Hi all! I am Ms. Hernandez, I am 5th and 6th grade's student support teacher. This will be my 4th year at OSM. You can find me on the second floor, or reach me via email anytime! I was born and raised in Chicago, and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago. In my free time I am running around with my 5 and 4 year old. I love to rewatch my favorite shows, read memoirs, and write. I have always loved learning and I hope to help students build their confidence, advocate for themselves and see the importance of writing and mathematics in everyday life. Have a great 2026-2027 school year!

Hello, my name is Erin Martin. This is my 8th year at Old Saint Mary’s. I worked as a 2nd grade teacher here in the Angel and Saint rooms for the past 5 years. I am very excited about my new role in 7th & 8th Student Support. 

I grew up in Berkeley, Illinois and attended Southern Illinois University and Norwich University. I worked in the entertainment industry for 18 years in Los Angeles and New York. I taught English as a Foreign Language, grades 1-11 in Romankivtsi, Ukraine as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer and 3rd grade for 5 years in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Hello!  My name is Sheila McCarthy (Mrs. McCarthy), and I am an IDEA teacher providing supplemental support for students in Pre-K through fifth grade.  This is my first year at OSM, and I am very excited to be a part of the OSM community.  I was previously a full-time classroom teacher teaching first, third, and sixth grades and Title I. In addition to teaching, I worked for several years in the Illinois Early Intervention Program as a Developmental Therapist. I retired in 2022 after teaching full-time for twenty-five + years.  Outside of school hours, I enjoy reading, walking, bike-riding, yoga, and spending time with my family and friends.  

Hello! My name is Araceli Perez, and this will be my seventh year teaching and first year at OSM. I am one of the IDEA teachers that works to support our students to meet their goals inside and outside of the classroom. 

I was born and raised in Chicago and later attended the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign where I obtained my degree in Education with a minor in Spanish. After graduating I worked as a CPS teacher. I am looking forward to a year full of growth and learning with our middle schoolers!

My name is Julia Dugan, and I am thrilled to be starting my 6th year of teaching at OSM! As the high school admissions guide, I oversee the transition from middle school to high school, from navigating test prep and admissions testing to organizing applications and more. You can contact me with any of your high school questions. While serving as the high school guide, I also specialize in phonics instruction for our 3rd graders here at OSM. I teach all three homerooms Fundations with a passion for the science of reading approach. A little about me: I’m originally from Memphis, Tennessee, where I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Memphis. Outside the classroom, you can usually find me playing beach volleyball, catching a good movie, hosting game nights, or spending quality time with loved ones.