Our theme for the 2020-21 school year is: GO THE DISTANCE. Our faculty will be with our children every day and every step of the way to complete the ultra-marathon this year.

We have a highly qualified, diverse and dynamic faculty, united by a shared commitment to advancing our SMMS mission. In the spirit of our Patroness, who was Jesus's best friend, the first witness of the Resurrection and the Apostle to the Apostles, each faculty member strives to serve as more than an educator, aiming to be a witness. The following is an excerpt from the Holy See's Teaching on Catholic Schools:

"More than a master who teaches, a Catholic educator is a person who gives testimony by his or her life. Shortly after his election, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the kind of witness required of all teachers of the faith, including those in Catholic schools:

The central figure in the work of educating . . . is specifically the form of witness. . . . The witness never refers to himself but to something, or rather, to Someone greater than he, whom he has encountered and whose dependable goodness he has sampled. Thus, every educator and witness finds an unequaled model in Jesus Christ, the Father's great witness [cf. John 8:28]."

More than do this on an individual level, the SMMS Team is committed to collective witness of our mission to empower our students and our community to witness the Gospel and grow in excellence through faith, academics and service.

The ideal end results for our students: College & Heaven!

Ms. Arias has a degree from the Instituto Teresa de Arila in Mexico City and has taught for over two decades.

Email: adriana.arias@stmmsa.org

Ms. Nunez has a BA from Texas A&M San Antonio, and has eight years of teaching experience.

Email: anna.nunez@stmmsa.org

Ms. Victoria has nearly two decades of teaching experience, and earned her BA from Universidad Cristobal Colon in Veracruz, Mexico.

Email: alicia.victoria@stmmsa.org

Ms. Castello has been teaching since 2004, and attended Universidad del Pedregal in Mexico City.

Email: bertha.castello@stmmsa.org

Ms. Torres earned her degree from Escuela Normal de Educadoras "Laura Zapata" Licenciatura en Educación. She has been working in dual language education for over 25 years.

Email: Carolina.torres@stmmsa.org

Ms. Leyton has been teaching since 2014, and graduated with a BA from Texas A&M San Antonio.

Email: alma.leyton@stmmsa.org

Mrs. Terry has a BS in Education from Texas State University. She was the Teacher of the Year three times, once in Austin ISD, once in SAISD and once in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. She has over two decades of teaching experience.

Email: denise.terry@stmmsa.org

Ms. Binversie has been teaching since 2013, and earned her BA from the University of Cuauhmetoc.

Email: jessica.brinversie@stmmsa.org

Ms. Martinez has taught for over a decade, and earned her BA from UTSA.

Email: cynthia.martinez@stmmsa.org

Ms. Camelo has taught since 2010, and has a BA from La Universidad Santo Tomas De Aquino.

Email: maria.camelo@stmmsa.org

Ms. Rodriguez earned a BA from Texas A&M - San Antonio and an MA from UTSA in Education. She has been teaching since 2015.

Email: April.rodriguez@stmmsa.org

Ms. Siller earned her BA from the University of Texas Pan America. She has been teaching since 2006.

Email: Maria.siller@stmmsa.org

Ms. Garcia graduated magna cum laude from UTSA, and has been teaching since 2013.

Email: victoria.garcia@stmmsa.org

Mrs. Guajardo graduated from Universidad Autonoma De Nuevo Leon in 1986, and has a Master's in Bilingual Education from Texas A&M - San Antonio. She has been teaching for over a decade.

Email: laura.guajardo@stmmsa.org

Ms. Getty has a BA from Texas State University, and has been teaching for a decade.

Email: kristina.getty@stmmsa.org

Ms. Moore earned her BA from Texas A&M University - San Antonio, and has been teaching for over a decade.

Email: Michelle.moore@stmmsa.org

Ms. Galvan graduated from UTSA, and has been teaching since 2000.

Email: brenda.galvan@stmmsa.org

Ms. Escobedo has a BA from Corllins College, and has been a teacher since 1999.

Email: cristina.escobedo@stmmsa.org

Ms. Inco has a BS from Seton Hall University, and has a Master's in Reading from Our Lady of the Lake University. Ms. Inco has been teaching since 1988.

Email: mary.inco@stmmsa.org

Ms. Garza has over a decade of experience in youth ministry, earned Theology of the Body Certification from the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and enters her fifth year on staff at SMMS.

Ms. Cozzi joins SMMS as a University of Notre Dame ACE teacher. She graduated from Notre Dame as a Biology Major, with a Bachelor of Science, and is pursuing her Master's in Education as an ACEr.

Email: revell.cozzi@stmmsa.org

Mr. Terry has a BA in Psychology from Texas State, and has been in education for over a decade. In that time, he was selected as Teacher of the Year in Austin ISD, as well as Special Educator of the Year, also in Austin ISD.

Email: tom.terry@stmmsa.org

Our counselor is Ms. Laura Palencia. Ms. Palencia has a Master of Science in Psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University. She has over 15 years of experience as a Counselor, and is a three-time recipient of the Texas Counseling Association's C.R.E.S.T. Award (Counselors Reinforcing Excellence in Students in Texas). Perhaps most importantly, she attended St. Mary Magdalen School as a child!

laura.palencia@stmmsa.org

Ms. Arismendez has an MA in Educational Leadership from UTSA, and a BA from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. She has worked in myriad grade levels for Catholic Schools, public schools and charter schools.

Email: Sylvia.arismendez@stmmsa.org

Sister Esi is a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit Congregation, and has several decades of teaching experience in Mexico and the United States.

Dr. Garcia Alvarado works with our faculty to ensure excellence in dual language curriculum and instruction. Working with UTSA and Boston College, Dr. Garcia Alvarado observes classrooms, coaches teachers and facilitates workshops for dual language staff.

Dr. Garcia Alvarado earned her PhD in Education from UTSA, her MA in Educational Leadership and her BA Education from the University of Texas Permian Basin. She has served as a bilingual teacher and Principal for nearly two decades.

This will be Ms. Calderon's sixth year at SMMS.

Email: teresa.calderon@stmmsa.org

Ms. Stamenov attended the University of Texas A&M Kingsville, and enters her second year as the Fine Arts teacher at SMMS.

Email: crystal.stamenov@stmmsa.org

Ms. Zentella has decades of experience in cultural pedagogy and music. She is the founding member of the musical group, Los Inocentes.

Email: binisa.zentella@stmmsa.org

Mrs. Guajardo has been a proud member of the SMMS community since 1978.

Email: roberta.guajardo@stmmsa.org

Ms. Juarez attended UIW, and enters her fifth year at SMMS.

Ms. Arias is a registered nurse with over 5 years pediatric experience.

Email: Monica.arias@stmmsa.org

Ms. Fresquez has a degree Accounting and Economics for Our Lady of the Lake University. She is a Catholic school product, and enters her second year with SMMS.

Mr. Stamenov attended St. Mary's University, and has been involved with SMMS Athletics for several years.

Email: davor.stamenov.ad@stmmsa.org

Mr. Daily has a BA from Boston College, an MA in International Political Science from Marquette University, an MA in Education from Mount Mary University, and a JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He completed the Emmaus Series for Catholic School Leaders at Boston College in the spring of 2016. He has been an educator since 2001, and enters his ninth year at SMMS.

Email: william.daily@stmmsa.org