Nativity Elementary Principal Wins National Award
Sister Mary Jo has been the Principal at Nativity Elementary in Biloxi for 23 years. Colleen Kavanagh, a 6th grade teacher at Nativity Elementary, says, "She would do anything in the world for any of us. We all feel like she’s a big part of our family.”
Sister Mary Jo is highly respected by her colleagues and students, and now has gained national recognition. She says, "It was really overwhelming when I got the news. It was just before Christmas break and I really consider it an honor for my religious community who’ve trained me, for the people I’ve worked with around the country."
The N.C.E.A. looks for principals who have established community ties, show strong educational leadership, and are respected by parents, colleagues, and students. It’s no secret that the kids at Nativity Elementary are proud of their principal. Chaz Byers, a 2nd grader, says, "She’s one of the best principals in the world and she’s one of my favorite principals.”
McKinzy Mathais, another 2nd grader, says, "She’s really nice and she is the best teacher in the world." Jacob Arguellies, a 6th grader, says, "She is one of the bet people I’ve ever met, and I’ve met a lot of people."
The school’s theme this year is ‘Make Love Grow’ and the faculty says it’s the family atmosphere that fertilizes the growth of the school physically, academically, and spiritually. Sister Mary Jo says, "There’s such a family atmosphere here in our school. The children really take ownership for our school and really make it their own. The older children really look out for the younger children and that’s just very touching."
Kavanagh closes, "We don’t even think of her as a boss. She’s just family to us. She inspires us, she’s very faithful, and everything she does is just amazing and we all want to be more like her."
Sister Mary Jo will receive the award in Orlando, Florida on April 7th.
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