Mrs. Sheila Gould (Preschool Three Year Old Program) - I am so excited to be teaching in the new three year old classroom here at Mater Dolorosa School! Growing up, I attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School here in Holyoke and my memories of Catholic school are very dear to me. Since I graduated from Elms College in 2006, I spent four years teaching preschool at Longmeadow Montessori.  I truly enjoy teaching preschool and am thrilled to be a part of the Mater Dolorosa Community.

     Our Lady of the Cross is my parish and I have attended mass there my whole life. I come from a big family! I have six sisters and a brother. They are my very best friends. I have a wonderful husband Jenkin and we have and two young children. Our son Jimmy is almost three and we have a baby named Marianne.  She is just four months old.  We love to be outdoors as much as possible with our dog Petey Pup!  My favorite day of the year is The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In 2004 I was the Grand Colleen and I make sure to never miss a parade, rain, shine or SNOW! I have a knack for finding four leaf clovers wherever I go.

 

 

Mrs. Jeanne Krow (Preschool Four Year Old Program) - I am beginning my thirteenth year at Mater Dolorosa, and before that I was teaching at Peppermint Stick Preschool in Chicopee. I graduated from Westfield State College and have been teaching for the past 20 years.  I have been married to my husband Paul for thirty years, and we have three terrific children: Kyle, Derek, and Katie.  We are the proud grandparents of our little Chloey.

            I am blessed with a job that I truly enjoy.  Every day the children have something clever or funny to say that makes me laugh.  I love the smiles and delight they show when they master a new skill.  When I'm not teaching, I enjoy spending time with family and friends.  I also love camping and boating.

 

 

Mrs. MaryAnn Menard (Preschool Aide) - I am the paraprofessional in Pre-K.  I've been with Mater Dolorosa School for the past eighteen years as a Jack-of-all-Trades.  Before coming to MD School I worked at Holyoke Community College as a secretary for over twelve years.  My husband, Lenny, and I have two children, a daughter and son, who are graduates of Mater Dolorosa School.  I also am a graduate of Mater Dolorosa School. I love working with children and I also love gardening, fishing and the ocean. 

 

Mrs. Mary Fedora (K-1) - I am currently the Kindergarten-1 teacher here at Mater Dolorosa School.  This is my third year teaching this grade level here.  I have previously taught Kindergarten at St. Stanislaus School in Chicopee.  Other grade levels I have taught have been third grade at Holy Cross School, Springfield and second grade in Springfield Public Schools.  My Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education/minor Liberal Studies, was received at Westfield State College.  Last Spring, I received my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Our Lady of the Elms College.  Many people know that I have four children who currently attend Mater Dolorosa School.  They are Dylan, Marina, Matthew, and Anastasia. Most people don’t know that I attended and graduated from Mater Dolorosa School myself, in 1982.  My husband, Chris, and I have been married for thirteen years, and currently reside in Chicopee.  My hobbies are reading and beach vacations with my family.  I also enjoy being on the other end of a chalkboard, and so I am currently taking an Intro to Polish Language and Culture class at HCC, with one of my sisters and a cousin.  It’s a lot of fun to learn new things!!!

 

 

Ms. Jessica Nehmer (K-2) - I am the Kindergarten-2 teacher. I graduated from Elms College in 2010 with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and Liberal Arts. I am planning to go back to school to receive my Masters Degree in School Counseling.  I began my first year of teaching here at Mater Dolorosa School in September of 2010. I am glad to be here again for the 2011-2012 school year. As a new and young teacher, I felt very welcomed by all staff and members of Mater Dolorosa School. 

    Outside of teaching Kindergarten, some of my hobbies include reading a good book, listening to music, rollerblading, and going to the beach.

 

 

Ms. Gayle Pula (1) - My name is Gayle Pula and I teach first grade at Mater Dolorosa School.  I have been working at Mater Dolorosa School since 1998 and have taught Kindergarten, First Grade and Second Grade while at Mater Dolorosa School.  I graduated from Elms College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and minored in Elementary Education and Library Science.  Also, I attended Holyoke Community College where I took courses in Early Childhood Education and Day Care Administration.  Before coming to Mater Dolorosa School, I worked with preschool aged children at the Massachusetts Migrant Education Program, Valley CAP Day Care Centers and Silver Spoon Day Care.

 

 

Mrs. Anna O'Rourke (Grade 2-1) - I have been teaching at Mater Dolorosa School since 2004.  I started my career at Mater Dolorosa teaching Third Grade. The following year I moved to the Second Grade.  I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Saint Mary's College (Notre Dame, Indiana) and a Masters in Moderate Disabilities from American International College (Springfield, Massachusetts).   When I graduated from college my first teaching job was a long term subbing position as a reading teacher in two schools in Enfield, Connecticut.  I am a certified elementary education teacher and moderate disabilities teacher in Massachusetts and Connecticut.  I love teaching and have enjoyed being part of the Mater Dolorosa community.  My husband I have a four year old daughter and an eighteen month old son who keeps us busy and smiling.  I love cooking, reading, and doing art projects.     

 

 

Mrs. Patricia Noga (2-2) - I graduated from Westfield State Collage.  I taught Kindergarten for ten years at Our Lady of Lourdes in Florida and first grade at the former Our Lady of Hope in Springfield for ten years. I have been at Mater Dolorosa for the last seven years.  My husband and I live in Agawam and have three great sons and three beautiful grandsons.  I love to exercise. After school I spin two days a week and do Zumba three days.  I enjoy camping and going out to eat.

