The Catholic Community Foundation proudly announced its 1st Annual Catholic Teacher Award in the fall of 2021.  With an endowment left by the late Mrs. Catherine Schmenk (a great proponent of Catholic education), the award recognizes 4 outstanding primary grade teachers in our Diocese.  Criteria for nomination were based on who best demonstrated the ability to motivate and inspire intellectual and spiritual development, leadership, responsibility, enthusiasm, curiosity and creativity, while also being a role model in his/her professional, civic, parish and personal life.  We received 11 nominations from our school principals.  All nominees were very deserving, but our nomination committee had to narrow it down to 4 winners. The winners are Carol Sarasien:  St. Joseph Hessen Cassel, Nicola Matty:  St. Vincent de Paul, Kate Helm:  Christ the King and Sarah Leblang:  St. Anthony de Padua.

These winners received $1,000 dollars each and then $1,000 went into their schools’ endowment fund.    Our Foundation looks forward to the future of this award and honoring many more deserving teachers.  Many thanks to all our Catholic School teachers, we appreciate you each-and-every day! 
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By Sarah Shively