As we the nation celebrates Catholic Schools Week from January 30 through February 5, West Virginia Catholic Schools’ leadership and parents agree the success of the Catholic school system in West Virginia is completely reflective of the dedication of the individual school principals, teachers, and support staff.
The Catholic Schools of West Virginia made headlines last year with the announcement that academic achievement did not falter during the pandemic and remote learning, based on their national assessment scores across grade levels. Superintendent Mary Ann Deschaine, Ed.S., credits her principals, teachers, and support staff for maintaining a mission-driven focus and continually enriching culture of collaboration and shared responsibility.
“Without hesitation, we completely attribute our successes to the phenomenal women and men, who work for our Catholic schools,” Deschaine said. “From the building administrators to the teachers, secretaries, advancement directors, custodians, and auxiliary personnel, each plays a significant role in carrying out the mission of Catholic education. When you are in our buildings it doesn’t take long to recognize their genuine dedication and flexibility.”
It is no secret the pandemic has been hard on educators and the educational system across the board, she said.
“I firmly believe everyone who works in education, no matter if it is a Catholic school or not, are heroes in our society, right up there with health care workers and first responders,” Deschaine, who has worked in both the public and Catholic school systems as an educator and administrator, said. “When you consider what we ask our school staff to include in their objectives, and look at the sacrifices and demands they willingly take on for the betterment of our children, it takes that sentiment to another level. The impressive teams our principals and pastors have assembled in our schools are exceptional. They are living and leading with faith, Christian values, and respected morals. That is the environment that enables students to thrive.”
Carol McDonald, a parent at St. Joseph School in Martinsburg, shares Deschaine’s attitude.
“Over that past two years we have discovered many heroes amongst us,” McDonald said. “The SJS staff and teachers are definitely some of those heroes. As heroes they have superpowers, not to see our children who they are today, but see what they can become tomorrow and strive to help them achieve this. These powers are blessings from our heavenly Father. It has been challenging but they rose above these challenges by showing strength, love, and compassion for our children. This dedication helped our students weather the storm.”
Jocelyn Czapp, a parent of Corpus Christi School and Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, said she could cite “a million” examples of how school staff has helped her three children.
“The staff and principals at our catholic schools are fully invested in our children’s education, spiritual growth, and successes. For that my husband and I are forever grateful and feel very blessed for their catholic education,” she said. “The teachers go above and beyond to ensure that our children are learning and working to their full potential, but they do it with so much compassion, care and love that it makes me know that they are there for our kids and truly want the best for them. It is an amazing feeling that they celebrate our children’s accomplishments and are just as excited for them, as we are as parents, when they hit milestones and goals.”
Michelle Martin, principal of St. Paul School in Weirton, said the pandemic has placed a spotlight on the collaboration that has always been a part of Catholic education. Supporting one another as a staff or even filling someone else’s shoes in order to get work done or reach an objective is second nature in the Christ-centered school system. Returning to a classroom to substitute for a teacher who is in quarantine may be challenging for administrators, but it is also rewarding and grounding, she said.
“It’s definitely been challenging, but I do enjoy it,” she said. “I get first-hand experience on the challenges the teachers face. I enjoy having the students see me as a teacher and not just the principal! Doing both jobs at one time can be a bit overwhelming, but I have a supportive staff that will pitch in, no questions asked. They work really hard to give the students a normal school year by keeping them engaged and challenged.”
“We expect a lot from our schools,” said Jennifer Hornyak, associate superintendent for accreditation and technology. Hornyak oversees staff development for the diocesan schools, as well as technology enrichment.
“Our teachers are constantly challenged to learn new teaching and learning methods while balancing their everyday classroom work,” Hornyak said. “Teachers and administrators put in a great deal of time and effort to learn new things and are true models of what it means to be a lifelong learner. They continually participate in new professional development opportunities not only in the changing landscape of education, but also, in the ever-changing world of technology.”
Julie Link, office manager of the Department of Catholic schools, praises the individual schools’ front office staff for gracefully handling the constant juggle of duties.
“Our secretaries in our schools don’t get enough credit for the important role they have in the daily life of the school,” Link said. “Their list of to-dos is constantly growing, not only from staff, students, and parents, but from our office, as well. They go the extra mile to assist their principal when our office requests documents or if we have specific requests. I always find that when I call a school, I hear a friendly, well-spoken voice.”
Theresa DiPiero, director of curriculum and instruction for the diocesan schools, loves working with and for the 24 Catholic schools in the state. It is reaffirmed, every time she gets to observe the principals concern and attention for their students as they constantly are “calming fears, extending a warm smile, calling students by their first names in the halls, and asking about a brother, sister or their parents.”
She said there is nothing like watching “the way a student lights up when he or she is noticed and made to feel important. Catholic Schools are a gift.”
“I reflect on my conversations with a guidance counselor and wonder how they remember every single detail about their students,” she said, adding that it is her privilege “to work in a system where teachers and counselors are able to pray with and for a student when they lose heart.”
To learn more about Catholic education in West Virginia go to: https://wvcatholicschools.org.
