February 4, 2009

Teachers mark 30, 35 years in Catholic schools

By Denver Catholic Register

Last week, schools across the nation observed Catholic Schools Week, an initiative of the National Catholic Educational Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Profiles of local educators celebrating 30 and 35 years of service in Catholic schools this year follow.

35 Years

Mary Ellen Bley
Most Precious Blood, Denver
Mary Ellen Bley is proud of being a product of the Catholic schools system, having attended St. John the Baptist school in Longmont as did her parents before her.  She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Chadron State College in 1972 and completed her master’s in 1995 from the University of Phoenix.  Her teaching career took her from Batesland, S.D., to Spalding, Neb., then back to Longmont where she served as first grade teacher, assistant principal and, finally, principal of the school she once attended as a student.  She considers herself a guide on the journey of learning, helping students use their skills and resources to assist them in their educational endeavors.  “If I enjoy what I’m teaching my students, they’ll have a better experience,” she said.

Katherine Shadel
Nativity of Our Lord, Broomfield
Katherine Shadel began at Nativity of Our Lord School in Broomfield as a second-grade teacher in 1974.  In her time there she has taught fifth and sixth grade, been assistant principal and for the past two years, principal.  She and her husband, Steve, have been married for 32 years and have two children, Timothy and Katie.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and later a master’s from the University of Colorado.  Calling the atmosphere at a Catholic School “warm and inviting,” Shadel said that students of all ages need a safe environment in which they can learn discipline, a place where high expectations are set in a firm, but friendly manner.  “We’re fortunate that we can use the teachings of Jesus and our Catholic heritage to instill moral values,” she said. “Nativity is a wonderful place to work—there’s no place like it.”

Beatrice Farnan
Notre Dame, Denver
Being of service to younger children is what Beatrice Farnan considers to be her educational philosophy.  Prior to teaching in Catholic schools, Farnan taught in the Denver Public Schools system. Then she taught at St. Joseph School before moving to Notre Dame School where she’s been for the past 33 years, now serving as the library supervisor.  Married with three children she said that the students and the parents are what have kept her in the Catholic schools system all these years.  “My faith has deepened by working in this system,” she said. “It seems that God called me to be here.”

Vicki Turano
Shrine of St. Anne, Arvada
Vicki Turano taught at Presentation of Our Lady School for six years, St. Rose of Lima for 12 years and 17 years at the Shrine of St. Anne where she now serves as assistant principal.  Married with one son, she earned a bachelor’s degree at Adams State College in 1967 and did post-graduate work at the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley.  Turano credits the atmosphere of the Catholic schools as the main reason for her many years of teaching in them, as well as the goodness of the people she works with.  Students, she said, need to discover their strengths; teachers need to teach those strengths.  “We need to develop the whole child—spiritually, academically and socially,” she said.

Karen Tinius
St. John the Baptist, Longmont
Karen Tinius knew from a young age that she wanted to be close in a special way to her Catholic faith.  She found that through teaching.  Married to Mark for 34 years, the couple has two children, Ben and Kellie.  Graduating from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degee in elementary education, Tinius came to St. John the Baptist in 1974, teaching second grade for 16 years before taking over the kindergarten, which she still teaches.  She believes that every child should be taught as Jesus would have taught them about his life and love.  “I’m now blessed to be teaching children of former students,” she said.  “Each year has been a gift.”

Alice Pieters
St. Pius X, Aurora
As middle school science teacher, Alice Pieters said that learning is an adventure, no matter the age.  A 1970 graduate from the University of Northern Colorado, she and her husband, Tom, have been married for 38 years.  For nine years she taught second grade at Christ the King School in Denver before moving to the science department at St. Pius X.  Pieters credits the faculty community, parental support and the wonderfully challenging students for keeping her around this long.  “I’m too young to have been teaching this long!” she said.

30 Years

Mary Land
Holy Trinity, Westminster
Thirty-year Catholic schools educator Mary Land said that as a product of the Catholic schools system, she wanted to give back to the children in her classroom the opportunity to become the best person they can.  Currently an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Holy Trinity School in Westminster, she has taught at St. Mary Magdalene, Assumption, and Blessed Sacrament schools.  Land received her bachelor’s degree in sociology and elementary education at Regis College in1973.  She and her husband Dave have two children, Novella and Katie.  Her educational philosophy boils down to one word: opportunity.  “I believe every child deserves the chance to develop their God-given talents in service to make the world a better place.”

