman has been a certified teacher for over 10 years and holds a Musical Theatre degree from OCU and an Elementary Education degree from LeTourneau University, certified in Elementary, ESL, and Special Education. She has previously taught 2nd Grade, Music, and Special Education. She loves the family environment at MIS and glad to be back with Catholic Education!
Jeanette Page, 1st Grade
Mrs. Page holds a degree from Texas Women’s University and is currently working on her Master’s from Midwestern State University.
Sue Wunderlick, 1st Grade
Mrs. Wunderlick taught briefly at MIS immediately after graduating from Stephen F. Austin. Her impression of the school as a recent graduate was that this is what a school community should be. As s result, she returned in 1997.
Linda Strong, 1st Grade Aide
Mrs. Strong holds a B.S. in Educational Curriculum & Instruction, with a Reading Specialization, from Texas A&M. She has 24 years of teaching experience and her 3 daughters are MIS alumnae, classes of 2006, 2007 and 2011. She is excited to be back at MIS and helping students in the classroom.
Anne Holubec, 2nd Grade
Mrs. Holubec’s parents were among the first couples married at Mary Immaculate Church in what is today the Art Room / Science Lab. She is a graduate of Texas A&M and began working at MIS in 2016.
Nadia Buckles, 3rd Grade
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Miss Buckles is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a double major in Astrophysics and Mathematics.
Sherry McCord, Primary Department Head, 3rd Grade
Mrs. McCord and her three children are all proud graduates of MIS. She loves working here so much that she’s been here since 1990! She is a graduate of the University of North Texas.
Kim Pfaffenberger, 4th Grade
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Mrs. Pfaffenberger earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington. She joined MIS in 2009 and loves the faith-filled family community here. All four of her sons attended Catholic schools, and three of them are MIS graduates.
Teresa Flores, 4th Grade
Miss. Flores attended MIS from K-4th grade. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University and returned to MIS in 2017 because of the strong family culture here.
Suzanne Wilcox, 5th Grade
Mrs. Wilcox, a graduate of the University of Dallas, joined the MIS team in 2021. She is looking forward to another year of teaching 5th grade!
Yara Jaoude, 5th Grade
Mrs. Jaoude, a graduate of Notre Dame, is a new 5th grade teacher this year. She enjoys cooking with her husband, reading, and traveling, Mrs. Jaoude has two girls at MIS and is overjoyed to be joining this community
Kindel Nordhus, 6th Grade
Miss Nordhus, a Kansas native, is a graduate from Kansas State University where she earned her B.A. in Secondary Education with a concentration in English. After teaching a year in a public school, she is excited to integrate the Catholic faith into her teaching.
Veronica Navarro, 6th Grade
Mrs. Navarro joined the MIS faculty in 2015 and loves how everyone feels like family - teachers, parents, students and the parish. She earned her degree from UTD.
Cathy Huffman, 7th Grade
Mrs. Huffman began teaching junior high here in 2010 but she’s been here since 1965! Her three sons and two brothers are graduates of MIS. She is a graduate of Texas Tech.
Sister Margaret Mary Sallwasser, 6-8 Religion
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Sister Margaret Mary holds a Bachelor and Masters from Franciscan University. Sister joined the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in 2006 and taught middle school and high school in Tennessee for the past 16 years. She is excited to be joining MIS!
Kimberly Murawski, M. Ed., 8th Grade
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Ms. Murawski is a graduate of MIS as are all of her siblings. Her mother and one of her sisters have also taught here. She joined our faculty in 2009. Both her undergraduate and master’s degrees are from Texas A&M.
Thelma Watts-Glasgow, 8th Grade
Mrs. Glasgow is a graduate of the University of Dallas. She has been teaching junior high here since 1984. She loves MIS because of the solid faith community between staff, students and parents.
Specials and Supporting Faculty
Daria Murphy, Art 1st-3rd Grade; PreK Aide
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Ms. Murphy has been teaching for 20+ years and is trained in reading recovery. She joined the MIS family in 2020.
Marissa Mayfield, 4th-8th Drama, Public Speaking
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Mrs. Mayfield began working at MIS in 2016. Her daughter is a graduate. She holds a degree from the University of Kentucky.
Sandra Loshelder, Technology Teacher, Instructional Technologist
Mrs. Loshelder joined the MIS team in 2011 and is passionate about helping students understand technology. Her three children are all MIS graduates. Mrs. Loshelder is a graduate of Texas A&M.
Jamie Bottomley, Music Teacher
Miss Bottomley has been a parishoner at MIC for over 20 years and is excited to be joining the MIS community. She graduated from Texas Tech in 2022 with a BA in Music and a minor in Psychology. She has a dog that she loves and is always ready to show pictures!
Anthony Pulido, Motter Family Business Program Coordinator
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Mr. Pulido holds an MBA from the University of Dallas and has taught at UD and Rice. His daughter is enrolled at MIS.
Madeline Mentesana, Art 4th-8th
Ms. Mentesana holds a BA in Psychology and Art from Texas State University. She is looking forward to fostering her students' creativity, confidence, and knowledge in and through art!
Sister Annunciata Hawley, O.P., Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
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Sister Annunciata is originally from Albuquerque and holds degrees from Belmont (BA), the University of Southern Mississippi (MA) and Franciscan University at Steubenville (MA).
