West Virginia Department of Catholic Schools

 

MORGANTOWN—Nora Sheets, pre-kindergarten through eighth grade art teacher at St. Francis de Sales Central Catholic School in Morgantown, has been awarded the 2012 Distinguished Teacher Award from the Department of Elementary Schools of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).

Sheets has served Catholic schools in the diocese for 25 years. She was awarded the Bishop’s Cross Award in 1997 and received the Educator of the Year, “Dream Maker,” award from the West Virginia Women’s Commission in 2005.

 

“I am truly honored,” Sheets said, “but want all to know that it truly takes a village to educate the youth of today. I humbly accept this award but must share it with our St. Francis School community of students, families, faculty and staff who dedicate each day to our mission of life-long formation of the whole person according to the good news of Jesus Christ through faith community experience, academic excellence and a quality religious education.”

 

Sheets said that her effectiveness as a teacher stems from the Gospel and that she strives to incorporate themes of Catholic social justice into her projects. “Many of the issues we address and investigate via our art projects provide opportunities to advocate, empower, enrich and raise awareness of our students,” she said.

Sheets has devoted her life to working for social justice. She has traveled to countries like Kenya, Bosnia, Jordan and Columbia to document issues that plague the world’s most vulnerable. Through art therapy, she has ministered to children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder throughout the world. At home, she has worked on the social issues of hunger, poverty, civil rights and war.

 

Sheets added that all of her experiences have shaped her philosophy in the classroom, that is to “teach with compassion, understanding, love, and respect for all of my students. I strive to foster spiritual, emotional and academic growth so that my students will contribute positively to society.” Sheets said that her most rewarding experiences have been seeing students take the lessons of the classroom and applying them to life. “Our Students Against Landmines, Social Justice and Peace Clubs,” she said, “have made incredible advances in reaching out to our brothers and sisters in need. Students attended a landmine conference in Washington in March of 2001. The children were so impressive in their conference activities that the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Ms. Jody Williams, praised their work, their knowledge and their awareness of world events by their examples and passion for nonviolence and peace.”

 

Sheets also has some advice for teachers just starting out in Catholic schools. “All Catholic teachers,” she said, “should be dedicated to the purpose of Catholic education. Strong academics help each student reach their God-given potential. Service is an expression of our faith and good citizenship. These are important values that must be embraced if we are to do right by our commitment as teachers in Catholic education.”