Six receive Catholic education awards

September 19, 2024

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

The six recipients of this year’s Catholic school leadership awards were recently recognized by Bishop Walker Nickless and the Catholic Schools Foundation of the Diocese of Sioux City.

Three Catholic school teachers received the Excellence in Education Award designed for educators who not only strive for academic excellence but exhibit a true passion for Catholic education and strive to be a witness of their faith. This year’s recipients are Joyce Kellen of Sheldon St. Patrick School, Deb Peters of Storm Lake St. Mary School and Mindy Oberle of Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School.

There were also three recipients of the Good Shepherd Award that is given to staff members such as business personnel, custodians, school administrators or others – a school employee who emphasizes their Catholic identity and their faith permeates their work. This year’s recipients are Kim Boysen of Danbury Catholic School, Deb Franzenburg of Boone Sacred Heart School and Deacon Dan Goebel who previously served at Alton Spalding School and now is with Le Mars Gehlen Catholic School.

For each of these awards, recipients must have worked in any diocesan Catholic school for a minimum of five consecutive years. When nominated for the awards, they were accompanied by letters of support.

Excellent in Education awards

Joyce Kellen, presently a second grade teacher at St. Patrick’s, has worked at the school for 30 years teaching kindergarten, first grade as well as second. Previously, she taught at another diocesan Catholic school for six years.

“Receiving the award was a completely unexpected surprise,” she said. “I had no idea I had even been nominated. There are so many excellent educators in our Catholic schools and to be chosen from among them makes me feel very honored. It is an affirmation of my dedication to Catholic education and the students’ lives I have touched.”
In letters of support, the teacher was described as enthusiastic for faith formation, providing interactive activities to students, a listening ear to co-workers and is a witness to the faith at school and in her parish.

Kellen pointed out she believes in Catholic education because faith is the foundation of the school and it helps students build a relationship with God that will assist them in making good choices throughout their lives.

“It permeates every aspect of our day enabling us to help students develop not only academically but also spiritually,” she said. “Students learn ethical and moral values and are challenged to make the world a better place by making Christ-like decisions each day.”

Deb Peters, elementary teacher and interventionist, has taught at Storm Lake St. Mary School for 24 years. She began her career teaching fifth and sixth grade, spent some time in the first grade and now teaches Fundations for kindergarten, second and third grade. She also serves as an interventionist, working with groups of students who need extra reading or math help.

“Teaching in a Catholic school is part of my calling,” she said. “Sharing my faith with the students has been such a blessing to me. Sometimes the Holy Spirit takes over and my planned lesson gets paused while I share a story about a saint, a fact about our faith or we say a quick prayer together.”

Peters pointed out that Mother Mary has a hold on her – graduating from Remsen St. Mary’s, previously teaching at St. Mary’s in Madelia, Minnesota for seven years and now at Storm Lake St. Mary’s.

In letters of support, the teacher was described as someone who lives out the Catholic faith at school and in her parish, an excellent collaborator who is passionate about her students and is someone who has gained the respect of students as she empowers them to gain skills for success.

When the diocesan Catholic schools superintendent, Patty Lansink, announced her name after Mass, Peters noted she was surprised and deeply honored. She had been looking around, trying to guess which other teacher may be receiving the award.

Mindy Oberle, mathematics department chairperson, is in her 35^th year serving as a math teacher at Bishop Heelan with 10 years as the department head.

“I was very surprised and shocked when they announced my name. I had no idea this was coming. Three of my four kids and my father and husband were there. It was very special,” she said.Oberle said there are many reasons why she loves her job, including getting to attend weekly school Mass and the ability to share her faith with the students.

“The students are good kids and no two days are the same. I also work with some very talented educators who are dedicated to their jobs,” she said. “My administration is amazing and supportive and I work with families that are supportive and involved in their student's education. I'm lucky!”

In letters of support, she was described as an amazing teacher and person who is actively involved in the school and parish community. The letters stated Oberle not only models Gospel values at all times in her classroom but she has taken the challenge of inclusive education head on and has worked hard to help students who are behind grade level.

Good Shepherd awards

Kim Boysen, a paraprofessional at Danbury Catholic School, began her service there 10-plus years ago cleaning the school when they could not find someone to take the job.

“From there they asked me to come into the classroom and encouraged me to take the para course,” she said. “I love working with the students.”
In letters of support that accompanied the nomination form, it was stated that Boysen models her faith inside and out of school and always shares kindness, a listening ear and a willingness to help wherever needed. Before she was an employee, she was active at Danbury Catholic as a parent volunteer and served several years on the school board.

Upon learning she received the award, the paraprofessional said she was shocked, especially since a Danbury Catholic teacher won an award last year. Because Boysen believes it to be such a great honor, winning the award was emotional for her.

“The best part about working in a Catholic school is watching students grow in their faith and moral values,” said Boysen. “It’s fun to watch students grow from year to year.”

Deb Franzenburg of Sacred Heart School in Boone began her career at the school in 2010 as a kindergarten associate and then in 2017 she was hired as the director of development and marketing, a position she has held since 2017.

She described it as a wonderful experience to receive the award during an all-school Mass with her parents and two children in attendance. It was both a surprise and incredible honor for her.
That setting was perfect to receive the award because Franzenburg said being around the students was the best part of the job.

“I start each school day doing Walking Club for our students. I love visiting with the kids – whether it’s the older kids or offering comfort to our preschool students as they come for their first days. Lunchtime is equally enjoyable. The little kids always beg to have a grown up sit at their table,” she said, quipping, “The big kids, not so much.”

In letters of support, Franzenburg was commended for her work with starting up the Children’s Rosary at Sacred Heart and other acts of service such as becoming a level one instructor for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to help share the faith with school and parish religious education students. She has been described as welcoming, dependable and committed to Catholic education.

Deacon Dan Goebel, who most recently served as the development and enrollment director as well as religion teacher for fifth and sixth grade at Alton Spalding Catholic until it closed in the spring, is now director of faith formation and religious education at Gehlen Catholic Schol in Le Mars.

I was quite surprised and very humbled when we gathered in the gym and they announced this,” he said. “I am just one person among so many who have the opportunity to serve in a Catholic school and so I feel honored to represent my coworkers as well.”
In the nomination process, letters of support described Deacon Goebel as a humble servant of the Pilgrim Cluster churches, a well-respected Catholic school leader who is kind and caring with a strong work ethic.

Deacon Goebel said he was blessed to experience Catholic education for himself as a student at Spalding Catholic and his daughters also got to experience that gift at Spalding and Gehlen.

“I am grateful to be able to share – and receive – the beauty of our Catholic faith with the staff and students at Gehlen,” he said. “In today’s culture especially, students and families need to develop and nourish a relationship with Jesus and his church. I believe that takes place in our Catholic schools.”

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