August 19, 2011
New teachers join Catholic school staffs
Daryl Hagan, diocesan superintendent of schools, serves as a greeter before the start of the new teacher meeting at the Catholic Center in Evansville. (Message photo by Mary Ann Hughes) Click for a larger version.
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
“We welcome you to the Catholic Center,” said Michelle Priar, “and to the Evansville Diocese. It’s great to see all of your energy.”
Priar, the assistant superintendent in the diocesan Catholic Schools Office, opened the annual New Teachers meeting with a greeting to the participants and an introduction of the schools office staff: Daryl Hagan, superintendent; Donna Halverson, assistant superintendent; Rhonda Weissmann, administrative assistant, and herself.
Some of the teachers are new to the diocese and some are brand new to teaching. She asked the group of 25-plus teachers to raise their hands if this was their first teaching job. As they responded, she said, “I’m so excited for you.”
She told the teachers that the purpose of the meeting is “not to overwhelm you with more information” but to give “you a little information about the diocese and what it means to be a Catholic teacher because we think that’s important.”
She began the meeting with a prayer “because that’s why we are here — to do God’s work,” adding, “We hope you take the time to pray with your kids this year. That’s an important piece, we believe.”
Hagan acknowledged that “you are probably scared to death,” and encouraged them to have someone take a photograph of them in their classroom. “Print it off, and save it. One day you’ll look back and say, ‘I remember that day.’”
The new teachers include
- Melissa Allen, Flaget Elementary School, Vincennes;
- Adam Ballard, Rivet Middle School and High School, Vincennes;
- Leah BenderLampert, Washington Middle School and High School, Washington;
- Sarah Burns, St. Benedict Cathedral School, Evansville;
- Justin Carter, Corpus Christi School, Evansville;
- Kelsi Edwards, Washington Catholic Elementary School, Washington;
- Amanda Emmert, St. James School, Haubstadt;
- Kristina Gansman, Christ the King School, Evansville;
- Sarah Hopf, St. James School, Haubstadt;
- Stephanie Kays, Holy Rosary and St. Theresa schools, both in Evansville;
- Maria Key, Good Shepherd School, Evansville;
- Brian Kingery, St. Joseph School, Princeton;
- Kerri Kleeman, St. Joseph School, Vanderburgh County;
- Joni Leistner, Holy Family School, Jasper;
- Allison Lindauer, Holy Family School, Jasper;
- Carolyn Mayer, Holy Redeemer School, Evansville;
- Susan McKenzie, Holy Family School, Jasper;
- Kelsey Mitsdarffer, St. Matthew School, Mount Vernon;
- Adrienne Roos, Holy Family School, Jasper;
- Sarah Schneider, Sts. Peter and Paul School, Haubstadt, and Holy Cross School, Fort Branch;
- Michael Travers, Sts. Peter and Paul School, Haubstadt, and Holy Cross School, Fort Branch;
- Kyle Underhill, Resurrection School, Evansville;
- Amanda Verkamp, St. Wendel School, St. Wendel;
- Katie Zenthoefer, Holy Spirit School, Evansville.