Meet the Newest SMS Teachers and Staff!
Meet the newest members of the St. Mary's Staff!
Kiernan Michau - HS Spanish & English
Kiernan Michau is thrilled to join the Spanish and English departments for her ninth year in the classroom. Her love of all things language and literature has led her to a wide range of wonderful experiences. She earned her bachelor's degree in comparative literature at Harvard University, for which she completed a critical translation of a Spanish novel. She worked in the non-profit sector for a few years before pursuing her master's in secondary education at Northwestern University. She also holds an Oregon teaching license with endorsements for English grades 7-12 and Spanish grades K-12. She has taught in many different places: a Chicago public high school; an all boys' school in Richmond, VA; a co-ed private school in Charlottesville, VA; a Catholic high school in Eugene, OR; an international upper school in Trieste, Italy; and most recently, a 4th grade homeroom teacher in a dual immersion program in Eugene, OR. Teaching both language and literature across these varied settings has helped Profe Michau more deeply understand her role as a facilitator of curiosity, patience, and joy. She works to create a classroom environment in which students feel empowered to ask exploratory questions, take risks, and build empathy for others. When not in the classroom, Profe Michau loves reading, baking, and hiking with her husband, Iñaki, and their dog, Zeru.
Kate Coetzee - 5th Grade
Kate Coetzee grew up in sunny San Diego, where she was recruited to play Division I lacrosse at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland. After graduating with a degree in Business and a concentration in International Economics, she decided to follow in her sister’s footsteps and teach English in Thailand. What was only meant to be a six-month trip ended up becoming three years because she not only found her husband (who is also a teacher at St. Mary’s), but also fell in love with teaching. Kate loves teaching because of the joy she gets to witness in the classroom. While teaching in Thailand, she taught middle school math, kindergarten, and served as the homeroom teacher for fourth and fifth grade. During that time, she also earned her American teaching license with a focus on early childhood education. After living abroad for more than three years in two different countries, Kate moved back to the United States to teach in the Rogue Valley. She absolutely loves living in the Valley because she is surrounded by the things she enjoys most, including hiking, backpacking, skiing, cycling, running, and just about anything outdoors. Kate loves building relationships with students through play and genuine connection. She is excited to be joining the St. Mary’s community, and she is grateful for the school’s student-centered approach to education.
Aron Rono - Cross Country Head Coach
Arguably, the greatest distance runner in Azusa Pacific history, Aron Rono was a 15-time NAIA track & field champion, which included eight indoor titles, the most in NAIA history. Upon his arrival to campus, he proceeded to lead the Cougars to three straight NAIA indoor national championships (2007-08-09) and along the way was named the championship meet’s Most Outstanding Performer in 2008. In cross country, he won the NAIA crown in 2007 and 2008, becoming the only Cougar ever to win the individual national title. Perhaps his most impressive feat, however, came at the 2008 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Meet when he became the first person ever (and still the only) to win the 10,000- 5,000- and 1,500-meter races in the same championship meet, completing an unprecedented distance triple crown. For the record, he won the NAIA mile four times (including his 2006 season at Lindenwood University), the indoor 3000 twice, the indoor 5000, the outdoor 10,000 four times (the only athlete in NAIA history to do so), the 1500 meters twice and the 5000 once. He anchored three consecutive NAIA distance medley championship relays, including the 2009 quartet that set the NAIA record at 9:50.88. As a 2009 senior, he set the NAIA record in the indoor mile at 4:03.74. In his three years at Azusa Pacific, he set the school records the mile (4:01.30), 5000 (13:33.37) and 10,000 (28:13.75). Rono as a three-time Golden State Athletic Conference cross country individual champion, and led the Cougars to the 2008 team title.
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