By John McCracken
Correspondent
GREEN BAY – Less than an hour after class was dismissed Tuesday, May 4, teachers at Holy Family Catholic School were shocked to learn they each received a special gift.
An anonymous donor donated $1,000 to each contracted teacher in the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System in appreciation for their hard work and continued in-person instruction throughout the 2021-22 school year.
GRACE President Kimberly Desotell said teachers in the school system have not wavered in their quest, and the anonymous donor wanted to show appreciation for the turbulent times instructors endured.
“In the words of the donor, (the teachers) ‘just got the job done,’” said Desotell.
The donation nears $190,000 with nearly 190 GRACE teachers.
GRACE is comprised of nine schools offering preschool through eighth-grade education and serves alongside 23 Catholic parishes in the Greater Green Bay area.
GRACE Boarversd Chair Bill Micksch said the gift could not have come at a better time, as the system celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week alongside its 10-year anniversary.
“This is a testimony of the value of our Catholic school teachers and the way in which they have served students and families first, during this challenging year,” said Micksch.
Jodi Sullivan, a first-grade teacher at Holy Cross for 22 years, said teachers faced challenges they never imagined.
“Routines such as walking in the hall, using lockers, going out to recess, sitting down to lunch, literary centers, spacing desks versus using tables in the classrooms, and how to use school supplies all had to be reimagined,” said Sullivan, a Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction for 2013, 2019 and 2021.
Sullivan said the feat could not have happened without the support of coworkers, administration and parents.
“We are blessed by our wonderful school families,” she said.
Holy Cross kindergarten teacher Michelle Anderson said the news was overwhelming, but she already had an idea of how to she might spend the gift to purchase something uniquely her.
“I’ve been saving up for a new bass clarinet and this might tip me over the edge,” said Anderson.
Holy Cross middle school math teacher Patty Nennig said she echoed the speechless sentiments of her coworkers.
“It just feels so good to be appreciated,” said Nenning. “We did it for the kids. We did it for the families, and we would have done it without recognition.”