MIDDLE SCHOOL
SOCIAL STUDIES
Cameron Carpenter
He/Him/His
Howdy, OSM! My name is Mr. Carpenter, and I am the middle school social studies teacher! This year will mark my third year here, at Old St. Mary's, and I am excited to work with each and every student that enters my room. For some background on me, I am from South Bend, Indiana, just two hours east of Chicago. I graduated with my undergraduate degree from Purdue University in 2021, and I graduated with my masters in education in history from DePaul University in 2024. I also have two cats that the students will be hearing many stories about! Anyone and everyone, feel free to stop by room 308 to say hello! Let's have an amazing year together!
ELA LAB & 6th MATH
Samantha Douse
She/Her/Hers
Hey peeps!!! I am Samantha Douse, she/her/hers. I love working with your middle schooler to prepare them for high school while here at Old St Mary's. I attended St. Ignatius College Prep before heading to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I have three children who all attend OSM as well. I love creativity, culture, the outdoors, and building strong relationships. Let's chat anytime!
SCIENCE
Marilynn Kennedy
She/Her/Hers
My name is Marilynn Kennedy. I taught science for thirteen years at OSM until I retired in June of 2024.
Presently, I am a MIddle School substitute for 6th, 7th and 8th grade science.
7th & 8th ELA
Sara Pinchback
She/Her/Hers
Hi! My name is Sara Pinchback and this is my first year teaching at OSM, I started substitute teaching at OSM in the 2019-2020 school year. Prior to that I taught middle and high school from 2007-2016. I have been a member of the OSM community since my children joined in 2018 and think it is a very special place. This year I will be working with the 6th graders in ELA and the 7th Graders in Writing. I grew up in Buffalo, NY and am a diehard Buffalo Bills fan. I graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in Business Management and earned my masters degree from CUNY Hunter in Secondary Education and History. I have lived in New York City, Boston and Fairfield, CT, but I now call Chicago home. I love anything science fiction and enjoy spending time with my fam watching or playing sports and traveling. Please feel free to reach out anytime with questions.
7th & 8th ELA
Jill VanderHye
She/Her/Hers
Hello, my name is Ms. VanderHye, and this will be my fifteenth year teaching and fourth at OSM. I am beyond thrilled to work with our eighth graders in ELA and 7th graders in Reading this year. I grew up in Chicago in Old Irving Park on the northside, attending St. Viator Grade School and Mother Theodore Guerin High School. I graduated from Illinois State University where I earned my degree in education. Here's to a year of beautiful adventures!
RELIGION
Will Woodard
He/Him/His
Hello! My name is William Woodard. I go by Will in general and Mr. Woodard to the students. I graduated from Marquette this past December with a degree in Religion & Theology and attended Jesuit Dallas College Prep. While this is my first year at OSM School, OSM Parish has been my home parish for over a year. This will be my first year teaching full time and I look forward to sharing the wonders of both Catholicism as a faith and Religion as a subject to the students.
ALGEBRA, GEOMETRY, 7th & 8th MATH
Ryan Woodlock
He/Him/His
Hi! My name is Ryan Woodlock and I go by Mr. Woodlock to our students. This will be my first year teaching 6th – 8th grade math at Old St. Mary’s, though many of the students are familiar with me from my position in student support last year. Before that, I taught high school Geometry in CPS. I am looking forward to sharing my passion for math with the students whether it is their favorite subject or their (previous) greatest stressor.