Office Staff
| Principal -
Sharon Blentlinger
began her life as an IC parishioner,
attended IC School through the 8th grade and graduated from St. Anne's
Academy in 1973. She married Keith in 1974 and had 3 beautiful
daughters, Kerri, Kelli, and Tara. She has 3 granddaughters who are starting
their education here at IC. Mrs. "B", as our students call her,
received a Bachelor of Science Degree, with Math Endorsement from Arkansas
Tech and a Masters in Education from University of Arkansas. She began
teaching at IC in 1978 with 5th graders and later taught 5&6 grade math and
algebra to the 9th graders at IC Junior High. She taught for 8 years before
becoming our principal in 1986. In 2005 she has been award the
National Catholic Educational Association Dr. Robert J. Kealey Distinguished
Principal Award. She has also been awarded for 25 years of
service to the Catholic Schools of Arkansas and has received the Girl
Scout's Woman of Distinction. She was a member of Leadership Fort
Smith's class of 1999 and is a member of the Junior League of Fort Smith,
where she initiated the CASA program that continues today. Mrs. "B" is
a member of the NCEA, served at treasurer & membership director for "On the
Border Reading Council" for 2 years and is a consultant for the Catholic
Schools of Arkansas. In the rare moments that she is not at school or
church events she enjoys reading and being a grandmother. One of her
favorite quotes is "All children are good; but sometimes good children make
bad choices."
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Office Staff |
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| Judy Hansen greets everyone with a smile when they enter our office, where she has been working since 1988. She attended IC School for 8 years and her 3 children graduated from IC School. Before joining our IC family, she worked as a bank bookkeeper. She was active in Project Compassion and enjoys reading. Her favorite quote is "Old age is always 15 years older than I am." |
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| Pam Seiter is our Business Manager. She has an Associates Degree from Westark and worked at ABF Freight System, Inc. for 13 years. She took a few years off to concentrate on her family, which includes her husband, twin boys and a daughter. Then she was given the wonderful opportunity to work at her children's school as a Kindergarten Aide. In 2006 she moved into the office. She enjoys working with the children and feels that God has blessed her with this wonderful experience and the chance to be with her children while she is working. She actively supports her husband in a Volunteer Fire Department, where she is a member of their Auxiliary. Her favorite things to do are spend time with family, go to the lake, travel and help out at school. Her favorite quote is "What if volunteers never volunteered?" |
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| Kindergarten | |
| Diane Aldrich brings to this job a love of children and a vast experience. She has a M.A.T. and began teaching 2nd grade in 1969 at Smithville, Missouri, after one year she moved to 1st grade in Kansas City, Kansas, where she spent five years, then Long Beach, Missouri, for one year, Parkville, Missouri, for two years, Ronceverte, West Virginia, for two years, then Immaculate School in Kirksville, Missouri for ten years. She was hired at IC to teach Kindergarten in 1999. She was married in 1969 and has 3 girls and 1 boy and is enjoying her grandchildren immensely. She is very active in our community through Girl Scouts (who gave her a "Thanks" Badge), IC Choir, Community Choir, Friends of the Library, Red Cross (where she teaches a babysitting course) and is a volunteer for S.T.A.R.S. She helps out with our school choir because she loves to sing and dance (She had 13 years of dance lessons, 10 years of piano and voice, and 2 years of private drama lessons). She is a member of International Reading Association, National Catholic Educators Association, and National Educators Association. Mrs. Aldrich loves to be outside in nature, enjoys animals, clowning, reading books and listening to music. Her favorite quote is "To err is human, to forgive divine." |
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| Lynn Lane - Many children have been blessed to be in Mrs. Lane's Kindergarten Class since 1977. She came to us from First Methodist Day School where she taught for 3 years. She has a Masters Degree in Education, is married with 3 children and 5 grandchildren. She is an avid golfer who loves to read, enjoys art and all things historic. She is part of the Association for Childhood Education International, Phi Delta Kappa, Planning Committee for Frontier Fest at The Riverfront Park and she is a volunteer at St. Edwards Hospital. |
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| Clarissa McGrew is a Kindergarten Aide. She loves working at IC School. She feels this is her best job ever and that it is a calling from God. She says "There is nothing more special than a child's smile with a hug." She was hired as a Kindergarten Teachers Aide in 1988 and teaches Religion and Handwriting to the Kindergarten since 2001. She was a Cosmetics Department Manager at Venture and worked with under privileged children at the Fort Smith Health Department before joining our IC family. On April 25, 1980 she married the most wonderful man, Sam, and had two sons and a daughter, who all attended IC School. A favorite quote of hers comes from Mother Teresa, "You can do no great things. Only small things with great love." |
