English Department Faculty

Department Chair,
James (Phil) Senterfitt

James (Phil) Senterfitt has taught all levels of English including sixth grade through twelfth; in addition, he has taught college level freshman Composition, American History, World History, Texas History, Speech, Theatre Arts, G.E.D. courses, and Adult Basic English. Having been raised in the Rio Grande Valley, he is at home at MMA. When not teaching, he enjoys reading, listening to music, and spoiling grandchildren. Mr. Senterfitt has over thirty years of teaching experience. He is married and has two children and five grandchildren. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Texas at Austin; a master’s degree in English from the University of Texas Pan American; Teacher Certification from the University of Houston; and Theatre Certification from the University of Texas Pan American. He has done graduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University in Kingsville, the University of Texas in Brownsville, and has completed additional studies at Trinity University and Texas Southmost College. Mr Senterfitt has served as the University Interscholastic Coordinator for two valley school districts and has directed forty-five plays in UIL competition. He is an active member of his church and serves as an elder and member of the choir. He has also worked with the U.S. Department of Interior Youth Programs and served as a senior class sponsor for over twenty years.

Diolanda J. Dye

Diolanda J. Dye earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Texas in Edinburg. She has taught numerous subjects at the secondary level including Speech, Journalism, English, and Study Skills. Teaching has been an important part of her life for many years. In high school, she began working at the local Boys and Girls Club where she soon discovered the joy of working with adolescents. She continued to work at the club until graduation from college, and it was then that she decided to make teaching a career. As a Study Skills and Speech teacher at MMA, she enjoys the discipline and structure that allows her the freedom to teach. She has an opportunity to become acquainted with her students and tailor her teaching to their needs. She believes her colleagues at MMA are a wonderful source of inspiration and information when it comes to finding new ideas and methods for teaching. This support and structure makes teaching at MMA both fulfilling and promising. Mrs. Dye is currently the sponsor for the National Honor Society and a co-sponsor for the Key Club. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Craig, and her daughter, Isabel.

Patricia Flores

A Texas resident for fifteen years, Patricia Flores has taught English Composition, English II and English I Honors at MMA for four years. Patricia earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas in Brownsville where she earned a lifetime membership to Phi Alpha Theta National Historical Honor Society. She also earned her master’s degree in secondary education with an emphasis on curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix. Patricia fully appreciates the strict discipline and structure at MMA, which allows her the freedom to teach and bring out the best in each of her students. Patricia strongly believes in finding and nurturing every one of her Cadet’s individual learning styles. Aside from teaching at the secondary level, Patricia also teaches Sunday school at Global Resource Christian Center. During her spare time, she enjoys reading books of varied genres as well as inspirational magazines. Most importantly, Patricia’s main focus is spending quality time with her husband, Gilbert, and daughters, Jennifer and Kimberly.

Michele Pickens

Michele Pickens in beginning her twenty-ninth year at MMA. In previous years she has taught English in grades 7-Post-graduate. Currently she teaches SAT Prep and Language Arts 8. She earned her undergraduate degree from what is now the University of Central Arkansas, and her Masters (English) and lifetime secondary teaching certification in Texas at Stephen F. Austin State University. She was named MMA Teacher of the Year for 1984-5, chaired the English Department for six years, received two Certificates of Appreciation for longevity and loyal service to the Academy, and designated an official “Alumni Mother” by the MMA Alumni Association. She enjoys reading, listening to music, watching old movies, and keeping in touch with her former students.

Jacqueline P. Palamara

Jacqueline Palamarabegan teaching in Texas in 1982. She has a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas with two teaching fields, English and history. She added a Special Education endorsement in Learning Disabilities in 1984 from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. In 1993, she completed her Masters in Education as a Reading Specialist from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Mrs Palamara has taught the English dual enrollment classes at the Teacher Academy and college classes at South Texas Community College in the English and history departments. During this time, she also completed a Mid-management certificate at the University of Texas at Pan American in Edinburg, Texas in 1997 and a certificate as a Master Reading teacher in 2000. During the last two years, she earned eighteen history graduate credits from the University of Texas at Pan Am to teach history on the college level.