More Than 45 Years, More Than 1,000 Students
Sister Kathleen Marie Henscheid, SCL, In Her Own Words
Newsletter provided by the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph
Published 05/16/2005 on their website. Permission to reprint granted 05/16/2005
Teaching is a demanding profession. No one enters the classroom because of the summer vacation or the salary. In the fall of 1957, Sister Kathleen Marie Henscheid brought her passion for the young people and her high standards into the classroom at St. Louis School. Forty-eight years later, she's still going strong and has left a legacy of student achievement, faith development, and more than 1,000 young minds open to learning about the world.
We visited with Sister Kathleen Marie and captured her wisdom. Walk with us down memory lane. Our guide is a real classroom pro. See how she's made a life inspiring minds.
What do you remember about your first day as a teacher?
Sister Kathleen Marie: My first year of teaching was at St. Louis School in Kansas City, Missouri, which later became St. Martin de Porres. There were 38 students in my class that year. I remember thinking as I looked into those little fifth grade faces, "What do I do now?" Even with the teaching courses I had taken, what proved to be most valuable to me was the mentoring by other Sisters of Charity. By their example and advice, I learned many "tricks of the trade."
How has education changed over the intervening years?
Sister Kathleen Marie: Even with the technological advancements and the extra curricular opportunities that children have today, I've come to believe that kids are the same as they were years ago. So much depends on a positive student-teacher relationship.
If you could relive any particular day with any particular group of students, where were you and what made that a unique experience?
Sister Kathleen Marie: For years, I've collected baby food jars so that each student in my class could make a lighted Christmas tree for his or her family. I'm always thrilled to see the amazement in their eyes as we countdown and plug them in after an Advent prayer service. It resembles a mini Plaza lighting ceremony! A parent once remarked on the mind-boggling number of trees that light up former students' Kansas City homes.
What's different about the vocation of being a Catholic school teacher?
Sister Kathleen Marie: I treasure being able to share my Catholic faith with the students God has placed on my path these many years. Their insights have certainly enriched my spiritual life. I value the priority that our Catholic schools place on religion which, hopefully, permeates every aspect of their Catholic education. I pray that because of their elementary experience, their relationship with God grows and deepens.
Why should young people consider becoming a teacher?
Sister Kathleen Marie: Teaching is a great vocation! It enables one to shape the lives of young people, and prepares them for the future in so many ways. In spite of the violence and turmoil in the world, it's comforting to know that we've touched the lives of so many human beings who have turned out to be such a wonderful "workers in the vineyard."
Over the years and through the smiles, Sister Kathleen Marie Henscheid has been that favorite teacher to more than 1,000 of our community's most valued resource: our young people.