SCHOOL NEWS
Meet: Patricia Reams
A Covington Teach of the Year
"Catholic schools have always been a part of my life," says Patricia Reams, second and third grade teacher at St. Anthony School in Taylor Mill, KY. A graduate of Catholic elementary school, she attended Our Lady of Providence Academy before earning her bachelor and masters degrees in teaching from NKU. "I never considered any other career."
Mrs. Reams is one of three teachers who were presented with the diocese's Teacher of the Year Award at the Diocese of Covington's Catholic Schools Week mass. For the past 11 years the award, sponsored by the diocesan Association of Elementary School Administrators (AESA), has been presented to one or more teachers each year based on nominations by their peers.
Nomination forms for Mrs. Reams emphasized her enthusiasm and passion for her profession, her use of hands-on teaching techniques, her adoption of brain development exercises, her willingness to help other teachers and staff, and her work with families preparing students for the Sacraments.
"The nomination was a surprise," she says. "I never expected it. My first thought was, Am I worthy of winning this award? I have taught with three other teachers at St. Anthony School who won the AESA award in the past, but I never thought about being a winner myself."
St. Anthony is a small, urban school, one of six elementary schools in the Diocese of Covington's Alliance for Catholic Urban Education (ACUE) Consortium. Many of the families have low incomes and need tuition assistance. The result is a tight-knit student and faculty community, says Reams.
"I love St. Anthony School because of the small family atmosphere," she says. "We support one another in many ways. Our school families are also extremely supportive of our school. They share a lot of their time, talent and treasures to make St. Anthony a better place for their children."
After 20 years at St. Anthony, Mrs. Reams says "every day is still a new experience. I feel blessed to have an opportunity to live out my faith in an atmosphere that a Catholic school provides. On top of that I have an opportunity to share that faith with others. I cant imagine working anywhere else."
Her advice to teachers just starting out: Enjoy your students. "Enjoy their humor, their stories and sharing a part of their lives with them," she says. "Don't get caught up in planning and paperwork. Get caught up in your students."
And for teachers in Catholic schools, she says, remember to be examples of Christ. "The children are always watching us and listening to us, they trust us as they trust their parents to show them the way to live as Christians. Remember, their eyes are always on you."
Mrs. Reams and her family are members of St. Anthony parish. She is the fourth St. Anthony school teacher to have been give the ASEA award in the last 11 years. This year the ASEA also recognized Dave Schlachter of St. Catherine School in Ft. Thomas and Carol Simon of Prince of Peace School in Covington for their outstanding contributions to Catholic education.
Photo courtesy St. Anthony School.
