PORTAGE – Teachers within the Diocese of Gary Catholic schools are superheroes, and now they have the capes to prove it.
Cathy Tooley, CEO of Tools for Success, handed out capes with the words “I am a superhero because I am a teacher” during her speech at a Professional Development Day on Feb. 13 at Nativity of Savior School. Tooley acknowledged the hardships of the career while also asking teachers never to forget the important role they play in their students' lives.
More than 400 faculty and staff from around the diocese took time that morning not only to reflect on their own accomplishments as teachers, but also on the diocese’s achievements during the 2025-2026 school year. They celebrated St. John the Evangelist School being named a Blue Ribbon School and the completion of the first Catholic Identity Art Contest, before recognizing specific educators with awards for excellence, leadership, innovation and advocacy.
St Teresa of Avila Academic Excellence Award
The St Teresa of Avila Academic Excellence Award is given to teachers and administrators in the diocesan schools who inspire excellence through all the little things they do to impact learning in our schools. Recipients of this award were Eileen Germek, Tiara Smith-Steinhoff and Donna Shane.
Through her faith-filled leadership, strong advocacy for students and commitment to academic excellence, Germek, who teaches at St. Michael School in Schererville, was recognized for making a lasting impact on families and the broader school community.
Germak feels that a successful teacher is never done learning about oneself and the relationship one has with God, remembering that God is in control-not me-and continually praying for His guidance. She stated a successful teacher continually prays for her students, participates in ongoing learning and reflection, and learns to “enjoy the ride-even when the road is sometimes bumpy along the way.”
The impact of Smith-Steinhoff at Nativity was also acknowledged for consistently inspiring academic excellence in ways that are thoughtful, steady and lasting.
Smith-Steinhoff believes a good teacher meets students where they are. She shared that every child comes into the classroom with different strengths, challenges and emotional needs. Great teaching, she said, goes beyond simply following a curriculum.
“When students feel seen, supported, and cared for, they gain the confidence to take risks, grow, and believe in their ability to succeed,” she said.
Smith-Steinhoff added St. Teresa of Avila's example of faith, humility and service reminds her that teaching is not just a profession, but a calling rooted in love and purpose.
“Each day, I try to show up for my students and be the teacher I know I needed at their age – not only an educator, but someone who truly sees them as individuals with unique needs, strengths, and struggles. I hope that they leave my fifth-grade and middle school science classroom not only with the skills they need to move forward, but also feeling supported, valued and encouraged.”
Shane, a member of the team at St. Paul School in Valparaiso, is known for being an excellent educator who always goes above and beyond to ensure her class learns in the most effective ways possible.
“As a Kindergarten teacher, learning goes far beyond letters and numbers,” she said. “ It means meeting students where they are, celebrating their strengths, and gently guiding them through their challenges. In a Catholic school, success also means modeling faith daily – showing kindness, patience, and helping students see God’s presence in our classroom and in one another.”
St. Catherine of Siena Leadership Award
The St. Catherine of Siena Leadership Award is given to leaders in diocesan schools who are teachers or administrators who are willing to lead according to our mission, even when there may be criticism. Receiving this award were Lorenza Pastrick and Elena Sobilo.
Pastrick, principal at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, was honored for “knowing how to handle practically any scenario with the efficiency of the most veteran educators.” The person who nominated her stated that she is keenly aware of the many challenges the community faces and creates opportunities to help through the school's outreach.
“I love everything about being a principal, even on the hard days I always take a minute to find the joy in what I do,” Pastrick said. “I love my students, my staff, my parents, and who I serve. My mission is to fill the kingdom of heaven, no better job!”
Sobilo at St. Thomas More models a life lived in faith through her patience, grace and compassion shown to students and colleagues. Her colleagues have said she expects and desires nothing more than to help others learn and grow, sharing her knowledge and resources freely.
“I get to witness the ‘a-ha’ moment in a student’s eyes when a new idea finally clicks,” Sobilo said. “Seeing them grow into confident, independent learners throughout the year is such a beautiful gift.”
Sobilo’s favorite moments as a teacher are when young students demonstrate a deep and meaningful understanding of our faith. She credited the community at St. Thomas More for being “incredibly welcoming and encouraging” and loves that the school is intentionally building a culture of collaboration and shared support in service of its common mission.
St. Therese of Lisieux Building Discipleship Award
The St. Therese of Lisieux Building Discipleship Award is given to teachers and administrators in diocesan schools who demonstrate what it means to be a missionary disciple, and they model these behaviors in their school or classroom. This award went to Brenda Fanno and Sara Cusack.
Fanno was called a spiritual leader among staff at St. John the Evangelist, readily volunteering to lead prayer services, share reflections on how God is guiding her life, and encourage others to recognize God’s presence in their own journeys.
Through both her instruction and example, Cusack helps students grow academically and spiritually at Notre Dame School in Michigan City. It was shared during the award presentations that her faith is not only taught but lived, serving as a powerful witness to students and families, inspiring those around her to deepen their relationship with God.