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| Lori Hines is a Kindergarten Aide. She joined the staff here at IC in 2006 after enjoying several years as a substitute teacher and mother of IC students. |
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First Grade |
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| Ann Cannon hold a Bachelor of Arts in Education from University of Mississippi. She was born in Fort Smith and resided here until going to college. After teaching Kindergarten for one year, 2nd grade for three years, and one year of preschool, she and her husband returned to Fort Smith. She began teaching 1st grade at IC in 2000. She is a member of IC Church and has 3 children. Mrs. Cannon is a member of IRA, ARA-On the Border, and ASCD. |
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| Laurie Hindman says "My other career is being a mother. It's my most difficult career and helps make me a better teacher." She grew up in IC Parish and attended IC Schools for nine years. She holds a BSE from UCA and a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She worked at IC from 1982-88, teaching 3rd grade for four years and 2nd grade for two years. Then she took a break to pursue her other career of "Mother". She substituted at IC during this time and was hired to teach 1st grade in 2002, when her youngest child started to Kindergarten. She is married to Philip and they have 5 children, who all attended IC School. She was secretary for SNEA, a member of ARA, IC Church Choir and Ladies Auxiliary, and she volunteers at The Clearinghouse. When she finds time between teaching and attending her children's ballgames she likes to read and do cross-stitch. |
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| Amelia Hamm is a teachers aide. She says that "Working in a school environment with young children brings out my better qualities and gifts." She is married to Gary and they are active members of IC Church. The have 4 children and some beautiful grandchildren. She was a Surgical Assistant for Oral Surgeons for 7 years and a paraprofessional at Albert Pike and Morrison School before coming to join our IC School family. She loves to go to Lake Quachita to enjoy all of it's beauty and water fun. |
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Second Grade |
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| Cindy Robertson is teaching in the same room in which she attended 2nd grade. This was also her Dad's 4th grade classroom. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with Middle School Endorsement for Business. She is a lifelong member of IC Church and is married with one daughter. She worked at First National Bank for 10 years as a teller and a clerk in the Trust Department. She spent a few years at home with her family. Mrs. Robertson taught at Central Presbyterian Mother's Day Out and Central Presbyterian Child Development Center, then was hired to teach 2nd grade at IC School in the fall of 1997. She is a member of the National Catholic Educators Association and volunteers for the Riverfront Blues Society. She loves to read, go to concerts and spend time with her family. Her favorite quote is "By learning you will teach; by teaching you will learn." |
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| Kathleen Weidman began teaching at IC in 2003 after 12 1/2 years working for the Fort Smith Public School System. She has a Bachelors and a Masters Degree in Education with a Supervisor Certification. She is married to an IC graduate and they have 4 daughters. They were named the Fort Smith Family of the Year in 200_. She is a member of Learning Disabilities Association, Council for Exceptional Children, National Catholic Educational Association, AEA, NEA and a board member for the Girl Scouts. She enjoys reading, music of all kinds, travel, family gatherings and spending time with her daughters. Her favorite quote is ""Your life is God's gift to you, what you do with it is your gift to God." (Danish Proverb) |
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| Ginny Bauer is a teachers aide. |
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Third Grade |
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| Laura Elwood is a life time member of Immaculate Conception Church, she attended IC School through 9th grade and has been teaching here since 1984. She taught 1st and 4th grades before moving to the 3rd grade, where she is loved by all her students for her patience and love. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education/Mildly Handicapped (K-12). She is married. She is a member of the National Catholic Educators Association. Mrs. Elwood's favorite quote is "Listen to what you are taught. Be wise; do not neglect it." Proverbs 8:33 |
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| Christine Maestri is a convert to the Catholic faith and has been teaching at IC School since 1984, when she began as 1st grade teacher. In 2000 she moved to 3rd grade where she took on the challenge of teaching both class rooms to multiply! She has a Bachelors of Science Degree, K-6, she is married and has 4 children that have attended IC School. She is member of NCEA and enjoys gardening. Mrs. Maestri believes, "It's easier to build a child than to repair an adult" and works hard to make this evident in her classroom. |
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| Fourth Grade | |
| Patty Frala is a life long member of IC Church. She and her daughter attended IC School. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education. In 1988 she became a 2nd grade teacher here at IC. After 16 years with that age group she moved to teaching 4th grade in 2004. She is a member of On The Border Reading Association and International Reading Association. Her favorite quote is from Jake Elwood in "The Blues Brothers" - "We are on a mission from God." |
