July 3, 2019

Sister Ellen Rose Coughlin, SSJ
Superintendent of Schools

OGDENSBURG – Ms. Shannon Margrey from Augustinian Academy in Carthage has been named the 2019 Outstanding Catholic School Teacher for the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

Ms. Margrey has been a member of the Augustinian family since she was 8 years old. She attended Augustinian Academy through eighth grade and graduated from Immaculate Heart Central School in Watertown.

Ms. Margrey has been a teacher at Augustinian Academy since 2001. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from SUNY Plattsburgh and an Master of Science in Teaching in Elementary Education from SUNY Potsdam. Initially, Ms. Margrey taught 7th grade ELA, Social Studies and Religion. When grades 5-8 were departmentalized she continued to teach ELA and Social Studies for several years. Currently Shannon is teaching Science in grades 5- 8, putting her Science degree to good use for Augustinian.

Ms. Margrey is actively involved in the life of the school. She coaches basketball and soccer, is an advisor for the Student Council, the Science Olympiad Team and the Iron Chef Team.

Ms. Margrey coordinates the school Spelling Bee, as well as the school Science Fair and Middle School History Fair. She collaborates with other teachers to create activities and events to enhance the academic and spiritual life of the students.

Ms. Margrey is a member of many committees. She has worked with the Diocesan Report Card Committee and assisted with professional development on Diocesan Superintendent’s Days. At Augustinian Academy Shannon serves on the AdvancEd Internal Committee and has assisted in updating student and faculty handbooks.

She values good professional development that helps improve teaching practices and engage the students in active learning.

For the past four years she has collaborated with several of the Augustinian teachers with Professional Learning Communities through the Jeff Lewis Teacher Center. In nominating Shannon, Mrs. Mary Ann Margrey, principal at Augustinian, wrote, “If Shannon agrees to help, you know it will be done and done well!”

Ms. Margrey has spent most of her life in Catholic education. She understands that her religious values and beliefs have shaped who she is. On the application for a teaching position at Augustinian in 2001 she stated, “I simply want to teach my students, by example, what a large part God plays in my everyday life and how He guides all my beliefs and actions.”

For 18 years, Augustinian Academy has been blessed with Ms. Margery’s professional competence and living witness to the Catholic faith.

Ms. Margrey was honored on June 26 during a luncheon hosted by Bishop Terry LaValley at the Bishop’s residence. She was joined at the luncheon by Mrs. Mary Ann Margrey, principal of Augustinian Academy, Msgr. Robert H. Aucoin, Vicar for Education, Sister Ellen Rose Coughlin, SSJ, Superintendent of Schools and Mrs. Karen Donahue, Assistant Superintendent of Schools.