On May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, 23 hard workers in our diocese were honored during the Excellence in Catholic Education Awards ceremony at St. Michael the Archangel, Glen Allen. Teachers from each of our diocesan schools were recognized at the event; three teachers won diocesan-wide awards, and one teacher, Dr. Catherine Braun from Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School (BSH), Powhatan, won the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award as the teacher across the diocese who most exemplified Gospel values.
“Often, when we think about labor and work, it’s associated with manual labor or physical activity,” said Bishop Barry C. Knestout in his homily at Mass that evening. “Your work is much more in the intellect – in the minds and hearts you are trying to form, shaping these young people to understand the world around us.”
Dr. Michael Riley, superintendent of Catholic schools, gave remarks before dinner. “Thank you for your dedication to our schools, students and mission,” he told the teachers.
He also noted that May 1 was National School Principals’ Day, and he invited the principals in attendance to stand.
“Catholic school principal is the hardest job in education,” he said. “We’re truly grateful for all the work that you do.”
After dinner, each of the teachers was called to the front of the room, where they received a certificate and took a picture with Bishop Knestout. As their names were called, Dr. Laura Clift, associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction, read quotes they had submitted about their teaching philosophy.
“I show love for my students by caring for them, understanding them and loving them, no matter what,” wrote Jackie Draper, kindergarten teacher at Charlottesville Catholic.
“Catholic education is about more than academics; it integrates faith, values and moral teachings into the learning process,” wrote Stacy Daniel, junior kindergarten teacher at St. Pius X, Norfolk.
Beth Tracy, kindergarten teacher at St. Gregory the Great, Virginia Beach, wrote, “I encourage our students to understand that learning is a lifelong journey, and that Jesus is our best teacher.”
Each winner was chosen by committee for demonstrating excellence inside and outside the classroom.
In some cases, the teachers said the reward felt like recognition for not just one year of work, but for a lifetime of service.
“It felt really good to win,” said Erika Barger, second grade teacher at Roanoke Catholic. Barger has a special relationship with the school: some two decades ago, she did her student teaching at Roanoke Catholic, and after college, she got experience there as a substitute.
The three Diocesan Awards for Excellence in Catholic Education went to Bridgit Pinelli, junior kindergarten teacher and preschool director at Christ the King, Norfolk; Jennifer Sears, fourth grade teacher at Portsmouth Catholic Regional School; and Rosa Scheker-Lim, Spanish teacher for grades K-8 at St. Anne, Bristol.
The top honor, the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, was presented to Braun after remarks by Tracy Hamner, Head of School at BSH.
“I have been blown away by Dr. Braun’s professionalism, her humility, her care, her love of our school and our students,” said Hamner. “She is a calming presence in our school and a living mirror of the faith.”
Hamner told a story about a recent class trip the BSH seniors took to Washington, D.C. On the train ride, he said, the senior class president stood up and introduced Braun to the other riders, saying, “This is the best theology teacher in the world!”
As a grandmother of 13, Hamner added, Braun knows how to connect to young people, pray for them and love them.
“She is exactly what we need in our school and our world,” he said.
Braun returned to teaching after a stint as a publisher, saying, “I love teaching. I really missed the classroom.”
“I was really surprised [to win],” she added. “We have an amazing staff … very devoted to Catholic education.”
In the comments read by Clift, Braun wrote, “Catholic education is a mission to form students in faith, character and intellect while emphasizing the integration of faith and reason, the dignity of every person, and the call to serve others.”
The dignity of every person was a major theme of Bishop Knestout’s homily, in which he commented on the first reading from Genesis 1:26b-2:3, which describes God making man in his own image.
“All of [Creation] was provided by God so that we might grow in life and love, know God’s presence, and appreciate his goodness to us,” said Bishop Knestout.
“Any educational project of the Catholic Church and Catholic education is focused on the dignity of the human person, that human child, and how that dignity can be perfected and strengthened,” the bishop continued. “We recognize the calling you’ve received, and especially those in a particular way who have made progress in reaching young people.”
School award winners
Elexes Waddell – All Saints School
Suzanne Glenn – Catholic High School
Jackie Draper – Charlottesville Catholic School
Bridgit Pinelli – Christ the King School
Melanie Reardon – Our Lady of Lourdes School
Lauren Rosenbaum – Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
Marton Lonart – Peninsula Catholic School
Jennifer Sears – Portsmouth Catholic Regional School
Erika Barger – Roanoke Catholic School
Caitlin Price – Sacred Heart School
Rosa Scheker-Lim – St. Anne School
Jeffrey Cronheim – St. Benedict School
Colleen Blaszak – St. Bridget School
Beth Tracy – St. Gregory the Great School
Patricia Harris – St. Joseph School
Jamie Pardue Green – St. Mary Star of the Sea School
Patricia Benton – St. Mary’s School
Stacy Daniel – St. Pius X School
Michele Campo – St. Edward-Epiphany School
Natalie Murray – St. John the Apostle School
Jennifer Avis – St. Matthew School
Megan Bibeau – Star of the Sea School
Dr. Catherine Braun –The Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School
Diocesan award winners
Bridgit Pinelli – Christ the King School
Jennifer Sears – Portsmouth Catholic Regional School
Rosa Scheker-Lim – St. Anne School
Eliabeth Ann Seton Award
Dr. Catherine Braun – The Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School