Faculty and Staff

My name is Christine Pifer and I have been in the ministry for over 35 years and the principal here at St. Paul since 2016. I grew up in Fraser, MI and have attended Lutheran schools all my life. I graduated from Concordia, River Forest with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, and I also have my Masters Degree from Waldon University in Reading and Literacy. I still reside in Roseville, but the commute to Northville is well worth the drive. I love the family atmosphere here at St. Paul.

When someone walks through our doors we want them to experience the joy and excitement of the children, see parents enthusiastic about volunteering at the school, and people making relationships that go beyond the school day. I can't wait to see what God has planned for us in the future!

Hello! My name is Melissa Towner. My previous experience includes teaching elementary school grades 1-4, working with preschool students as an aide and 18+ years as a dance instructor and coach for students, ages 3- adult. I am a mom of two children, ages 6 & 8, who are students at St. Paul. My husband and I have been married for 11 years and are active members of St. Paul Lutheran Church. I am excited to join the St. Paul staff this year! I look forward to fostering the students’ curiosity and needs, while giving them the tools they need to become blossoming learners. My favorite part of teaching is experiencing the “ah-ha” moments of education and watching the students’ growth through learning. Some of my favorite hobbies include traveling with my family, scrapbooking & cooking.

My name is Cindy Frango and I am the new 1st /2nd grade teacher at St. Paul. I earned a Master of Arts in Education from The University of Michigan – Dearborn and have experience teaching in public, private, and online schools.

My husband, Lou, and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in November. We have a daughter, Marissa, who is a senior in high school. I am a life-long member of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, and my family and I are involved in various ministries.

I enjoy baking and cooking Greek food, playing card games and board games, and spending time with family and friends. I am so thankful for the warm welcome that I have received from staff as well as parents and look forward to an enjoyable school year!

Hello families of St. Paul Lutheran School. My name is Allison McCollister. I have been a teacher at St. Paul, Northville for the past seven years. I have previously taught at Lutheran schools in Waterford, Farmington HIlls, and Detroit, Michigan. I also was a substitute teacher for Livonia Public Schools for three years while working on my Master's. I am a graduate of Concordia University, Ann Arbor and completed graduate school classes at Eastern Michigan University. My career has included teaching at every grade level and every subject from First - Eighth grades. I have many years of experience teaching both single graded and multigraded classrooms. I have been married for almost 14 years to my husband Rich McCollister. We live in south Redford just a few miles from my childhood home in Livonia. We are the proud "parents" of four dogs; 2 Shih Tzu and 2 Shih Tzu mixes that are rescue dogs. When I am not teaching or doing teaching related shopping or research, I enjoy reading, walking my dogs, decorative painting, and watching The First 48 or Deadliest Catch on TV. I feel overwhelming blessed by God to be able to do what I love for a living which is: teach in a Christian/Lutheran school. My favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11-13 (English Standard Version) which says: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. It is my desire and prayer that my teaching at St. Paul will be a blessing to the school community.

I’m beginning my 40th year of teaching with my new position here at St. Paul!  Students in K-12th Grade have shared my classrooms since I started, but I teach mostly 5th Graders.

Being the girl dad to three, I am delighted with my three sons-in-law and four grandsons!  While nothing is more important than my faith in Jesus and sharing God’s love with others, I enjoy contemporary jazz and classical music, baseball and college football, and eating a slice of Jet’s pizza or a delicious breakfast with some juicy bacon.