Archdiocese introduces Counselor of the Year awards

by John Sorce
john.sorce@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Catholic Schools Week is traditionally a time to celebrate Catholic education. That usually means special cultural activities, grandparents’ days and lots of fun activities for the kids.

But here in the archdiocese, it has also become a week in which several very special teachers are recognized.

This year, for the first time ever, the archdiocese has added school counselors to its annual education awards.

Kathleen Feist of Holy Trinity School in Lenexa and Elaine Schmidtberger of Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park were the first recipients of the Elementary and High School Counselor of the Year awards.

According to Dr. Lorenzo Rizzi, associate superintendent of student services, counselors were added to the award this year to honor those who embody Christ’s compassion, wisdom and guidance.

“These counselors uplift their students, strengthen families and foster faith-filled communities where every child feels seen, heard and valued,” he said. “This describes the job and mission of a Catholic school counselor, and we feel it is important that we recognize them for that.”

The two joined Mary Jacobs of Holy Spirit School in Overland Park and Samantha Hendrix of St. James Academy in Lenexa in being honored; they were named Elementary and High School Teacher of the Year.

Elementary School Counselor of the Year: Kathleen Feist

Feist started as a Catholic school consultant as a volunteer in 2011 and was hired at Holy Trinity the following year through Catholic Charities.

Holy Trinity was Feist’s home parish, and it was ultimately her goal to work there and give back to the community that gave so much to her family.

“I was surprised because I did not know that award was starting this year,” she said. “All 10 of my grandkids were [at the assembly] but they were in the cry room, so I did not see them. I was very surprised and humbled.”

“Kathleen consistently goes above and beyond to support the emotional, social and academic well-being of our students,” said Holy Trinity vice principal Lori Henneberg. “She takes the time to build meaningful relationships with each student, fostering an environment of trust and understanding.

“She exemplifies the values of compassion, integrity and service that are foundational to our Catholic education community.”

Feist credited the Holy Trinity community with her success, and said the kids are what make her day.

“I think [educators] are at their best when they have a community of teachers and administrators that support each other,” she said. “We have the same goals to educate and help the children learn about God, and the kids are a bright spot.

“I never have a dull day because there is always something interesting going on, and the children just bring a lot of joy to myself and to others.”

High School Counselor of the Year: Elaine Schmidtberger

Schmidtberger has been in education for 45 years, with 42 of them spent at Bishop Miege. She was quite literally born into the program as her father was one of the school’s founding members the year she was born.

Needless to say, someone who has been at one place for pretty much her entire career has impacted generations of students.

“Angela Schermerhorn is the college counselor at St. James Academy, and I taught her here at Miege,” she said. “There are so many parents that still call me Mrs. Schmidtberger, and it’s almost been overwhelming the people that have come out of the woodwork from the ’80s that still reach out.”

For her, part of her ministry is about maintaining those relations over so many years and letting them know she is always there to help well after they leave Miege’s hallways.

“There’s a lot of people that continue to reach out because they know I love them,” she said. “That’s really the bottom line to this ministry  —  loving the students where they are and helping them navigate their years of adolescence.”

“Elaine Schmidtberger is the Catholic counselor,” said Bishop Miege principal Maureen Engen. “Her heart is huge with the love of Jesus, and she pours it into dozens of kids every day. Because she has been at Miege so long, she is known as the ‘generational counselor.’ Elaine is bigger than life in the Miege community and I would sing her praises every moment of every day. She is that precious.”

Elementary School Teacher of the year: Mary Jacobs

For Mary Jacobs, physical education has always been a way of life.

Jacobs grew up in St. Louis and was active in a variety of sports growing up. She said that becoming a physical education teacher seemed to be a natural fit.

She grew up going to Catholic school and has been in one ever since. She has been at Holy Spirit for 33 years after spending the previous six at the former Christ the King in Kansas City, Kansas.

Like Schmidtberger, Jacobs has been able to see some of the children of people she taught years ago come through her school, and credited the people at Holy Spirit for making it feel like home for over three decades.

“I think it’s important to show them how important God is,” she said. “We start every class with a prayer and we talk about how Jesus would want us to be treating each other. While things can get competitive at times, it’s important for them to know that being kind and respectful is more important than winning and losing.”

“What truly sets Mrs. Jacobs apart is her unwavering commitment to the Catholic faith,” said Holy Spirit principal Dr. Maureen Huppe. “Her faith is not something she simply teaches — it is something she lives. She has been a constant presence at our school’s religious activities, and every weekend can be found offering her time and support to the Catholic Youth Organization, helping to foster a deeper spiritual connection for our students through athletics and community. Her role as a mentor and guide in both faith and fitness is one that has deeply impacted the lives of many.”

High School Teacher of the Year: Samantha Hendrix

St. James Academy is a 50-minute commute one way for Samantha Hendrix.

But that doesn’t deter her from coming into work every day with a smile on her face.

“I have no desire to look elsewhere,” she said. “It’s a place where you are asked to be you, and they really try to use you in the best place for your talents.”

A member of the staff at St. James since 2008, Hendrix never envisioned working in computer science. Initially a math teacher, she was asked to start a program from scratch in 2016 and trusted the administration’s belief in her.

A few years later, she spearheaded the school’s new Spark Center for Academics.

“Starting both was scary,” she said. “I remember administration coming to me that first year and I didn’t know anything about computer science. But they believed in me, and I jumped right in and did my best. I still have those first couple of programs I made, and I can look back with pride about learning something new.”

“These were major career shifts with minimal resources or support available to help her,” said St. James principal Dr. Shane Rapp. “All she has done is help build one of the best and largest computer science programs in the area and establish our Spark Center as the flagship academic support program in our building.”

Hendrix, who also coaches swimming, appreciates the support that people show — not just for the staff inside the classroom, but for them as people outside of school.

She said her biggest goal that motivates her daily comes from a quote that Rapp shared during a recent assembly.

“Our principal said during an assembly, ‘Your attention is the greatest gift you can give,’ and that’s what I’m trying to be mindful of,” she said. “I want to give full attention to our students in front of us at the time so we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to our students.”