400 attend annual Catholic Educators Conference

Some 400 teachers, administrators and auxiliary staff of Catholic schools took part in the 2016 Diocesan Catholic Educators Conference, "Faith, Knowledge and Service…The Pillars of Catholic Education," held on Nov. 11 at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. Bishop Michael Mulvey opened the conference with the celebration of Mass. He thanked participants for being "agents of Jesus Christ".
 
"Our students need to know Jesus Christ. We have to think as visionaries…We have conquered the world–not been conquered by the world," he said. "We need not feel overcome by any ideology.
 
"Our Ideology died on the cross as a supreme act of love and rose from the dead and gave us his Spirit so that we could conquer the world." Bishop Mulvey said. "We need to be agents of hope, beginning with our family, ourselves and in the classroom. Our mandate is to put Jesus Christ first in all things. Which means love in all things, which means listening, forgiving and being merciful and teaching others to be merciful."
  
Keynote speaker Chelonnda Seroyer gave a presentation entitled "Creating a Customized and Highly Effective Classroom Management Plan" based on the teachings she attributes to Dr. Harry Wong. Stephanie Bonilla, Director of the Office for Safe Environment and Child and Family Resources, presented on how to report suspected abuse and Sister Barbara Netek, IWBS, presented, "The Jesus In Me."
 
Associate superintendent Nannette Quintanilla-Hatch with the Office of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Corpus Christi said Seroyer has for over 11 years "helped educators create customized, highly effective classroom management plans that have the power to transform their classrooms into well-oiled running machines."
 
Staff members, coaches, librarians, counselors and health coordinators attended separate workshops.
  
Top honors were presented to teacher Sister Mary Elizabeth Brehony, IWBS at Incarnate Word Academy Elementary, who received a bronze “Orthodox Crucifix” for serving 40 years in Catholic schools. Auxiliary staff members Diolanda Gonzalez, secretary at St. Joseph School in Alice, and Constance Burkart, library office manager at St. Patrick School were also recognized. They received an eight-inch fine pewter “Knotted Celtic Crucifix” for serving 35 years in Catholic schools. 
  
Paul Jimenez, custodian at Incarnate Word Academy, and Maria Alvarez, teacher at St. Gertrude School in Kingsville, each received an 18” “San Damiano Cross” for 30 years of service in Catholic schools.
  
The following administrators, educators and auxiliary staff members received a framed picture of “Our Lady of Guadalupe” for 25 years of service in Catholic schools: Ciria Puente, teacher at Central Catholic; Criselda Godines, secretary at Holy Family; Sandra Ledesma, teacher at Incarnate Word Academy Elementary; Betty Hill, teacher at Incarnate Word Academy Middle Level; Belinda Espinosa, teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Kathy Barnes, principal at Sacred Heart in Rockport; Noemi Gonzalez, teacher/assistant principal at St. Anthony in Robstown; and Angelica Serna, extended care at St. Joseph.
  
The following administrators and educators received the “Life of Christ” cross for serving 20 years in Catholic schools: Maggie Arrellano, cafeteria/office at Holy Family; Debbie Diegel, office at Incarnate Word Academy; Georgina Mortera, teacher at Incarnate Word Academy Elementary; Ricardo Bazan, teacher/dean at Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Randy Barnes, development/computers at Sacred Heart; Gloria Yvette Castro, aide at St. Gertrude; Marta Macias, and teacher at St. Pius X.
  
The following educators and auxiliary staff members received a 5x7 plaque for 15 years of service in Catholic schools: Patricia R. Salazar, secretary at Central Catholic; Calletana Muniz, aide at Incarnate Word Academy Elementary; Yvette Rangel, teacher at Incarnate Word Academy Elementary; Criselda DeLeon, coach at Incarnate Word Academy Middle Level; Ruby Lopez, cafeteria at Sacred Heart; and Angelica Abrego, P.E./coach at St. Joseph.
  
The following administrators and educators received the “Lamp of Knowledge” pin with blue stone for serving 10 years in Catholic schools: Delia Rosenbaum, vice principal at Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory; Margot Ortega, teacher at Incarnate Word Academy Middle Level; Karen Morrow, teacher at Incarnate Word Academy High; Jeanne Hepburn, teacher at St. John Paul II High; Jennifer Delarosa, teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Ann Morgan, teacher at Sacred Heart; Kathi Urbis, teacher at St. Pius X; and Elizabeth Vasquez, teacher at St. Pius X.
 
The following auxiliary staff members received the “Helping Hands” pin with blue stone for serving ten years in Catholic schools: Eloy Perez, maintenance at Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory; Lucy Perez, maintenance at Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory; Albert Perez, custodian at Central Catholic; Audra DeLeon, secretary at Incarnate Word Academy; Norma Colunga, aide at Incarnate Word Academy Elementary; Janelle Valadez, cafeteria at Our Lady of Perpetual Help; and Janie Lopez, office at St. John Paul II High School.

The following educators and counselors received the “Educator in Christ” pin for serving five years in Catholic schools: Maria Elena Zavala, principal at Holy Family; Sister Helga Leija, teacher at Incarnate Word Academy Elementary; Patricia Rivera, teacher at Incarnate Word Academy Elementary; Marci Levings, teacher at Incarnate Word Academy Middle Level; Marco Vasquez, teacher at Incarnate Word Academy Middle Level; Darla Montano, assistant principal at Incarnate Word Academy High School Level; Raul Ramon, principal at Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Stephanie Smith, teacher at Sacred Heart; Ernesto Gutierrez, teacher at St. Elizabeth in Alice; Sandra Beckmann, teacher at St. Gertrude; Maria T. Garcia, teacher at St. Joseph; Martha Leo, teacher at St. Joseph; Annabelle Neumann, teacher at St. Joseph; Susan Lang, teacher at St. Patrick; Ana Liza Stelker, tutor at St. Patrick; and Leigh Walsh, P.E./athletics teacher at St. Patrick.
 
The following auxiliary staff members received the “Service in Christ” pin for serving five years in Catholic schools: Ashton Benavides, P.E. at Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory; Maria Ramos, aide at Central Catholic; Amy Cantebury, advancement at Incarnate Word Academy; Dominique Damian, office at Incarnate Word Academy; Lydia Garcia, aide at Incarnate Word Academy Elementary; Elsa Plata, cafeteria at Most Precious Blood; Maria Vela, cafeteria at Most Precious Blood; Hada Rayo, aide at Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Charlene Dills, cafeteria at Sacred Heart; Maricruz Garcia, secretary at Sacred Heart; Melissa Gonzalez, P.E./computers at Ss. Cyril and Methodius; Hector Garcia, custodian at St. Anthony; Lupe Guerrero, cafeteria/aide at St. Anthony; Melissa Rodriguez, cafeteria at St. Anthony; Edna Lazo, custodian at St. Elizabeth; Lubi Tellez, office at St. Joseph; and Adriana Mora, office at St. Pius X.