My name is Sophie Paquin, and I am excited to begin my first year teaching at Saint Mary’s School! As a Catholic schoolteacher – and as a layperson pursuing Christ – my #1 goal as an educator is to help my students become Saints. I recognize that Saints come from a variety of diverse backgrounds, and that each Saint is a unique individual with their own personality, interests, and talents given to them by God. Therefore, this mission of developing Saints will naturally involve helping students learn a variety of core topics such as English, mathematics, history, theology, and science as they live into their own identities as God’s sons and daughters. Together, we will grow in our understanding of the world, our understanding of ourselves, and, most importantly, our understanding of God.

A bit of personal background: I grew up in Southwest Michigan but moved up north to attend college at Lake Superior State University. At LSSU, I was heavily involved with the Catholic Newman Center, working as a peer minister and even leading the high school youth group at Saint Joseph Parish. After graduating in 2023 with degrees in Conservation Biology and Natural Resources Technology, I moved to Connecticut to discern religious life with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. During this time, I also worked as the Lead Educator at the Hungerford Nature Center and New Britain Youth Museum; in this position, I traveled around the state with a car full of animals to teach elementary students about a wide range of environmental topics – a job that I deeply enjoyed and which developed my skills and my passion for teaching.

In another lovely plot-twist, God called me back to Sault Ste. Marie where I am today, and where I am eagerly and zealously discerning a career in Catholic Education. I look forward to the school year ahead and ask for your prayers as I take on the serious responsibility of teaching 2nd grade at this esteemed school. God bless you!