St. Rose School Teachers

“Living out a sacred mission…”

2009-10 Faculty Pastor: Fr. Michael Schmitz Head Teacher: Mr. Scott Becker Preschool: Mrs. Rebecca Geneski Preschool Aid: Mrs. Toni Lynn Merchen Grade 1: Mrs. Sandy Blaalid Grade 2: Mrs. Kristi Steffen Grade 3: Mrs. Amanda Kauth Grade 4: Mrs. Mary Jane Uhing Grade 5: Mr. Scott Becker & Mrs. Rebecca Geneski Grade 6: Mrs. Ginger Schieffer Grade 7: Mrs. LaNeda Kuehler Grade 8: Mrs. Donna Arens Physical Education: Mrs. Judy Guenther Computer Education: Mrs. Karen Leader & Miss Kimberly Donner Librarians: Mrs. Julie Boecker & Mrs. Marietta McFarland Music Ministry: Mrs. Nancy Wortmann Office Volunteers: Mrs. Maxine Steffen, Mrs. Marietta McFarland, Mrs. Mary Jean Steffen School Secretary: Mrs. Mary Thoene Custodian: Mr. Clair Rupiper

back row, left to right - Sandy Blaalid, Amanda Kauth, Kristi Steffen, Scott Becker, Mary Jane Uhing front row, left to right - Donna Arens, Ginger Schieffer, LaNeda Kuehler, Toni Lynn Merchen, Rebecca Geneski, Mary Thoene

Certified Teaching Staff – Eight full-time teachers/Full-time Head Teacher

St. Rose School is State of Nebraska approved and certified by the Archdiocese of Omaha. The school meets and exceeds all of the educational standards of the State of Nebraska, and also meets and exceeds the additional rigorous Religious standards required by the Archdiocese.

All of St. Rose School teachers maintain current teaching certificates for the State of Nebraska. All teachers at St. Rose have B.A. degrees in education, and specialized endorsements for their particular grade level or discipline. Several of our teachers also have completed advanced level courses toward Masters degrees.

St. Rose faculty members served hot chocolate in the church parking lot to parents who were dropping students off at school and to school alumni, volunteers and friends during Catholic Schools Week.

Professional Staff Development

Our teachers have visited and observed at neighboring schools, and each is evaluated each year by a professional outside evaluator, and they make strategic plans based on evaluations for future improvements and enhancements in the classroom.

· Teachers Observed Classes at these Area Schools in 2009 – Papillion-Lavista, Papillion; Guardian Angels, West Point; O’Gorman Junior High, Sioux Falls; St. Benedict, Yankton; St. Lambert, Sioux Falls; East Catholic, Bow Valley; St. John the Apostle and North American Martyr’s Schools, Lincoln, to name a few.

· Just a Few Favorite Professional Workshops and Education Development Programs – “Safe and Secure” Training, Discipline With Purpose (DWP), Catholic Schools Symposium, Classroom Technology, Love and Logic, Nebraska Literacy Conference, Guided Reading Management, “Loose in the Lab” Science Workshop, Diabetes Training, Teaching the Seven Keys to Comprehension, Vocabulary Enriched Classrooms, Foundation of Faith, Archdiocesan Social Studies Revision Committee, Bible Study, Qualities of an Effective Teacher Workshop, CRP Training, Defibrillator Training, to name a few.

St. Rose teachers typically are involved in coordinating student efforts at parish and school stewardship and volunteerism. They also help individually with fundraising for the school and parish and are ambassadors for the school in the greater community.

· Parish and School Volunteer Work by our Teachers Individually – Parish bazaars, editing parish newsletters. Guild leadership roles, liturgy committees, Unity Supper and Auction, Fish Fry, Evangelization and Faith Formation, raffles, serving as EMHC, lectors, scheduling and training Mass servers, parish centennial committee, school centennial committee, coaching, Sacrament retreats, Vacation Bible School, Star Trail maintenance, painting in school, Confirmation teachers, special school study hall and spaghetti feed for tuition assistance fund, to name a few.

Sacred Mission

For our teachers, being an instructor at St. Rose School is more than just a job. They view it more of a “mission” in life and we appreciate their kind and heroic efforts on behalf of our students.

It is with this spirit in mind that our faculty members begin each school day before our students arrive with their own prayer service as a teaching staff.