“Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness.“ Mother Teresa.
Our Lady of Mercy Academy is a successful, Christ-centered, Middle States accredited, two-time Blue Ribbon School. Our success is attributed to dedicated teachers, staff, students, and the unending support from our parents. I believe it takes a village, where everyone works together to improve our children. At Our Lady of Mercy, we aim to develop a safe, secure, and nurturing environment as we focus on excellence in both academics and faith formation. We focus on the whole child: spiritually, morally, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. Each component is crucial to the success of developing confident life-long learners.
I am honored to be the principal of this most dynamic school. As a mother of 16-year-old twins, I have always valued Catholic education and not only dedicate my own time but also have been blessed to give my children the gift of Catholic education since Kindergarten. My time here at Our Lady of Mercy began in July 2020. Before being appointed, I was the principal at Saint Paul School, Valley Cottage, New York for five years. I am a graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas College and hold a dual certificate in special education and elementary education.
Additionally, I earned a master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Fordham University. My second master's is in Educational Leadership from Saint Thomas Aquinas College. I have recently begun work on my doctorate degree in Leadership at Fordham University.
Our Lady of Mercy is my home away from home. Starting and ending each day in prayer with the children and faculty is the highlight of my day. I am truly blessed to be part of this community, and I wholeheartedly believe that each child views the world through a different prism making them unique and special in their own way.
Please know that I value your ideas and feedback, and my door is always open. My goal is to partner with you on this very important educational journey.
May the Peace of Christ be with you,
Ms. Michelle Powrie