A Florida native, I was born in Miami to a Midwestern father and an Australian mother. They were happily married for 48 years and taught me to love learning and exploring the rich diversity of South Florida. I am the third daughter of three girls. My sisters and I remain very close friends. I was educated in Miami Dade Public Schools and then matriculated to Barry College, now Barry University, where I completed a degree in history. I finished college with a secondary teaching certificate and began teaching social sciences and history at the high school level. I have been in the education field for over thirty years. My first teaching job was tutoring students who had failed the Florida State Literacy test at my former high school in North Miami. Then I was hired by Miami Country Day School to teach seventh and eighth grade literature. I fell in love with teaching English so I went on the complete my Master of Arts in English also at Barry University. I loved teaching and found it to be incredibly rewarding. I am still in contact with many of my former students. I have continued to teach one or two classes throughout my career in administration.      After teaching English, history, and drama for twenty years, I decided to apply to be Head of the Middle School at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton. I was selected for the position and soon there after moved to Boca Raton with my family. After a successful tenure of seven years, I began to feel a call for the Episcopal ministry. I was able to complete a year of Anglican Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary, located in Alexandria, Virginia. I was ordained to the deaconate on November 7, 2006 and to the priesthood on May 12, 2008. Today I am the Chaplain of Saint Andrew’s School which is an Episcopal Day/Boarding Independent School. An independent, co-educational school for Grades JK - 12, Saint Andrew's is both a day school and a boarding school, educating students from across the United States and throughout the world. As an Episcopal school, Saint Andrew’s welcomes students of all faiths, customs, cultures, and beliefs. My husband and I live in a townhouse at the end of the Boys’ Resident Hall. We are the proud parents of over 50 boys from around the world! As Chaplain I am also in charge of Community Service Learning as well as the spiritual life of all the faculty and students. Presently, I am writing my thesis to complete a Doctorate of Ministry at Barry University. I have been a member of the Chapel of Saint Andrew for over thirteen years. Before that I was a member of Trinity Cathedral in Miami where I was a Chapter member and an active member of the Choir. I also attended Episcopal Cursillo #27! De Colores! I have been married to Charles Cassini, a philosophy professor at Barry University for over thirty years. We have adult two sons, Marty and Matthew. Marty is an attorney who lives in Hollywood, Florida with his wife Jaime and our grandson Justin. Our youngest son Matthew lives at home and is about to begin a MSW degree. I am privileged to worship at the Chapel and I am very blessed to be part of such a great interim Clergy team! God Bless, Sincerely, Mary Ellen