Tim Schmeckpeper
J.K. Mullen High School
For three decades Tim Schmeckpeper has taught at J.K. Mullen High School.  Now the assistant principal, he has also served as social studies teacher, activities director, athletic director and dean of students.  He is married and has three daughters.  A Mullen alum, Schmeckpeper attended Western State in Gunnison, graduating with a degree in physical education and history.  Schmeckpeper said he was very happy he could return to Mullen to teach. “We have a slogan here,” he said.  “That we enter to learn and leave to serve.  When I graduated in 1974 my goal was to come back and teach at Mullen.  I’ve been fortunate enough to do that.”

Linda McDonnell
Notre Dame, Denver
Having taught at Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Fatima schools, Linda McDonnell has taught fifth- graders at Notre Dame School for the past 21 years.  Married for 34 years with one daughter, she graduated from St. John’s University in New York with a bachelor’s degree in education.
The ability to share the Catholic faith is the main reason McDonnell has stayed in parochial education for so many years. She said she strives to pass that faith along to each of the students she teaches.  “Teach children as well as learn from them—that’s my philosophy,” McDonnell said. “And always encourage them to think and ask questions.  There is a wealth of technology that the children can use but it’s the educator’s job to help them learn how to use the information.”

Kathleen Willis
Notre Dame, Denver
Willis has worked as a teacher, administrator and now library supervisor during her time at Notre Dame School.  Earning a degree in education in 1953 from State University of New York at Buffalo and later a master’s degree from the University of Colorado, she has seen the desire to teach expand to her daughter who teaches at Blessed Sacrament School.  Being a part of the Catholic education system has been a blessing to Willis’ life, in her words, “to be part of educating the future leaders of our Church.”  She said, “Education is the key to becoming all that you’re created to be.”

Carole Bretz
St. Anthony, Sterling
“I value the religious framework that is part of each day in each subject,” Bretz said, explaining why she has been in Catholic education for so many years.  Currently a second grade teacher at St. Anthony School in Sterling, she has also taught first and fifth grade.  Receiving her education degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1971 and a master’s in 1992, Bretz is married and has three children.  She said that now, as always, she is where God called her to be.  “I’m thankful we have Mass each Friday,” Bretz said. “The daily prayer gathering before school is also a wonderful way to start the day with staff and students.  I wouldn’t want to teach anywhere else.”

Sister Eleanor O’Hearn, C.S.J.
St. Francis de Sales, Denver
Sister Eleanor O’Hearn holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Fontbonne University, and a master’s in music education from Wichita State University.  Today, she continues to teach music even while serving as principal of St. Francis de Sales School.  Having been at the school since 1979, Sister O’Hearn said she stays for one reason.  “When I look into the eyes of the children, I have no choice,” she said.  “They melt my heart.  It’s 30 years and instead of melting my heart away, it continues to grow in love for the precious children and their families.”

Gloria Joachim
St. Mary’s Academy, Englewood
A graduate of Salve Regina University in Rhode Island with a degree in English, Gloria Joachim teaches primary grades at St. Mary’s Academy in Englewood.  But in her 30 years with the school, she has also taught first through fifth grades.  She feels that it’s in the primary years where she can nurture the children and instill values and skills they will build on throughout their lives.  “I call it community,” she explained. “Every day there’s a feeling of community as the parents and teachers work as a team.  There’s nothing else like it.”

Linda Ticer
St. Mary’s Academy, Englewood
For three decades, Linda Ticer has walked the halls of St. Mary’s Academy in Englewood.  She and husband Robert have one daughter, Brooke, who lives in Florida.  After earning a bachelor’s degree in education and English from Jacksonville (Ala.) State University, she went on to earn a master’s in guidance and counseling from the University of South Alabama.  This 30-year veteran of the Catholic schools system is proud of her time at St. Mary’s Academy, first as a teacher in the middle school, then as chair of the Fine Arts department. Ticer ran the extended day program and for the past 19 years, she has worked as director of admissions at the school.