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English Department

ENGLISH
Name
Email
Telephone Number
Margaret Burchard
(814) 824-2210
Jessica Jelinek
(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
28 years teaching experience –
28 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
  • Received Teacher of the Year Award
  • Will earn a Master’s in Judaic Studies at Siegal College in 2012
  • Teaches at the Jefferson Lecture Series
  • Received a research appointment at the USHMM to study the ITS files
  • Lectured at Erie County Prison for 12 years-once a month
  • Teaches SAT Essay Preparation at Gannon University

Teaching Assignment: Junior/Senior Humanities-IB, and The Holocaust

   


Margaret Burchard ,

30 years teaching experience –
17 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: 17 years
  • Student mentor
  • Recipient of the MPS Service Award-May 2010
  • Served on the Middle States Study Skills committee 2009-1010
  • Chaperone for annual Washington, D.C. trip: October 2008 and October 2010
  • Teacher of two sections of ELL (English Language Learners) 2011-2012 academic year
  • 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, Freshman English-CP,
and ELL (English Language Learners)

   


Jessica Jelinek ,
3 years teaching experience –
3 years at MPS

  • American Literature Teacher and British Literature Teacher
  • 2005 MPS Alum
  • 2009 Clarion University Alum with a B.S. in Secondary Education with a
    concentration in English
  • Beginning the Master’s of the Arts in English Program at Gannon
    University in January of 2012
  • A member of Delta Phi Epsilon from 2006-Present; working with three
    philanthropies: Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Cystic Fibrosis
    Foundation, and Delta Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation
  • Chaperone for the MPS Baltimore Mission Trip 2010- Present
  • Assistant Coordinator for the Thanksgiving Day Dinner collaboration
    between MPS and Calamari’s 2010-Present
  • Current moderator for the student generated Chrysalis magazine 2011
  • Moderator for the Baking Club at MPS 2010-Present

 

Teaching Assignment: Junior English-CP, and Sophomore English-CP

 

   

Michael Miele,
Director of Instrumental Music
5 years teaching experience –
5 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
  • Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Mercyhurst College 2007
  • 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 from 2004-2010
  • Rehearsal Pianist and Assistant Choir Director for Erie Opera Theatre from 2005-2011
  • Assistant Conductor of the Gannon University Concert Band from 2010-2011
  • 2009 Recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Service Award
  • Member of NAfME: 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

 

   


Bridget Whalen,

29 years teaching experience –
29 years at MPS

  • BA Communications/English  Gannon University
  • English Education Certification-Mercyhurst College
  • Advisor to “Lead and Seed” (Drug and Alcohol Teen Prevention Program)
  • 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
  • Traveled to England, Ireland , Wales, and New England with students
  • Member of several Middle States Evaluation teams in Pa and NY state
  • Former advisor to Chrysalis-School’s Literary and Art Magazine
  • Board member for  Hospice of Greater Erie
  • Member and past champion of Erie District Women’s Golf Association
  • Memberships to NWPCTE, NEA and NCEA

Teaching Assignment: Senior English-CP, Sophomore English-MPS PreIB/H, and Freshman Communications

   


Nicole Wojciechowski,

10 years teaching experience –
10 years at MPS

  • 2011 recipient of the Golden Apple Award
  • 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


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