 

 

 

Mrs. Shirley Lucas (3) - I am a graduate of Westfield State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. I have taught in several preschools, three years at Holy Trinity School Westfield and I have now been at Mater Dolorosa for the past ten years, where I have had some very rewarding experiences.  I am the wife of a terrific husband and the mother of two grown boys.  I spend my spare time reading, going to the beach, and working in my flower garden. 

 

 

 

Mrs. Mary Regan (4) - I consider myself an experienced teacher.  I have taught on Long Island, New York; Casper, Wyoming; Chicago and Bellwood, Illinois; Westfield, Massachusetts and finally Mater Dolorosa, Holyoke.  I attended Mundelein College (now part of Loyola University) in Chicago; a year in Cambell, CA with graduate courses at Mundelein, and Westfield State.  I am the mother of two and the grandmother of one.  My daughter will be getting married in November.  I love to read a good mystery.  I knit, sew, and cross stitch in my free time.  I would like to say that I garden but as of yet, nothing survives my efforts.

 

 

 

Patricia Deren (5-1) - I graduated from Westfield State College. After substitute teaching for awhile, I was a Title 1 Reading and Math Teacher in the Belchertown Schools for five years. I worked with third and fourth grade students.  I went to Mater Dolorosa School as a child. I have been teaching at Mater Dolorosa for sixteen years now.  Previously, I taught third grade, and this year I am teaching fifth grade. I have three children. My oldest daughter, Nicole, has a Master’s Degree from U Mass. My middle daughter, Kristen, just received her Master’s Degree from Harvard University in May and my son just graduated from Brown University's Alpert School of Medicine.

 

Mrs.Jody Anderson (5-2) - This is my third year of teaching, with great joy, at Mater Dolorosa  School.  I received my Master’s Degree in Education in 2008.  My husband, Glen, and I have been married for twenty-seven years and have two grown daughters.  We are active members of Wyben Church, an interdenominational church located in Westfield.  I enjoy spending time in my vegetable garden, playing guitar, biking, and reading.

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Cindy Gilardi (6-1) - For the past fifteen years I have been blessed to part of the Mater Dolorosa family and school faculty. It was at this time fifteen years ago that my family relocated to Massachusetts from New Jersey due to my husband's job. After graduating from Wagner College with a Bachelor's degree in Education, I got married and continued my education at St John's University. My husband and I have been married for thirty-three years and have two sons. Being a lifelong resident of New York City, my husband and I moved to New Jersey where we started our family. My thirty-plus years of teaching experience evolved from being a young teacher in New York City Public Schools, to teaching at parochial schools in New Jersey, and finally here I am at Mater Dolorosa School. I enjoy teaching Reading, and encouraging the student's creativity. Outside of the classroom I enjoy spending time with my family.  My continual objective as a teacher is to help the children place their trust in the love of God as they grow spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually.

 

Mrs. Nancy Lacey (6-2) – I am a graduate of Assumption College in Worcester, MA.  I reside with my husband, two children, and my dog and a cat. In addition to spending time with my family and friends, I enjoy gardening, cooking and reading. 

 

Mrs. Colleen Forest (Grade 7 and Junior High Math) - For the past ten years I have had the privilege of being a teacher here at Mater Dolorosa School.  Currently, I am a Seventh Grade homeroom teacher, middle school Math teacher, and Eighth Grade Science teacher.  I grew up here in Western Massachusetts and attended Elms College.  I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education specializing in Math.  I taught in the Agawam Public School System for a couple of years before getting an accounting job at a company in Connecticut where I worked for nine years.  During that time I met my husband, where we were married at Mater Dolorosa Church and then begun our family.  After having our first child I decided to return to my dream job of being a teacher.  Since returning to teaching, I have continued my education with Elms College.  My husband and I have been married for eleven years and we have three children: two daughters and a son.  All of our children have attended Mater Dolorosa School since their preschool years.  They really enjoy attending Mater Dolorosa School because of the warm, family environment. I really enjoy teaching Math and Science and encourage my students to be the best they can be.  Outside of teaching in my classroom I enjoy coaching soccer and bicycling.  My favorite thing in life is to spend as much time with my family and visit our favorite vacation spot, Cape Cod.  

  

Mrs. Diane Storozuk (8) - After graduating from Westfield State College I started my teaching career at West Springfield High School and married my high school sweetheart. I chose to take time off from teaching to stay at home with my children until they were in school. I returned to teaching and it was then that I started teaching Eighth Grade at Mater Dolorosa School.  My children are both married and in the medical field. My son is a doctor and my daughter is an RN. I have four grandchildren who are all students. My husband and I enjoy spending time with our family and we look forward to our annual family vacations! I especially enjoy reading and sharing books with my family. My husband and I attend Broadway shows and concerts at Tanglewood whenever possible. However, our greatest joy is simply being with and enjoying our family.

 

 

 

Mrs. Karen Godbout (Technology) - I am in my tenth year of teaching Computer Classes to the children in our school, as well as, maintaining the school’s technology and website.  My family and friends consider me to be a true techie.  Give me a gadget and I can usually figure it out.  Prior to teaching I was an office manager for twenty years. During that time, I received extensive training in Microsoft Office, IT maintenance.  I am able to self train myself on many of today's programs and encourage students to "try to figure it out".

    I have been married to my husband Mario for twenty-six years and we have three sons who all have attended Mater Dolorosa School.  Our youngest son is in the seventh grade here at Mater Dolorosa School and our two grown sons are in the workforce. We have a two year old dog, Gigi, who is truly the spoiled "girl" of the family.   I love sports; more watching than playing these days!   Besides watching my sons in their sports through the years, my hobbies are reading, spending summer days on our boat, vacations in Rhode Island, and traveling whenever I can. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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