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| Cheri Danciu felt God calling her to make a change in her life. She always wanted to teach and after much prayer she knew that pursuing this dream was the right thing to do with her life. Although she enjoyed her 25 years in Investments and Banking, she began her quest to teach and God lead her to our school where her 2 children, Joseph and Elizabeth Casanova, had graduated and she and her husband Jack were planning to send Timothy. Mrs. Danciu has been a member of Immaculate Conception Parish since she converted to the Catholic faith in 1984. She graduated from the University of the Ozarks in 1986, she is a Series 7 and 65 Registered Investment Advisor, and also has an Arkansas Insurance License. She graduated Valedictorian of the 2004 Arkansas Bankers Trust School. She feels especially blessed that she has the opportunity to teach in the Christian environment here at IC School. |
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| Fifth Grade | |
| Cille McGowan came to us in 2001 with experience in elementary and middle school educating in Texas, Arkansas and Florida. She taught Fourth grade until 2005, when she became our Fifth and Sixth grade English Teacher. She has a B. S. in Elementary Education, with Middle School Social Studies and E.S.O.L. She was born in Fort Smith, married upon college graduation and has two daughters and a son, all residing in Florida. She is a member of the National Education Association, Classroom Teachers Association, International Reading Council and Pi Beta Phi Alumni Club. She was given the "Outstanding Teacher Award" by the Palm Beach Post. She enjoys reading and doing needlepoint in her free time. She is quoted in the Harcourt Brace's Treasury of Literature's Florida Component as saying "In order to truly understand a child academically, read what that child has written." |
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| Sandi Waynick is a 5th grade homeroom teacher; she teaches social studies to all 5th, 6th, and 2nd graders. She began teaching at IC School in 1983. Mrs. Waynick holds a B.S. and a M.S.A./Elementary & Middle School Social Studies Teaching Certificate. She is married and has one son. She is a volunteer in her church music program. She is listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers and is an active member of On The Border Reading Council. Mrs. Waynick is able to make social studies interesting to her students by using many different techniques. The 5th and 6th graders do several hands on projects through out the year. She enjoys parenting, music, movies, and doing crossword puzzles. |
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Sixth Grade |
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| Janet Smith is a 6th grade homeroom teacher and teaches math to both 5th and 6th grades. She was hired in 1972 by Sr. Wilhelmina as the 4th grade teacher. After 5 years she began teaching Math Resource. She moved to 6th grade in 1977. Mrs. Smith has a Bachelor of Science from Arkansas Tech, certified K-6. She is married to Mike and they have 2 grown sons who attended IC School. Mrs. Smith received the 1996-97 "Outstanding Educator" Award by ACEI and the 1997 "Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year". She is a member of National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Association of Childhood Education International, National Catholic Education Association, and Arkansas Reading Association. Her favorite quote is from Mother Teresa, "We will never know how much just a simple smile will do". |
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| Ann Hill, began teaching at IC in January of 1998, teaching 4th grade for a year and a half, then moved to 5th & 6th grade Science until May 2003. She took off a year and returned in August 2004 to teach PE. In 2005 she returned to her position as 5th and 6th grade Science teacher. She is married and has 1 daughter. Mrs. Hill holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and taught 5th grade for 3 years & 6th grade for 4 years at IC School in North Little Rock before joining our staff. She is a member of N.C.E.A. and the National Association for Math & Science Teachers, she has been involved in the Special Olympics and the American Heart Association Heart Walk. Mrs. Hill enjoys staying active, running, and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite quote is from Christa McAuliff, "I touch the future, I teach." |
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| Additional Faculty | |
| Larissa Sterling, Aide 4th, 5th & 6th Grade, Before & After School Care, is a busy lady. She began working at IC School in 2004 with the After School Care Program, then moved into the position of 4th, 5th and 6th grade Aide and took on the Before School Program as it started in 2005. Mrs. Sterling was born and raised in Fort Smith and is a 2001 graduate of Southside High School. In 2002 she married Brandon and they have a sweet daughter, named Addison. She loves children and feels very blessed to get to work with such a great group of children. She loves going to the lake, spending time with her family, shopping, and singing with her daughter. Her favorite quote is "Blessed is he who speaks a kindness; thrice blessed is he who repeats it." |
