Denver Catholic

BACK TO SCHOOL I 11 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I AUGUST 28, 2013 to build God's kingdom in Catholic schools Around the same time, I became a mother for the second time and realized the growing anti-family environment in my industry and the world in general. While I wondered who would change around the situation, it finally dawned on me that perhaps I should be a participant in that solution. (I then) returned to school and received a credential while teaching at a Catholic school in California." What are your goals as new principal of this school? "My goals as new principal of Shrine of St. Anne are compatible with the archdiocesan Catholic Schools 20132014 theme, 'Catholic Schools: Helping to Rebuild Catholic Culture.' Specifically, it is hoped to duly recognize and retain all the foundational work achieved by the previous principal while further honing our mission to reflect the unique and wondrous St. Anne, mother of our Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ. Under her patronage, the school will aspire to develop our students in spirit, soul and body, to fulfill God's will in this world by using his gift of intellect to serve God and others, and to ultimately reach heaven. The overarching objective is to merge a strong, well-cultivated Christian spirituality, grounded in loyalty to the magisterium of the Church with the best curriculum resources and instructional practices found in the public sector and compatible with the truths of the faith. Long range, the plan is to expand the school to include pre-kindergarten, enrich enrollment, establish a parent faith-formation program, and strengthen the parish and school relationship." Name: Roonie Leittem-Murrell School: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Boulder Hometown: Prairie Village, Kan. Education: Bachelor's degree, University of Arizona; master's degree, Oklahoma State University; master's degree studies at St. Mary's University, Winona, Minn. Service: 20 years as staff and 16 years as a volunteer in education Name: Sister Mary Patrice Matamoros, O.C.D. "What are your goals as new principal of this school? "I share the St. Thérèse Catholic School's mission to develop the child in every way: spiritually, intellectually, socially and culturally to be what God meant for them to be. Like most schools, it's also my goal to build enrollment in our Catholic school." School: Sts. Peter and Paul, Wheat Ridge Hometown: Miami, Fla. Education: Bachelor of art degree in liberal studies, California Polytechnic University, Pomona, Calif.; completing master's degree in educational administration and supervision, Scranton University, Pa. Service: 25 years in elementary education, at every grade level What led you or inspired you to be a teacher? "I come from a family of educators. Growing up, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. When I began college, I began working in a Catholic school in in south Florida. While working at the school, the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles took the administration of the school. As I worked with the sisters, I came to realize that God was inviting me to follow him in religious life. I entered the community in 1993. As a Carmelite sister, I joyfully go wherever God calls. He has invited me to teach in a variety of elementary schools and a preschool program as well. This year he called me to serve at Sts. Peter and Paul as principal." What are your goals as new principal of this school? "(I aim to) work as a team with our staff, and serve our families by continuing to provide rigorous education and spiritual formation in a Catholic environment." Name: Toni Vaeth School: St. Thérèse, Aurora Hometown: Denver Education: Bachelor's degree, Colorado State University; master of business administration, University of Denver; master's degree in educational psychology, University of Colorado at Denver; CPA license Service: nine years in education at What led you or inspired you to be Blessed Sacrament School in Denver a teacher? "When I was in elementary school, What led you or inspired you to be I thought I wanted to be a nun. Almost all my teachers were Sisters of Charity of a teacher? "I couldn't decide between teaching Leavenworth. What I realized later is that and business, but chose business comI wanted to be a teacher, not a sister." ing out of high school. I worked as a What are your goals as new princi- CPA for Touche Ross, international auditor and marketing manager for Johns pal of this school? "I want to help teachers, staff, par- Manville, then manager of financial ents, grandparents and all other stake- systems for Kroger. While working in holders in the Sacred Heart of Jesus business, I volunteered with all sorts of School community realize that it takes children's organizations. Once my secall of us working together to make it the ond child was born, I took the opportubest school it can be. Our goal is to do nity to go back for a second master's in what is best for the students by provid- education then started teaching when ing them a spiritual, academic, social my youngest son was in preschool and athletic environment where they (he's now in seventh grade at Blessed Sacrament). can thrive and reach their potential." Bishop Machebeuf High School www.machebeuf.org

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