Tiffani Valdivia, Junior High Science and Math
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Mrs. Valdivia holds an undergraduate and masters degree in science education from UT Austin. She is excited to be a part of the vibrant MIS community with her daughter this year.
Noel Kaplonski, Growing Adventures Greenhouse and Garden
Mrs. Kaplonski holds a BA from Rutgers University. She is a Master Gardener and has children enrolled at MIS.
Karen Saldana, Librarian
Mrs. Saldana has been a familiar face at MIS in the classroom and library since 1982. She is a graduate of St. Mary College in Kansas. All four of her children are graduates of MIS.
Debbie Gambrel, Physical Education
Mrs. Gambrel, a graduate of Texas State University, began teaching at MIS in 1999. All four of her children and her husband are MIS graduates! She is passionate about MIS and Physical Education.
Joy Tsakonas, PE Aide
Mrs. Tsakonas has been a substitute and Aide for 5 years and is currently working towards her Bachelor's in Elementary Education.
Andrew McBride, PE Teacher
Coach McBride holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology (PE Emphasis) from the University of North Texas. He earned his master’s degree in Kinesiology (Coaching Emphasis) from Texas Woman’s University. Coach McBride enjoys teaching the skills and benefits of physical activity.
Mark Zeske, Athletics Director
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Coach Zeske is a veteran educator, communication officer, coach and sports official. He believes working with students is pure fun and that many of life’s best lessons are learned while playing sports.
Susana Zinser, PK-5th Grade Spanish
Affectionately called Señora Susy, Mrs. Zinser has shared her culture and Catholic traditions with us since 2008 as our PK-4 Spanish teacher. She is a graduate of Universidad de Guadalajara – México.
Student Support
Athena Crockett, MS, MEd, LPC, Counselor, Student Support Services
Mrs. Crockett earned her degrees from the University of North Texas (MS, MEd, LPC). She serves the MIS family as a counselor and Coordinator of Student Support Services. Six of her siblings attended MIS. She began working with us in 2019.
Laura White, Content Mastery
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Mrs. White is a proud MIS graduate, as are her three children! She has been teaching primary students here since 2012 and loves the staff and families. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas.
Norma Rendon, Content Mastery
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Mrs. Rendon received her Bachelors in Elementary Education from TWU and her MLA from SMU. She has certifications as a reading specialist, and bilingual and ESL teaching. She has been teaching for 30+ years.
Debbie Smith, MEd, CALT, LDT, Content Mastery
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A Licensed Dyslexia Therapist and graduate of NTU, Mrs. Smith is certified in early childhood, elementary secondary and special education, Literacy, Reading and more. All her children attended MIS and her grandchildren are currently enrolled.
Sarah Fraler, Director of Curriculum and Instruction/Content Mastery Teacher
Mrs. Fraler holds a BA in English Literature (SMU), and a M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Instructional Coaching (UTTyler), along with her general teaching and ESL certifications. Two of her four children currently attend MIS. Go Mustangs!
Support Staff
Ramon Vargas, Facilities & Maintenance Coordinator
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Santiago Ponce, Facilities & Maintenance
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Sandy Schluterman, RN, School Nurse
Nurse Sandy has been a pediatric nurse since 1981 and has been at MIS since 2000. She loves children and our MIS family. Both of her boys attended MIS. She earned her nursing degree from Truman State.
Valerie Grygar, RN, School Nurse
Nurse Valerie has been a nurse since 2013. She earned her bachelor degree from the University of Texas in Arlington. She has 11 years of experience in the Post Anesthesia Care unit with 3 years simultaneous experience as a school nurse. She has 3 children who attend MIS.
Cecilia Burgin, Extended Day Program
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Mrs. Burgin began teaching Spanish to our students in 2004. She is a graduate of Boston College. All of her children attended MIS.
Administration
Adrian Bergkvist, Director of Communications
Mrs. Bergkvist holds a BA from the University of Tennessee. She spent 19 years in the relocation industry before joining MIC/MIS. Her son currently attends MIS and her daughter is an MIS alum and attending Ursuline Academy.
Linda Coffin, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Coffin began working with us in 1986 and remained because of the strong sense of family / community. Her three children are all graduates of MIS. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.
Paula Echeverry, Secretary
Mrs. Echeverry loves coming to work every day because the children bring such joy! A parent of two MIS grads (2009, 2011), Mrs. Echeverry began working here in 2002. She attended The Boyd School in Pittsburgh, PA.
Carrie Ford, Business Manager
Stay tuned for more information on Mrs. Ford.
Nicole Grobe, Director of Admissions
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Mrs. Grobe holds Rehabilitation Counseling degrees from Stephen F. Austin (BS) and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (MA). She has a 5th grade Mustang at MIS. Her family fell in love with the community and inclusivity during their tour.
Sandy Hughes, Safe Environment & Administrative Assistant
A graduate of UNT, Mrs. Hughes has been part of the MIS community for 20+ years as a parent, substitute, history teacher track coach, administrative assistant, and more. Her three children graduated from MIS.
Kassidy Sanders, Director of Development
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Mrs. Sanders studied at the University of North Texas and graduated in December 2020. Before joining MIS, she fundraised for the Cockrell School of Engineering at UT Austin. Her son will join MIS in 2028!
