All Faiths Welcome
St. Mary School welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds to join our community. We provide a well-rounded education that focuses on academic excellence and spiritual growth. Our students enjoy a learning environment that is fun, engaging, and structured to help them grow in and out of the classroom. With small class sizes and dedicated teachers, every student receives the personalized attention they need to succeed.
Enrollment is open all year long. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact us today.
Visit Our School
The best way to experience St. Mary School is by seeing us in action. We invite all interested families to schedule a visit and tour our campus. During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with teachers, ask questions, and explore our classrooms. We want you to feel confident in your decision!
St. Mary School offers affordable tuition costs and flexible payment plans for families looking for a quality faith-based education. We help families feel more comfortable with our enrollment process by providing a transparent understanding of educational costs. Learn more about tuition costs, payment plans, and how to register students for the upcoming year.
Scholarships help make a Catholic education possible for many families. St. Mary School partners with various organizations to offer financial assistance and help with tuition costs. Families seeking financial assistance should explore scholarship opportunities early. Deadlines vary, and applications may require supporting documents.
A Letter from Our Principal
Our mission is to share the joy of the Catholic faith –knowing, loving, and serving God – with the people of our diocese and through education, formation and example, to enable them to radiate the Truth, the Light and the Love of Christ to others.
As a Catholic educational community, St. Mary School is created, supported, and nurtured by the parish. St. Mary School’s mission is to provide an environment where each student can personally discover the presence and message of God. Working together parents, faculty and the parish community promote academic excellence, the teaching of Christian values, and the spiritual growth of each child. The parents, faculty and the parish community supporting St. Mary School endeavor to prepare students for commitment to the Catholic faith, future academic success and responsible citizenship.
I am a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Church. I am an alumnus of St. Mary School, class of 1978, as were my siblings, two of my children and several nieces and nephews were all graduates of St. Mary School. I graduated from Taylorville High School, Class of 1984. I attended Eastern Illinois University earning a degree in Special Education and Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in Special Education, and Administration Certification. I taught 9 years for Mid-State Special Education then took a job with Central A & M School District teaching high school classes at Kemmerer Village Residential Treatment Center for 10 years, working with students suffering from trauma. In 2007, I became Principal of the Kemmerer Village On Grounds School, until my retirement on June 30, 2022.
Being a teacher and working with children has always been my passion. I love working with children and helping them reach their potential. To me, nothing is more satisfying than seeing the smile on a child’s face when he or she "gets it", or watching their confidence grow.
I had many great teachers throughout my years of learning and each one holds a special place in my memory and heart, but the first teacher to inspire me to become a teacher was my 1st grade teacher at St. Mary School, Miss Kay Burgener. She made learning fun and challenging and maintained high expectations. She showed love, kindness, compassion, and patience, and made each child feel special. She treated every child with dignity and respect. I knew I wanted to be a teacher just like her, and that inspiration was only confirmed and strengthened by other teachers throughout grade school, jr. high and high school. I never changed my career path – teaching and working with kids has always been my dream job! The academic foundation, values, guidance, empathy, love of learning, and faith all started at St. Mary School. That foundation has made me who I am today and I am very proud to continue that tradition here at St. Mary School. I think it is only fitting that I am now at St. Mary School to finish my career in education, back to where it all started. My life has come full circle. I am home!
A tradition of excellence in education is part of the Catholic heritage. Recognizing the values of the past and the challenge of the future, St. Mary School combines a history of effective educational experience with continuous program planning and development. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or follow us on our Facebook page at St. Mary School-Taylorville IL.
My hope is that after visiting St. Mary School, touring our campus and seeing all the great things that St. Mary School can offer to your child/ren academically and spiritually, you will consider enrolling your child/ren in St. Mary School and become a part of the St. Mary School Defender family.
Go Defenders!
Joanne Coady, Principal