“I love being able to share my faith and help lead my second graders to the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist,” Cusack said. “It is such a gift to see the joy and love our students have for our Lord, and it helps inspire me more deeply in my faith, too.”
St. Hildegard of Bingen Innovation Award
The St. Hildegard of Bingen Innovation Award is given to teachers and administrators who are visionaries or innovators in their school or classroom. Taking home this award were Marisa Renwald, Arianne Wong and Renata Gajardo.
Renwald, a teacher at Bishop Noll, was said to be truly humble and someone who doesn’t ask for recognition. The student who recommended her for the award said, “She has done so much for BNI, and she continues to be a great role model and inspiration for students like me. She is a great example of inspiring excellence through all her efforts to help shape our learning.”
Renwald has learned in her career just how powerful creativity can be in helping students understand and care about what they’re learning. She said she’s always had a wide range of interests and skills, and has learned to focus that creativity in the classroom by designing lessons, projects and experiences that help students think critically and engage deeply.
“I hope this award reflects not only my work, but also the spirit of innovation and growth happening at Bishop Noll,” Renwald said. “Our school is continually finding new ways to serve students with creativity, purpose and forward thinking, and I’m grateful to be part of that momentum.”
Wong was recognized, in part, for her interactive approach to Lent that transformed an abstract concept into a daily, lived practice. Students at St. Mary in Crown Point felt genuinely excited to participate, while also gaining a deeper understanding of sacrifice, self-discipline and service. Her vision, creativity and commitment to engaging students made her a deserving nominee.
Wong shared that one of the most important things she has learned as a teacher is to be present in the moment, if not always looking toward the future. Being stuck in the way you've "always done it," she feels, is a disservice to the students.
“I am persistent in my efforts to make anything I do in the classroom come alive and go beyond the book,” Wong said. “I believe that is how I keep the students engaged on a daily basis. Making my students as excited to learn as I am to teach is always my goal.”
Wong added that the support she receives from the administration and staff at St. Mary is truly special to her as well.
Gajardo of Queen of All Saints School supports teachers through professional learning, modeling and ongoing collaboration. She helps empower them confidently use new tools to improve student achievement.
Gajardo said the award signifies that the people she works with, and those she works for, trust her judgment and decision-making. She stated that being recognized by her peers is a powerful reminder of her responsibility to the community, and she was deeply honored by their confidence in her.
“I believe that whether you are an administrator, a teacher, or any member of a school community, the most vital lesson is patience,” she said. “You need it most during those trying moments when things don't go your way, or when the timing of a situation feels completely off. Beyond that, I’ve learned that leadership must be rooted in justice and equity; it’s about making sure every decision is weighed with fairness and the well-being of the entire community.”
Bishop Andrew Grutka Student Advocacy Award
The Bishop Andrew Grutka Student Advocacy Award is given to teachers and administrators who continue to advocate for all students through their practices in their school, classroom or community. Rebecca Maskovich and Marianne Ryzewski were honored with the award this year.
Maskovich, principal at St. Mary School in Griffith, is noted for consistently seeing the good in every child and going above and beyond to support them. Among the characteristics that reflect the award’s values are her leadership, mercy and unwavering dedication to children.
Maskovich loves the great sense of community at her school, which she credits with her ability to share faith with the students daily.
“Each child is created in the image of God,” she said. “It's easy to see in many students, but for some, you have to look a little harder. Those are the ones that need more of our understanding and compassion.”
Ryzewski, known as “Mrs. R.” at St. Casimir School, was called a passionate advocate for her students who works tirelessly to ensure they have every opportunity to succeed academically. She actively participates in data meetings, collaborates with colleagues and contributes to the shared mission of moving the Hammond school forward in service of its students.
Anniversaries
In appreciation for their years of service, the following administrators and teachers were also recognized during the Professional Development Day:
30 Years: Laura Loera (St. John Bosco School) and Rebecca Maskovich (St. Mary School)
20 Years: Heather Deacy (Our Lady of Grace School), Rebecca Dostatni (Bishop Noll Institute), Tom Ruiz (St. Mary Catholic Community School), Laura Spanier (St. John the Baptist School), Amanda Wysocki (St. Mary Catholic Community School) and Jennifer Zabrecky (St. Thomas More School).
10 Years: Faith Lasecki, (Andrean High School), Molly Grasha (Andrean High School), Brian Pillar (Bishop Noll Institute, Quentin Wadle (Marquette High School), Jeanette Morris (St. John the Evangelist School), Heather DeJariasis (St. John the Evangelist School), Adriane Wong (St, Mary Catholic Community School), Jennifer Castillo (St. Stanislaus School), Jeannine Fiegle (St. Thomas More School), Lynn Fisher (St. Michael School).
To view more photos from the teacher professional development day, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/dioceseofgary/albums/