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| Malis Dahlem, Spanish, teaches Kindergarten through 6th grade students the beginning skills of speaking Spanish. She joined our IC family in 1998. Mrs. Dahlem was born in Mexico City and raised in Irapuato, Guanajuato. She attended 1-12 grades in a Catholic School. She attended College (or University, as it is called in Mexico) at the Technologic Institute of Superior Studies of Monterrey (ITESM) she got a D.S. Bachelors Degree in B.A. in 1991. While still at University, she did social work as a Business Administration teacher to students in 10-12 grades, she taught Basic English in an English Academy; as a University student she attended several national and international seminars and workshops in Marketing, Human Resources and Business Administration. She attended the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. In high school she was part of the swimming team and played mandolin and bass in the school band. She also worked as an Office Assistant in her father's factory until graduation; after graduation she moved to Mexico City and worked at a department store as a Human Resources manager. Mrs. Dahlem worked at a True Value Variety Store as manager helping the owners to start the business in Irapuato and she helped start an English Academy where she was the Principal. She has always loved to travel. In 1996 she came to Fort Smith, met her husband and joined IC Parish. She joined our IC School family in 1998. Donnie and their 3 children have attended IC School. She was a member of the Hispanic Board of BankcorpSouth for 4 years; she is active in PRE and RCIA in our parish and is Girl Scout Leader. Mrs. Dahlem is an advanced blue belt in Tae Kwon Do and loves to read, listen to music, taking pictures, working on her computer and is very passionate about all kinds of animals. Her favorite quote is from The Lord's Prayer, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." |
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| Heidi Dougherty, K-3 Art, |
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| Sr. Mary Sarto Gaffney, Library, was born and raised in Ireland. She has three brothers and three sisters. She was educated in the National Public Elementary School System in Ireland and was taught by the Sisters of Mercy at Immaculate Conception Secondary School. She taught for fourteen years in Mississippi before coming to IC School in 1979. Sister Mary Sarto holds a Master's Standard 10 year Elementary 1-6; Librarian K-12 and she studied Spanish for two years in 2001-03. Sister Mary Sarto is a member of the Board of Advisors at St. Edward's Mercy Medical Center, a member of National Catholic Education Association and On The Border Reading Council. She serves as a lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and enjoys knitting and reading. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 is her favorite verse. |
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| Debbie Jarboe, started working at IC School in 1989 in the Cafeteria. The next year she became Kindergarten Aide then 2nd Grade Aide for several years. She now is 3rd Grade Aide, Title 1 Coordinator and is involved in our After School Care Program. Her favorite quote is "It's easier to build a child, than to repair an adult." Mrs. Jarboe has been married since 1973 and has 3 daughters and a son. She loves to shop, 4-wheel in the Fall and Spring, but her favorite hobby is spending time with her grandchildren. She was involved with Church League Baseball for 12 years, where she was over the concession stand for about 4 of those years. Mrs. Jarboe greets our students in the morning with a chipper "Good Morning" as she carries out her duties guiding our crossing guards. |  |
| Dian Ketter, Computer, is our resident "Computer Lady", when a computer has a glitch, she's on the job. She teaches computer to grades K-6. The children learn everything from the parts of a computer, keyboarding skills, how to work in Word, FrontPage, all the way up to producing a PowerPoint presentation. Mrs. Ketter is involved in many class projects, research papers - anything involving computers. She started working at IC in 1988 as a Kindergarten teacher and taught 1st and 3rd grades before moving downstairs to the Computer Lab. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Arkansas Tech, K-6 with Middle School Social Studies, plus 28 hours in IT from University of Arkansas, Fort Smith. She is married and has 2 sons and 2 daughters. She is member of National Catholic Educator Association and is active in our Parish Choir and Sigma Alpha Chi Honor Society. When she's not working on our computers Mrs. Ketter enjoys reading, playing with her grandchildren and listening to music. Her favorite quote is "Teachers make all other professions possible." |
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| Susan McFerran, ALPHA, Enrichment & 6th Grade Reading, Mrs. McFerran's favorite quote is "The most wasted day of all is that one in which we have not laughed", she tries to be sure that the children never have any "wasted days" here at IC School. She got married in 1975 and has 3 children. She has a B.S. in Education. She has taught: 1st Grade - Barling Elementary,1976; 4th Grade - DuVal Elementary, 1977; 2nd Grade - IC School,1978-81; 4 year old Preschool at First Methodist before returning to us in 1986. She is a member of NCEA, and The Reading Council. She enjoys tennis, reading and working out (a little). |
