Mrs. Marie Weber is the Director of schools for St. Mark Christian Academy and St. Mary’s Child Development Center. She believes in the importance of excellent early childhood development and high quality Christian education. Her background, leadership skills, and faith are assets to our growing schools and their families.

Mrs. Weber is “Highly Qualified” to teach in the K- 5 classroom as well as in the middle school and high school English classrooms.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from Michigan State University. Her Elementary Education Certificate was earned through Indiana University at Indianapolis. Before beginning her tenure with our schools, Mrs. Weber had experience teaching for four years in the public school setting, and ten years of teaching and directing preschool and pre-kindergarten. In raising her two children, she had a plethora of volunteer experiences including coaching soccer and kickball, and teaching art , instrumental music and Vacation Bible School. Mrs. Weber has integrated her varied background into the design and implementation of our schools.

The philosophy of education that Mrs. Weber promotes is that all children are capable of learning and excelling. With the guidance of caring teachers, each child can discover their God given talents and become lifelong learners. This can be best accomplished in a Christian setting where the value of each child of God is treasured, protected and enriched.The greatest joy in Mrs. Weber’s life and her favorite pass time is spending time with her husband, Carl and her two grown children Jennifer and Paul. She also enjoys reading, running, biking, gardening and simply being outdoors.<Top>

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Mrs. Nagwa Essak is the Assistant Director of both St. Mary Child Development Center and St. Mark Christian Academy.  She was instrumental in the establishment of the Center and the Academy.  She is an active board member. 

Mrs. Essak received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a Teaching Certificate from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Campus.  She is a current member of the National Association for the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC).  She was recognized in the Cambridge Who’s Who Among Executive Professionals and Entrepreneurs (2007-2009).  She has earned an excess of two hundred hours training in Early Childhood Education.  She participated in the Annual Orthodox School Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Among her expertise she brings to our schools is a demonstration of 35 years of experience with children from ages 3-25 in various settings.  This includes formal classroom settings and extra curricular activates.  She has taught both Preschool and Prekindergarten at St. Mary’s and has various experiences in public Elementary schools. She has headed a Vacation Bible School program for 20 years as well as directed the annual St. Mark Kids Camp for the past 15 years.

Her philosophy of education for young and older children is simple:  be enthusiastic and pass on the love of learning; it will last a life long time with students.  Her approach to discipline is also simple:  be supportive and listen to each child before redirecting and passing on positive values and morals.  This elevates the self concept of each student to promote a positive learning experience.  Mrs. Essak enjoys crafts, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Nagwa Essak appreciates parent’s ability to entrust their most precious belongings, their children, to her care. <Top>

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Mrs.Julie McIntosh

Education:Master’s Of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education  (ZA Endorsement), Oakland University, May 2007 (3.9 GPA),  Member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Member of High Scope, MLPP Training.

Community Service: Destination Imagination-Coach/Team Manager. Team went to Regional, State and Global competition, Girl Scouts, Sunday School, and Vacation Bible school.

Professional Experience: After finishing her student teaching in 1990, Mrs. McIntosh was approached for several full time elementary teaching positions. At that time her strong desire to be a full time/stay at home Mom to her two daughters kept her out of the classroom in a professional capacity. She does not regret a minute of the thirteen plus years experience she gained as a full time mother and active volunteer in school leadership and other community type service positions. Six years since her return to the classroom, she served two years as an early childhood director/lead teacher in the Birmingham Public Schools. She also substitute taught Kindergarten through eighth grade. At St. Mark Christian Academy Mrs. McIntosh taught 2nd grade for the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 school years. She has also tutored children in reading. The 2009/2010 school year marks her 6th year back in the classroom. Mrs. McIntosh is delighted to be teaching kindergarten!

Mrs. McIntosh’s Teaching Philosophy
Mrs. McIntosh believes that an effective teacher is an eager and able lifelong learner.  In addition, an effective teacher focuses on creating rewarding student relationships by respecting students as individuals, and displaying enthusiasm for their accomplishments. She also believes that students will often remember how a teacher made them feel about themselves, long after they've forgotten whatever else that teacher may have taught them. In line with this, a student's and a teacher's perspective regarding learning should not be restricted to the four walls of the classroom. The family and the community play a vital role in the extension of the learning experience.
Mrs. McIntosh has an unshakable belief in the potential of our children and the important role that education must continue to play in their positive development. She is strongly in favor of Christian education, and feels that being able to teach and discuss the Christian faith with her students is most positive indeed!

Hobbies: Mrs. McIntosh enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling with her family. Walking her Yellow Labrador, Tommy, and seeing friends are also at the top of the list. <Top>

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Mrs. Susan McClelland is the first and second grade teacher at St. Mark Christian Academy.  Originally from northern Illinois, Mrs. McClelland received a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.  After a career in sales and purchasing, she decided her dream was to be an elementary teacher.  In May 2005, Susan graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan.  She is currently working toward her Masters of Education in Educational Studies with an International Baccalaureate certification at Oakland University.

Although she is a teacher by day, she is also a mom and wife.  She and her husband, John, have two high school aged children, Andrew and Colleen.  In addition to her duties at home, Susan has participated in many community activities including her children's Parent Teacher Organization (President, Secretary,  and Chairperson for many events); the Avondale Foundation – a non-profit organization which generates and distributes financial and other resources for education and related enrichment projects (Secretary, Director); Third grade Sunday school teacher at First United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Michigan; Camp Invention (Leader); Vacation Bible School (Leader); American Red Cross; Girl Scouts; Junior Achievement and United Way.  Mrs. McClelland belongs to several professional associations including: Michigan Reading Association, Detroit Area Council of Teachers in Mathematics, and Michigan Science Teachers Association.

Mrs. McClelland's philosophy of education is to have high expectations for her students both academically and morally.  Students know they should be proud of their work and behavior because she will accept nothing less than their personal best.   Every child has certain strengths which should be celebrated and shared throughout the classroom.  Students have opportunities for hands-on learning about subjects that are relevant to them providing for greater retention and interest.  This includes the students' religious study as well.  A Christian school is not just where Christ is present, but where Christ is front stage and center.  Susan feels Kenneth Gangel said it best: "The purpose of Christian schools is to present to our children, as clearly as possible, the truth about God, about life, about our world and everything in it, and to present the Word of God as the authoritative source upon which to build a life that has purpose and meaning.”
Mrs. McClelland feels blessed to have a job that she loves! <Top>

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Mrs. Ruth Smigielski has been teaching for 15 years.  She has taught preschool through sixth grade in both private and public schools.  Ruth completed her Master’s of Science in Curriculum and instruction through Concordia University.  She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Oakland University, where she graduated summa cum laude and with departmental honors.  In addition to a teaching degree, Ruth also has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Wayne State University.  Teaching is vital to Ruth because it is new and fresh every day and children are so eager and enthusiastic to learn.  She loves teaching in a private school which allows her to share God’s love and blessings with children.  Ruth is a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Troy and over the years she has taught Sunday School and VBS.  She also volunteers in other children’s ministry programs at her church.  On a personal note, Ruth is married to Frank and they have two children Erin and Adam.  Ruth’s favorite activities include spending time with her family, reading and traveling. <Top>