10 Reasons why I love Catholic schools -- in pictures

#1, Mentoring to one another

First day of School, St. James Catholic

#2, Academic achievement

Christopher, Notre Dame graduate and 

his then-fiancee Mary, St. Mary's College graduate, 2006

#3, Taking care of the body... and 

learning about TEAM= athletics

Anamaría & Rebekah @ St. James Catholic, OKC

#4, Celebrating and building family 

Halloween Festival @ St. James

#5, Sense of humor

Rebekah in Talent Show, "Sister Act," at St. James

#6, Building the Catholic faith

All Saints Catholic School

#7, Appreciation for beauty and the arts

Michelle at band, All Saints Catholic School, Norman

#8, Taking "values" to a new level

#9, Building TRADITION

Michelle, Anamaría & Michael at Notre Dame with friend Diana

#10, AND did I mention Teachers?!

Anamaría, Middle School Mathematics teacher @ All Saints, Norman

Michelle, Middle School History and English teacher @ St. Charles Borromeo 

Why I love Catholic Schools #2

Michelle at her first teaching job, 

Lourdes Central Catholic in Nebraska City, 

with her good friend Sally. 

As we celebrate

National Catholic Schools Week 2013

I'm proud to say that this year two of our daughters are teaching Middle School at Catholic schools! 

After two wonderful years at Lourdes Central Catholic in Nebraska City, Michelle is at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Oklahoma City, and Anamaría is at Michelle's alma mater, All Saints Catholic School in Norman. 

I have always been surrounded by teachers, all levels, all types of schools -- mother, father, brother, husband, father and mother in-law -- and now daughters and daughter in law! 

Coach Michelle praying with her volleyball team

Lourdes Central Catholic

Seeing first hand the hard work, energy, time-commitment and faithfulness of these family members who are teachers, I've always had a special place in my prayers for all teachers. 

Often underpaid, those who have made teaching their vocation do so because they're answering a special call to serve, and to spread the Gospel through their lives. This goes doubly so for Catholic school teachers, who  work extremely hard, often get paid less, and still go the extra mile for their students.

What does a Catholic School teacher look like? 

well, here's Michelle on "Superhero day"

Catholic Schools Week 2013

I love Catholic schools because of their teachers! 

Two fun videos:

one minute video of a typical day at a Catholic school

Diocese of St. Petersburg

And this one, a 6-minute video on Catholic schools

Diocese of Austin