English Department
ENGLISH |
Name |
Email |
Telephone Number |
Fr. Michael Allison |
|
(814) 824-2053 |
Margaret Burchard |
|
(814) 824-2210 |
Paul Cancilla |
|
(814) 824-2210 |
Michael Miele |
|
(814) 824-2063 |
Kathleen Pirrello
Department Chair |
|
(814) 824-2210 |
Bridget Whalen |
|
(814) 824-2210 |
Nicole Wojciechowski |
|
(814) 824-2210 |

Kathy Pirrello,
English Department Chair
26 years teaching experience –
26 years at MPS
|
- Studied at Yad Vashem, Israel’s International School of Holocaust Studies, and traveled throughout the state of Israel
- Nominated to receive the Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award
- Spent a summer studying in China with the University of Pittsburgh
- Participated in the University of Colorado’s summer institute on Sino-Japanese relations and participated in the NCTA Japan Study Tour
- Received the master’s graduate student of excellence award from Siegal College
- Traveled extensively throughout Europe and led numerous student-focused tours abroad
- Initiated the MPS Holocaust class…Every year students visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC and tour the Capitol
- Teacher of the Year award recipient
- MA in Judaic Studies at Siegal College/2010 + 27 credits in various subjects
- Teach at Jefferson Lecture Series; work for United States Holocaust Memorial; lecture at Erie County Prison for 12 years-once a month
Teaching Assignment: Junior/Senior Humanities-IB and The Holocaust
|
| |
|

Fr. Michael Allison,
16 years teaching experience –
11 years at MPS
|
- BA, English, Gannon, 1981
- MA, magna cum laude, ST. Vincent DePaul Seminary, Florida, 1990
- M.Div., magna cum laude, St. Vincent DePaul Seminary, Florida
- M.Ed., Gannon University, Curriculum and Instruction, 2004
- Ordained: May 10, 1991, Cathedral Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
- 1992 – 1996 (all of this is concurrent)
- Spiritual Moderator, Office of Youth and Young Adult Catholics, Diocese of Palm Beach
- (until 1994) Priest’s Council, Diocese of Palm Beach
- Chaplain, Florida Atlantic University
- Chaplain, Palm Beach Atlantic College
- Chair, Department of Religious Studies, Cardinal Newman High School, West Palm Beach, FL
- Chaplain, Cardinal Newman High School, West Palm Beach (1993 – 1997)
- Returned home to Erie in August 1997
- 1997 – 1999: Campus Minister and Chaplain, Behrend College
- 1999 – present: Chaplain, English and Theology, MPS
- 2007 (May) Pastor, St. Mark’s, Lawrence Park
- 2005 – present: Adjunct Instructor, Mercyhurst College, Department of Religious Studies
- Currently on Priest’s Council, Diocese of Erie; Chair, Clergy Convocation Committee, Diocese of Erie
- Awards: Archbishop Gannon Medal of Distinction, Gannon University, 2000.
- Memberships:
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
- Ntional Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
- American Academy of Religion (AAR)
- Southern Poverty Law Center
Teaching Assignment: Junior English-CP, The Beat, the Beatles and Woodstock-CP, Literature of the 1950's, The Sixties: "Years of Hope, Days of Rage", and 1960 |
| |
|

Margaret Burchard ,
28 years teaching experience –
16 years at MPS
|
- B.S. Secondary Education-Edinboro University 1975
- Pennsylvania Instructional II certificate in English
- Member: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
- Homeroom coordinator: 16 years
- Student mentor
- Open House Student Tour Guide Coordinator 1999
- MPS Faculty Rep for Mercy Conference Miseracordia College June 2000
- Teacher chaperone and fundraiser for English Dept Greece trip March 2008
Teaching Assignment: Freshman English-MPS Pre IB/H and Freshman English-CP
|
| |
|

Paul Cancilla,
21 years teaching experience –
13 years at MPS
|
- Master’s degree in English
- IB Theory of Knowledge instructor
- IB Extended Essay supervisor
- Former adjunct instructor, Gannon University
- Past fellow, NWPA Summer Writing Institute
- Shorelines advisor
- University of Chicago Outstanding Teacher Award 2008
Teaching Assignment: Theory of Knowledge-IB, Senior English-CP,
and Sophomore English-CP |
| |
|

Michael Miele,
Director of Instrumental Music
3 years teaching experience –
3 years at MPS
|
- 2003 MPS Graduate
- Recipient of the 2003 MPS Award
- 2003 Recipient of President’s Award for Excellence in the Creative Arts at Mercyhurst Prep
- 2007 Recipient of President’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities at Mercyhurst College
- Conductor, Trombonist, and Pianist at Erie Playhouse since 2001
- Music Director/Conductor for Diocese of Erie All School Summer Musical since 2004
- Rehearsal Pianist and Assistant Choir Director for Erie Opera Theatre since 2005
- 2009 Recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Service Award
- Member of MENC: The National Association for Music Education
- Member of PMEA: The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association
- Substitute Organist/Pianist for various local churches
- Member of the MPS Middle States Planning Team
- Co-authored MPS Profile of a Graduate
- Helped create Profile of a Graduate webpage
- Created MPS Student Assistance Program Website
Teaching Assignment: Freshman Communications and SAT Preparation
|
| |
|

Bridget Whalen,
27 years teaching experience –
27 years at MPS
|
- BA Communications/English Gannon University
- English Education Certification-Mercyhurst College
- Advisor to Chrysalis-School’s Literary and Art Magazine
- Founder and Coordinator of school’s guitar folk group
- Present Girls Golf coach
- Former Assistant Girls Soccer Coach
- Former Varsity Head Softball Coach
- Cooperating teacher to several student teachers
- Travelled to England, Ireland , Wales, and New England with students
- Member of several Middle States Evaluation teams in Pa and NY state
- Board member for Hospice of Greater Erie
- Member and past champion of Erie District Women’s Golf Assoc
- Memberships to NWPCTE, NEA and NCEA
Teaching Assignment: Senior English-CP, Sophomore English-MPS PreIB/H,
and Freshman Communications |
| |
|

Nicole Wojciechowski,
9 years teaching experience –
9 years at MPS
|
- Awarded WQLN’s student-nominated “Great Teacher Contest”
- Moderator for the MPS Model United Nations delegation, which has earned nearly $30,000 in college scholarships within the last four years
- Cooperating teacher and mentor to student educators
- Has taught SAT essay preparation courses at Gannon University
- Has travelled throughout Europe and also assisted in coordinating a student trip to Greece during the spring of 2008, sponsored by the English Department
- Director for the winter drama at MPS for three years
- Former President of the Board of the Roadhouse Theater for Contemporary Art
- Involved in local theatrical productions, but also spent several years working as a professional actor on the stage and in commercials (voice)
- Former news anchor/morning show co-host for WESB Newsradio in Bradford, PA
Teaching Assignment: Senior English-H and Junior English-H |
ENGLISH | MATHEMATICS | PE/HEALTH | PERFORMING ARTS | SCIENCE | SOCIAL STUDIES
TECHNOLOGY | THEOLOGY | VISUAL ARTS | WORLD LANGUAGES
ABOUT US | MISSION STATEMENT | BELIEF STATEMENT | HISTORY | ADMINISTRATION | GUIDANCE
|

|