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| Patty O'Brien, has worn many hats since joining our family in 1980 - Day Care Director/Liaison, Bookkeeper/Secretary, 1st Grade & Kindergarten Aide before becoming our Religion Teacher in 2003. In the past she has also been our PTO President, served as School Board Secretary and Parish Council Secretary. She has worked with R.C.I.A., is a Eucharistic Minister and helps with P.R.E. She has an Advanced Certificate in Religion and will be pursuing a degree in Theology through the Loyola program at the Diocese of Little Rock, she has a A.A.R.T. from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California and an A.A. from U.A.F.S. She is married and has 2 children that graduated from IC School. She is a member of A.A.R.T. & C.A.R.T. and has supported our community through Junior League, Literacy Council, Girls Scouts, St. Edwards Auxiliary, Meals On Wheels, D.A.R. and Colonial Dames. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, reading, and photography. She is quoted saying, "Never hurry, never raise your voice; give everyone and every task your full attention." | |
| Randy Ragsdale, Music, works with Kindergarten to 6th grade students. Moving his key board from room to room, teaching our children the joy of music in many fun and creative ways. He is Choir Director at school (4-6 grade volunteers) and Music Director at IC Church. He holds a B.A. from University of Arkansas, Little Rock. He became Catholic in 1978 and began teaching at IC School in the Spring of 1987. He is a state and national member of N.A.P.M. and is active in Church Outside the Walls. He enjoys cooking and basketball. His favorite quote is "If your heading the wrong way. God allows U-turns." |
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| Barbara Saxon, became our Counselor in 1985 and also serves as counselor at Trinity Catholic Junior High. She is married with 3 children and enjoyed her years as a mother before becoming a teacher. She has a B.S. in Education and a Masters in Education & Counseling. She taught for 2 years in Van Buren before joining our IC family. She is a member of the Northwest Arkansas School Counselors Association. When she is not at one of the schools, she enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time at the lake. |
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| Susan Schulte, Learning Lab, She began teaching 2nd grade at IC School in 1986. In 1998 she started our Learning Lab. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Hendrix College and a M.S. in Special Education, Mildly Handicapped K-12, from the University of Arkansas. She was born at St. Edward's Hospital (across the street from IC), was educated in Fort Smith Public Schools and was married in 1975. She has two daughters and a son. Before joining our IC School family she taught the Resource Room for 3 years at City Heights Elementary, Van Buren and 5 1/2 years at Raymond Orr Elementary, Fort Smith, and also taught learning disabled children in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children - LD Division. She is a former Stephen's Minister and Sunday School teacher at First United Methodist Church. She volunteers at the Mercy Classic, the Diamond Classic Baseball Tournament and Tournament of Champions for Girls' Basketball. Mrs. Schulte was given the Lula Malone Memorial Award for Outstanding Work in the field of Special Education, 1984; was put in the ACEI Hall of Excellence in 1997, and was awarded a Community Grant for her work with puppets. She enjoys doing calligraphy (and will address envelops for weddings), reading, and watching baseball. She also likes to cook and entertain. Mrs. Shulte's favorite quotes are "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right" and "There's always room at the top.". | |
| Becky Wewers Skeen Johnson, 3-6 Art, Mrs. Johnson also teaches 7-9 grade Art at Trinity Junior High and has been the sponsor for Cheer and/or Drill Teams at Trinity since 1995. She grew up and was educated at St. Boniface Elementary School, attended St. Scholastica until it closed, then attended her Senior year and graduated from St. Anne's Academy in 1969. She attended Westark for 1 year, then graduated from University of Central Arkansas with a B.S.E. Degree, Art/English. She taught high school Art and English for 6 1/2 years in Clarendon, Arkansas before being hired at IC in 1983. Mrs. Johnson was awarded the Arkansas Secondary Art Educator of the Year Award, the Arkansas Art Educator's Distinguished Service Award and sees many of her students win awards every year. She is a member of Arkansas Art Educators, National Art Education Association, and National Catholic Educators Association. She has two children who attended IC School and enjoys calligraphy, baking breads, and motorcycle rides. Mrs. Johnson says "I can't imagine a better place than the Immaculate Conception/Trinity Junior High community to work and spend my days." |
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| Lisa Cullen says "Every job is a self portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence." Anyone can see this in her work, as she takes care of the children as our school nurse. She has an Associates Degree in Nursing with experience as a St. Edwards Emergency Room Nurse 1980-83, Nursing Supervisor 1983-85 and an Out Patient Nurse 1985-87. She is married with 4 children, who all attended IC School. She is a member of IC Parish and attended IC School herself. She came to work at IC in 1998 working 2 days a week as our school nurse and in 2003 took on the added responsibility of being our full time office manager, in 2006 she will be filling in until a new school nurse can be found. Mrs. Cullen enjoys photography, gardening, reading, cooking, and traveling. |
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