Faculty & Staff
Dr. Dennis Cramsey
Principal
Faith – Academics – Service
I am blessed to have the opportunity to lead St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic School that is inspiring students to flourish in the Catholic traditions of FAITH and SERVICE while fostering ACADEMIC success.
I am originally from Quincy, IL, where I attended St. Dominic’s Catholic School through the 8th grade. At that time, St. Dominic School was a part of the St. Francis Solanus parish where I regularly served as an altar boy for the 6 a.m. Mass and was a member of the Young Franciscans. My wife, Ginger, has family roots in Jersey County. For 20 years, Mrs. Cramsey has been a Kindergarten and 1st-grade teacher at Lewis and Clark Elementary in Wood River.
Ginger and I recently celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary; only possible by keeping God in the center of our relationship. We were blessed to be given the opportunity to raise three wonderful sons, Lucas, Cameron, and Caden. We are also very proud grandparents of five precious grandchildren who bring us endless happiness and laughter and keep us young at heart.
I have dedicated myself to the field of education for thirty-four years. In that time, I have worked with a variety of students, staff, and families from various backgrounds ranging from 6th through 12th grades. After a year of substitute teaching, I taught physical education and science at Wilbur Trimpe Junior High in Bethalto for eleven years. I had the opportunity to continue to serve in a new capacity as an assistant principal at Edwardsville Middle School for three years. During that time, a new middle school was being constructed. I served as the inaugural principal of Liberty Middle School in Edwardsville for eight years. For the past nine years, I have served the students, faculty, and staff and parents of Edwardsville High School as the principal.
I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northeast Missouri State University (Truman State University) in 1983. As a believer in life-long learning, I earned my Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1999. I continued to study Educational Administration with a focus on Educational Leadership at SIUE; earning my Specialist Degree in 2012 and my Doctorate in Education in 2014.
My leadership style is one that values the contributions of its members, encourages shared responsibilities, and prioritizes service to others. I classify myself as a servant leader and strive to put the needs of my students, families, teachers, and church community above my own.
My commitment to you is to prioritize all members of the St. Francis/Holy Ghost School community and parishes, to walk in my faith daily, to honor our traditions and to continue on the path of greatness that has been paved through the unwavering commitment and dedication of current and past faculty and staff and our pastors, Fr. Hyland Smith and Fr. Marty Smith.
I look forward to working with you as a team to inspire each student at St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic School to grow their FAITH, attain excellence in ACADEMICS and foster an attitude of SERVICE to others.
Respectfully Yours in Christ,
Dr. Dennis Cramsey
Megan Mahoney-Deist
Pre-K 3
BS Psychology, Central Michigan University
MS Mental Health Wellness, Grand Canyon University
SF/HG since 2019
Married with three children
Alyssa Newell
Pre-K 4
BS Elementary Education, Greenville University
SF/HG since 2018
Previously worked in the Alton school district
Married to Kyle, two children, Mila and Lola
Melessia Jones
PreK Classroom Assistant
Mindy Marshall
PreK Classroom Assistant
Paraprofessional Substitute JCUD 100 –2013-2019
SF/HG since 2019
Widow with one child, Marley
Lisa Youngblood
PreK Classroom Assistant
Attended Lewis and Clark Community College
SF/HG since 2014
Married to Scott with six children
Andrea Isringhausen
Kindergarten
BS Elementary Education, Lindenwood University
SF/HG since 2008
Previously taught in the Ferguson-Florissant School District
Married with two children who attend Marquette HS
Lauren Robinson
Kindergarten
Patty Goetten
Kindergarten Classroom Assistant
SF/HG since 2019
Barbie McCormick
First Grade
BS Elementary Education, Greenville University
SF/HG since 2016
Previously taught in Alton
Married with three children
Katie Price
First Grade
Kaitlyn Gray
First Grade Assistant
Amanda Koenig
First Grade Assistant
Melissa Yates
Second Grade
BS Elementary Education, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
MS Education, Southern IL University-E
SF/HG since 1993
Married with 3 sons, 3 step-children and 3 grandchildren
Susan Ayres
Second Grade
BS Elementary Education, Southern IL University –E
SF/HG since 1992
Married with two children
Ashleigh Frazier
Second Grade Classroom Assistant
Tammi Kettenbach
Third Grade
BS Elementary Education, Southern IL University-E
SF/HG since 2001
Previously taught at St. Mary’s, Brussels, IL
Married with two children and one grandchild
Tonya Shively
Third Grade
BS Elementary Education, University of Missouri-Columbia
SF/HG since 2000
Previously taught in Missouri
Married with three children
Lisa Evans
Fourth Grade
BS Elementary Education, Southern IL University-E
SF/HG since 2004
Married to Peter, with three children, all SF/HG Alumni
Emily Wittman
Fourth Grade
BS Elementary Education, Southern IL University-Carbondale
SF/HG since 2017
Previously taught at St. Ambrose, Godfrey
Married with three children, SF/HG Alumna
Vicky Maag
Fifth Grade
BS Elementary Education, Southern IL University-E
SF/HG since 1999
Married with two children, Clancy and Kenna
Jackie Schnettgoecke
Fifth Grade
BS Elementary Education, Greenville University
SF/HG since 2017
SF/HG Alumna
Shelby Beatty
Sixth Grade
BS Elementary Education, Greenville University
SF/HG since 2019
Previously taught at North Green & St. Mary’s, Brussels
Married with one son
SF/HG Alumna
Carolyn Meisner
Sixth Grade
Chris Mattis
Seventh – Eighth Grade Math Teacher
BS Elementary Education, Eastern IL University
SF/HG since 1991
Previously taught at Holy Ghost School
Two children and one grandchild
Melissa Poletti
Seventh – Eighth Grade Literature Teacher
BS Elementary Education, Western Kentucky University, Middle School Endorsement, Greenville University
SF/HG since 2019
Previously taught at St. John’s, Carrollton and All Saints Academy, Breese, IL
Married with three children
Marissa Griffith
Seventh – Eighth Grade Social Studies Teacher
BS Elementary Education, Southern IL University-E
MS Curriculum and Instruction, Rockford College
SG/HG since 1999
Married to Dylan, with three children, Keegan, Nola & Vada
SF/HG Alumna
Katie Forrester
Seventh – Eighth Grade English Teacher
BS Elementary Education, Eastern IL University
SF/HG since 2008
Married to Brian, with four children, Holly, Graden, Keith and Audra
SF/HG Alumna
Kimberly Schieler
Seventh – Eighth Grade Science Teacher
Jen Gibson
Technology Teacher/Director
BS Organizational Leadership, Greenville University
MS in Education, Greenville University
SF/HG since 2013
Married with two children
Melissa Kimble
PE Teacher
BS Southern IL University-Edwardsville
SF/HG since 2002
Married with four children and three grandchildren
Cynthia Hampton
Latchkey Director
Jennifer Fink
Secretary – St. Francis Site
SF/HG since 2017
Member of Holy Ghost Church
Married to David, with three children, all SF/HG alumni
SF/HG Alumna
Janet Williams
Secretary – Holy Ghost Site
SF/HG since 2002
Married with one son
Member of St. Francis Xavier Church
St. Francis School Alumna
Charles Ross
Head Custodian
Melissa Jones
SF Day Custodian
SF/HG since 2002
Two children, Brendan and Lindsey, both SF/HG alumni