Bettina Robertson named Elizabeth Ann Seton Award winner
Bettina Robertson became the first teacher from St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, Virginia Beach, to receive the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award for overall excellence. Each year, the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools presents this accolade to one Catholic school teacher “based on their selfless work in service of the Gospel in both word and deed, their dedication to Catholic education, their instructional expertise, and their witness to their faith to help transform the lives of Catholic school students.”
The award is named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American- born person to be canonized. She dedicated her life to teaching and is regarded as one of the founders of American parochial education.
She is widely known for her devotion to God in every act big or small, saying, “The first purpose of our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will.”
‘Catholic faith is rock’
Robertson lives the saint’s words daily as she sees her role as not only a teacher of subjects, but of souls.
“My Catholic faith has been my rock — the one thing I know that will always be there, and I want nothing more than to share it with as many people as I can,” she said. “Being a Catholic educator gives me meaning and purpose to teaching. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to follow the Great Commission, to make disciples of the tiny nation I call my classroom.”
Joseph Branco, SGGS principal, said the decision to nominate her for the prestigious award was simple.
“Bettina teaches from the heart, doing the will of God in her daily work,” he said. “She has and continues to touch the lives of everyone around her — students, parents and colleagues alike. Bettina was a clear choice for consideration from the very beginning of the nomination process.”
He noted that Robertson’s work doesn’t stop in the classroom, as she mentors students through an SGGS program that promotes fellowship and encourages acts of service and good deeds. She is also actively involved in the parish as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and lector.
“Her quiet humility, genuine enthusiasm and interpersonal skills shine through in everything she does,” Branco said.
As a child, Robertson loved school — the books and binders, projects and pens. While most kids savored the summer sun, she was anxiously waiting for fall to arrive.
“I wanted to stay in school forever and realized the only way to do so is by becoming a teacher,” she said.
Robertson, who holds an undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Virginia and a graduate degree in education from Regent University, has been teaching eighth grade English language arts full-time at SGGS since 2016 and feels at home there.
“First and foremost, it is a warm, nurturing and supportive environment,” she said. “Our classes are small enough that we get to know our students very well. We support their every need and are engaged in helping them achieve their full potential.”
SGGS provides Robertson the opportunity to bring faith into the classroom.
“We examine if and how nonfiction texts fit into Catholic beliefs. For example, does stem cell research protect the sanctity of human life, or is it destroying a gift from God? Is the Catholic faith at odds with modern science? (It is not.),” she said. “In research writing projects, I ask my students to support their position with at least one biblical quote to strengthen not only their proper MLA-formatted citation skills, but also to nurture their biblical worldview.”
SGGS strives for students to develop a “growth mindset,” which Robertson explained means it equips students to persevere through any setbacks.
“The ability to get back up when life knocks them down and to recognize that grit and determination is the key to success will sustain them as they try to make their way in the world,” she said.
Robertson incorporates the Socratic pedagogy into her teaching, encouraging open discussions. Her students learn not only by listening to her lectures, but by participating in them. They engage in “HOT” (high-order thinking) to foster critical thinking to make personal observations, interpretations and connections to texts or topics.
When the diocese decided to offer in-person and virtual learning for the 2020-21 school year, Robertson wanted to provide all students, whether at home or school, with structure. She still wanted her hybrid classroom to be a place of open discussion and engagement.
Robertson said she calls on students sitting at home just as often as those sitting at desks. All have equal opportunities to contribute to discussions, cast votes regarding assignments and ask questions.
“Almost more importantly, I try to help them feel connected,” she said. “From time to time, we reach out to the remote learners by sending a card or spending a few minutes asking them how they are doing at home. We assure them that we love and miss them.”
Examining a wider world
Even when students are isolated, Robertson encourages them to examine the wider world. One way she does this is by teaching about different cultures and faiths, such as in her elective Holocaust literature course.
“Children need to learn when they are very young to love and understand someone who may not look like them,” she said. “It is modern teachers’ responsibility to prepare their students for a socially and culturally diverse world. Cultural intelligence is a key skill in future job markets, but, more importantly, in actively living the belief that we are all made in God’s image.”
Robertson has taught many students many things, but she wants them to remember one thing above all.
“I hope they will never forget that they are Catholics,” she said. “I want them to hold on to their faith even when it is deemed uncool to do so. If they cleave to their faith, they will never be alone.”
26 Catholic school teachers recognized
Catholic school teachers were honored Thursday, April 29, for the fourth annual Excellence in Catholic Education awards presented virtually by the Diocese of Richmond Office of Catholic Schools.
Administrators and colleagues at each school selected one teacher to be recognized based on their “exceptional commitment to Catholic education through their leadership and service to their students, parents, colleagues, parishes and school communities,” according to criteria established by the Office of Catholic Schools. Those receiving the Excellence in Catholic Education Award are:
- Richard Barnett, All Saints Catholic School
- Annelise Shelton, Blessed Sacrament Huguenot C.S.
- Joseph Bousquet, Catholic High School
- Christi Martin, Charlottesville Catholic School
- Rebecca Anthony, Christ the King Catholic School
- Wendy Sellers, Our Lady of Lourdes C. S.
- Theresa Barrett, Our Lady of Mount Carmel C. S.
- Jessica Kovalcik, Peninsula Catholic High School
- Kathy Noblin, Portsmouth Catholic School
- Paul Begeman, Roanoke Catholic School
- Sara Gauldin, Sacred Heart Catholic School
- Scott Thiers, St. Anne Catholic School
- Marylou Carter, St. Benedict Catholic School
- Eric De Boer, St. Bridget Catholic School
- Amy Young, St. Edward-Epiphany C. S.
- Bettina Robertson, St. Gregory the Great C. S.
- Ryan Balsly, St. John the Apostle Catholic School
- Elizabeth Kassel, St. Joseph Catholic School
- Leeann Klein, St. Mary Catholic School
- Jamie Green, St. Mary Star of the Sea C. S.
- Linda Mercier, St. Matthew Catholic School
- Shelley Lomogda, St. Pius X Catholic School
- Joanne Selig, Star of the Sea Catholic School
Each school nominee was considered for the diocesan Excellence in Catholic Education Award. The winners are:
- Joseph Bousquet, Catholic High School
- Elizabeth Kassel, St. Joseph Catholic School
- Linda Mercier, St. Matthew Catholic School