Ms. Margo Huber 

Role: 

Honors and AP Physics teacher 

Favorite TV show?

“I Think You Should Leave” and “America’s Next Top Model.” 

If you had to pick a last meal what would it be?

Cajun Voodoo Pasta. 

A cool thing you did over the summer? 

I went to two AP Summer Institutes, to learn how to teach AP science… Other than that, I got a new dog, named Millie.

What are you most excited about at St. Mary’s?

Learning the culture of the school and hopefully getting the students excited about the labs that we do.

Ms. Rachel Markovitz

Role: 

French teacher

Favorite TV show?

“West Wing”

If you had to pick a last meal what would it be?

Really good Neapolitan pizza.

A cool thing you did over the summer? 

I got to go to Philadelphia and then Ireland. 

What are you most excited about at St. Mary’s?

Getting to know my students, speaking French with them, and teaching them French.

Ms. Emily Metz 

Role: 

Ninth-grade history teacher 

Favorite TV show?

I don’t watch TV… I read books. My favorite book is the ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ by Douglas Adams.

If you had to pick a last meal what would it be?

Sushi, specifically from a now-closed restaurant in the town where I went to college.

A cool thing you did over the summer? 

I read most of my “to read list.”

What are you most excited about at St. Mary’s?

I’m most excited about getting to teach an entire grade level. Getting to know all of the girls, then I’ll know everyone, and then as [they become] sophomores, juniors and seniors then I will eventually [get to watch them all grow].

Mrs. Amy Poag

Role: 

Director of Counseling 

Favorite TV show?

I really like the “Today Show.”

If you had to pick a last meal what would it be?

Sushi or lox on an everything bagel 

A cool thing you did over the summer? 

With one of my children, my middle daughter, we went to Costa Rica and worked at an Animal Rescue Center. I got to see baby sloths learning how to climb trees.

What are you most excited about at St. Mary’s?

I really am excited about being a part of a community of such incredible people. Already, I love it.

Ms. Taylor Ragan (‘07)

Role: 

Performing arts teacher 

Favorite TV show?

“The Office” or “The Golden Girls”

If you had to pick a last meal what would it be?

Anything from New Orleans. I love New Orleans-style food. 

A cool thing you did over the summer? 

I got married and went on my honeymoon for three weeks in Italy. Then I moved cross-country and bought a house. So a lot of stuff happened this summer.

What are you most excited about at St. Mary’s?

I’m excited to just meet all the girls, and make relationships because I think that is what the school is all about.

Dr. Margaret Robertson (Doc Rob)

Role: 

Ninth-grade English teacher, Tatler adviser

What is your favorite TV show?

I am loving “Reservation Dogs.”

If you had to pick a last meal what would it be?

I think I gotta go with an Indian feast, like all of the Indian food all at once.

A cool thing you did over the summer? 

I put my two-year-old into the swimming pool for the first time. She is a fan. [I] went to California to visit family, went to the beach, and prepared for [coming to St. Mary’s], which was also pretty cool.

What are you most excited about at St. Mary’s?

I’m really excited about having a new and different curriculum… new [in the sense] that I have never taught the vast majority of this. I’m really eager to just have everything be new. 

Other comments?

I’m really excited to get to start with [the class of ‘26] and get to watch them grow, change, and be together for the next four years. That’s a privilege, to get to watch people grow up.  

Mrs. Jana Smigieliski 

Role: 

Ninth-grade Mind and Body Wellness teacher 

Favorite TV show?

“The Office”, a good go-to. 

If you had to pick a last meal what would it be?

Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit. Favorite thing in the whole world.

A cool thing you did over the summer? 

I really didn’t do much over the summer. I had a very relaxing summer,  preparing for a baby. 

What are you most excited about at St. Mary’s? 

I’m excited about the relationships. It seems a lot more relational here being all girls, like a sisterhood… Another thing I look forward to are all of the traditions here.

Mr. Whet Smith 

Role: 

World history and AP Government teacher 

Favorite TV show?

“Breaking Bad”, “Mad Men” and “The Americans.” 

If you had to pick a last meal what would it be?

It would be chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes.

A cool thing you did over the summer? 

I moved …, went to a workshop in Athens, Georgia…and I took a week to vacation in Charleston and Savannah… and then I coached one of my old mock [trial] students from Las Vegas.” 

What are you most excited about at St. Mary’s?

I’m excited to be able to teach government and comparative government. I have wanted to teach that basically since I got into education… More generally, I’m excited about all the people here.

Mr. Mark Van Voorst 

Role: 

Algebra and AP Statistics Teacher 

Favorite TV show?

I don’t have a favorite TV show, but I have favorite shows that I have streamed. I enjoyed watching “Outlander”, “1883”, “Yellowstone”, “Virgin River”, and “Friday Night Lights.”

If you had to pick a last meal what would it be?

I would have a sampler plate, with ribs from the Rendezvous, a California roll, baked potato with all sides, and steamed broccoli with cheese. 

A cool thing you did over the summer? 

I drove from Arizona to Mississippi twice with moving vans.

What are you most excited about at St. Mary’s?

I’m excited about being involved in many different areas. I would love to coach. I would love to be a class or club sponsor. Just going to events, and watching everyone perform athletically or [in] extracurricular [activities]. I teach AP Statistics, so I would like for everyone to understand the role that statistics plays in their lives and careers.