Faculty Bios

I want you to know I am grateful to have been appointed as principal of St. Joan of Arc-St. George School. I know the parishes and school have a profound history and a bright future.

A little background information is always helpful. I received my bachelor's degree form the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA, and a master in education degree from Westfield State (MA) College. I was a public school elementary counselor for fourteen years for the Gill-Montague Regional School District, principal of Sheffied School in Turners Falls, MA, for one year and principal of Pleasant Street School in Athol, MA for two years. I was a teacher/assistant headmaster in Mariamante Academy, a private Catholic middle and high school in Franklin County, MA, for four years.   I taught 7th & 8th grades at Holy Trinity School in Greenfield and was principal of St. Michael School in Brattleboro, VT for two years.

I reside in Whately, MA and have two wonderful children: Christopher and Christina. I am eager to meet one and all. Please stop in to say "hello" and watch catholic education at its best.

She is married with two grown sons and a daughter in law and to fill her “emptied nest” she has a Golden Retriever (Bailey) who is very well known to the Pre-K children as he poses for numerous photos throughout her letter of the week program.  

Bailey has earned a Canine Good Citizenship Award and has recently been certified as a therapy dog and makes visits to preschoolers at the Weldon Center with his master, Mrs. Rancitelli.

Mr. Rancitelli is a Diocesan employee and Music Teacher who is also known to the Pre-Kinder students through his weekly sing-alongs in the classroom.She is in her second year here at SJA-SG school opening its first Pre-K program and is enjoying the experience immensely!

She has lived in Denver, CO; Woodstock, GA; and now Springfield, MA

In her former life she was a Human Resources Training Manager for Amoco Oil Company and also Zany Brainy Educational Toy Store.

She is married to Steven (a Chemist) and has one daughter - Ashley, who is a student at Cathedral. 

Mrs. Eckroat is working on her masters in education at the Elms. She is also trying to get her first book published. (Writing is her hobby).

She has 2 dogs - Scooby and Mabel. Last but not least, she is a huge CHICAGO BEARS FAN!

In February of 2007 Miss Web received the Pioneer Valley Teacher of Excellence Award.

In her spare time she makes jewelry and sells it at craft fairs.  She also enjoys shopping for purses and shoes. She has two beautiful black labs named Basil and Sage.

She is a member of St. Rose de Lima Parish, where she is a Lector.

Mrs. Meade and her husband Donn have 3 grown children, Daniel, Stephanie and Kathryn. All are graduates of  SJA-SG.

She loves her job and is always excited to wake up in the morning and go to work! She has wanted to be a teacher for as far back as she can recall.

Miss Ceccarini Considers her job a privilege and an incredible responsibility. Maintaining each child's self-esteem and building a safe foundation for future growth will always remain a priority in her classroom. 

She began teaching at St. Joan of Arc-St. George School in 2000. Prior to that she taught at Sacred Heart School in Springfield, MA.

Mrs. Landry  lives in Agawam with her husband Roger. They have two grown children. Brian and Megan.

Mrs. Kurpaska lives in Chicopee with her husband Larry and two teenage children, Katelyn and Joseph. They also attend Holyoke Catholic High School.

Mrs. Kurpaska has taught at Holyoke Day Nursery as well as Holyoke Headstart.  She began teaching at St. George School in 1988 and continued to teach at SJA-SG after the merger. She loves teaching her 2nd grade class.

She worked as a pre-school teacher and as a special needs aide in West Springfield before teaching at St. George and  SJA-SG.

Mrs. Thompson is a lay associate of the Sisters of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, whose motherhouse is in Nicolette, Canada. She is also a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Springfield and is a Eucharistic Minister.

Mrs. Thompson is interested in theater. She is on the Board of Directors of the Majestic Theater in West Springfield and serves as Wardrobe Mistress. She is also the Costume Designer for the theater's Children's Summer Theater and on occasion, may be seen on the stage!

Mrs. Thompson and her husband, Tom, have two grown children.

She taught second graders for six years in the West Springfield school system before leaving to start a family with her husband Stan, a Ludlow firefighter. When  her three children were in school, she was active in the PTO, taught CCD at St. Mary's Church, and worked as a substitute teacher in the Ludlow school system. 

Mrs. Bourque has been teaching for 23 years.

She received her bachelor degree in education form Westfield State College and has been teaching at SJA-SG since 1998.

Mrs. Garvey and her husband, Edward, who is the Vice Principal of Suffield High School, have three grown children, Sean, Patrick and Megan.

Mrs. Rivera was Born and raised in a French Canadian family in Chicopee. She is fluent in French.

As a child she attended Mt. Carmel School in Chicopee and is a graduate of Chicopee High.

Mrs. Rivera has been married to the same wonderful man for 21 years. They have one adult daughter.

Mrs. Mitchell and her husband have two sons, one attends Worchester Polytechnic Institute and the other is a Jr. High Student in Connecticut.

Mrs. Mitchell is also part Native American (Onoudaga-Iroquois)  

Mrs. Enserro earned her bachelor degree in religious education and political philosophy at The Catholic University of America. She earned her M.A.A.T at Elms College.

Mrs. Mendes has worked as a Special Education teacher in Behavioral Intervention for the Holyoke Public School System and in a program for children with Autism in the South Hadley School System.

Mrs. Mendes is married with an adult son, Patrick and twin teenage sons, Michael and Brian.

"May I embrace my call to be a teacher with faith, joy, and humility, and may I hold in sacred trust each child you have committed to my care."

Mrs. Kelly has taught at  Enfield Middle School, Wilbraham Middle School, St. George School and of course, St. Joan of Arc- St. George School since the merger. 

She is a member of St. Catherine of Siena in Springfield, MA. 

Mrs. Kelly is a founding member of the Panther Patrons (Cathedral High School).  She is the girl's director of the MA Premier Soccer League.

Mrs. Kelly and her husband Lawrence have 4 children, Ryan, Paul, Moira and Patrick. She also has 5 grandchildren......so far!

She would like to continue her "French mission" until 2015, if God wills.

Mrs. Dion has three grown children,  a son and two daughters. She also has  two beautiful grandchildren.

"God is Good!"

Mrs. Marra loves the ocean and scuba diving. She is a certified advanced open water scuba diver! (P.A.D.I.) enjoys, gardening, web design and new gadgets!

She was born and raised in Groton, MA and currently  lives in Chicopee with her husband Wayne. She has two adult sons, Mark and David.

Mrs. Ruel and her husband, Gary have two adult sons, Jonathan and Aaron.

She loves to read and paint in her spare time.

Mrs. Mathieu has been teaching physical education at St. Joan of Arc School since 1995. As the Phys. Ed. Teacher she encourages wellness by integrating physical activity into the intellectual and spiritual growth of the children. She wants students to enjoy moving so as to have a positive outlook toward physical activity. She hopes this will carry over into their adult lives.

Mrs. Mathieu has worked in Chicopee as a Substitute teacher and as pre school teacher. 

She loves teaching all of the grade levels. This gives her the chance to watch them grow from year to year. Their enthusiasm is contagious!

Miss Anderson has been teaching music at SJA-SG school since 1997.  She also works for the Ludlow Police Department as a 911 Dispatcher and a R.A.D. self-defense instructor.