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February 24, 2022 madisoncatholicherald.org
WE SHALL OPEN THE WAY FOR THE GOSPEL
From the Diocese of Madison Office of Schools
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tarting a new career fresh out of college can be a daunting experi- ence. No matter how good your college training was, there are always doubts about whether or not it was good enough, and whether all that you learned pre- pared you adequately to suc- ceed in your chosen profession. Like many professions, teachers must successfully complete an experience in a working classroom, or "stu- dent teaching," as a require- ment for earning their degree and teaching license. Still, even this often does not fully prepare teachers for the rigors of the job. As Alicia Zepp was com- pleting her student teaching some years ago, her cooper- ating teacher told her only to take a job at a school with a good mentoring program. When Alicia described the teacher mentoring program offered through the Office of Catholic Schools (OCS) of the Diocese of Madison, her co- operating teacher replied that it provided more than any other program she had heard of. Alicia eagerly began teach- ing at one of our Catholic schools. During her first two years, she participated in the New Teacher Mentor Program where she and all new teach- ers received important infor- mation about classroom instruction and management, as well as the many unique aspects of teaching in a Catholic school that they didn't learn in college. "The training that we re- ceived on STAR testing really stands out," Alicia said. "Just how to use the system and the test results was really helpful, and it happened right after we had students take STAR for the second time, so we could take that information and use it in our classes right away." After teaching for a few years and deciding to stay in Catholic schools, this year Alicia moved into the role of principal. This gave her the opportu- nity to experience the New Principal Program which the OCS offers to anyone in the first or second year of being a principal. Although she has been in this program for only six months, she says that it has been extremely helpful, espe- cially in understanding and completing the many and varied duties of a Catholic school principal. Most college teaching pro- grams don't cover how to form students and staff in the Catholic faith, how to help students seek holiness, or how to be both the instruc- tional leader and faith leader in the school. Alicia says that the support she receives from the OCS has been critical. Her sentiment is echoed by Callie Meiller, another Catholic school teacher turned principal who, in re- flecting on her school's par- ticipation in the state's Special Needs Scholarship program, said that the OCS, "has been hugely instrumen- tal in helping that get started . . . and has been incredibly helpful, and I think, 'What better way to spread the Gospel than to open up Catholic education to every- body?'" She continued, "The most inspiring thing is when I had a couple of families come in last year that have two and three year olds with Down Syndrome. They have always wanted a Catholic education for their kids and didn't think it was possible. Just seeing their faces when they came into the school and we talked about what we can do to help make that a reality . . . how grateful and thankful they were that we're willing to take this leap and spread the Gospel message through this program and have their kids be a part of that." The Office of Catholic Schools and other diocesan offices are supported through your generosity to the ACA. The programs we provide make a critical difference for the principals, teachers, and ultimately the students in our Catholic schools. In reflecting on her experi- ence as a teacher and princi- pal, Zepp commented that in all her interactions with diocesan offices, it is obvious that "everything is connected . . . in a whole picture. Every- one is working toward the same goal, with the same mission, like a family." We thank you for your generosity and support of the ACA, which allows us to do the work that we do. Thank you for your help in keeping our Catholic schools and our diocesan family strong.
Supporting educators in the diocese
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2022 Annual Catholic Appeal Chair Couple
Eric and Lau ura a teDuits
Each year, Bishop Hying selects an ACA Chair Couple to serve with him as spokespersons while promoting the appeal and helping to raise awareness for the ministries it supports. This year, Bishop Hying is excited to introduce Eric and Laura teDuits as the 2022 ACA Chair Couple. Eric, Laura, and their 5 children are members of Our Lady Queen of Peace parish in Madison. Throughout their 28 years as members, they have been heavily involved in everything from supporting the parish school, volunteering with the marriage preparation courses, serving meals at the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) and most importantly, attending Mass as a family on Sundays. The teDuits have been long time supporters of the ACA and one of the reasons that they chose to continue to give is because of the "myriad of ministries that are funded through the
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nd me o ope g y ACA across the diocese that evangelize, nurture serve those who struggle." They especially value the ACA supports service ministries, particularly involvement with the meal program at the CMC as a family helping others, while also giving thei learn to love to serve others. Eric and Laura hop that their participation will encourage others to
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g the faith community, and e the ways that the diocese a the CMC. Through their C, they were able to spend tim r children the opportunity to pe to lead by example and ho support the ACA, as well.
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Pastor Fr. Scott Emerson reads to students at St. Maria Goretti School in Madison.
(Contributed photo)
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