News

Principals honored for leadership service

By Heather Chrudimsky
Compass Correspondent

Sue Sands, principal of Our Lady of Lourdes in De Pere, and Kay Franz, principal of St. Bernard Catholic School in Green Bay, are the recipients of the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools' Administrator of Distinction award.

"The nominees have a proven track of merit for educational and leadership service to their school and jurisdiction," said Brett Arnold, WCRIS executive director of the awards, which are given every two years.

The Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools is made up of schools that are sponsored by religious groups or independently run. The board of directors for the Madison-based council has a representative from each of the five Catholic dioceses in Wisconsin, plus three regional jurisdictions for Evangelical Lutheran, two for Missouri Synod Lutheran; and one each for Seventh Day Adventist and independent Christian. The council advocates for students and families of students who attend these schools.

In addition to Franz and Sands, who were chosen for the award by the Education Department of the Green Bay Diocese, administrators were recognized in the other dioceses and jurisdictions.

Franz said she was surprised to be nominated, but found it gratifying to be recognized for all her hard work. She credits her nomination to her work for the past two years as co-president of the Diocesan Association of School Administrators (DASA).

"We have spearheaded a curriculum review and revision process, which has generated a lot synergy among the professional educators in the diocese," Franz said.

Sands said she "was totally surprised, and had to listen to the message twice to make sure that I really understood it correctly."

Sands said she believes she was chosen because of the various roles she has played in the diocese including teacher, administrator, Board of Education member, Diocesan Association of School Administrators co-president, secretary and treasurer, diocesan curriculum committee and many other local committees and teams.

"I also think I was honored because of the leadership I show at the school level," Sands said.

"I think it is an awesome opportunity for all of us to acknowledge her efforts at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School," said Lynn Fink, the school's technology coordinator.

WCRIS has been highlighting the fact that "we need to 'LeadStrong' and be durable leaders" in order to make a difference for the students, Arnold said. "Success and failure are transitory. It is the courage to persist that breeds enduring results. Susan and Kay are strong compassionate leaders with an understanding of the long view."

Franz and Sands and the other recipients were introduced at the WCRIS' leadership conference awards dinner and were each given a framed certificate.

"I am honored and appreciative of the award," Sands said. "I was also very surprised - you don't work in education to receive awards, so you are very happy and excited when you are recognized. It really gives you a lift to receive such recognition."

Sands and Franz both said they had a passion for the education field at a young age.

"I have a love for learning and would like to bring that passion to other students and teachers," Franz said. "I became an administrator because I felt I could help facilitate a faith-filled environment where children were encouraged to discover the gifts that God gave them."

"I enjoy learning about what are the most current theories about learning and then trying to implement them in a school so that children have the advantage of benefiting from the most recent researched best practices in education," Franz said.

Sands said she isn't sure why she entered education, but it's a path she wanted to take since she was young.

"I always enjoyed being with kids and working with them, so it was quite a natural choice of a profession or job field," Sands said. "It's really an awesome feeling to see a child who understands what you are attempting to teach. I really like the learner aspect of education more than the teacher aspect."

Before coming to Our Lady of Lourdes, Sands was the principal at St. John School, Little Chute, and at Greenville. She taught in Racine, Green Bay, Wrightstown and Albany Ga.

Sands said she become an administrator after attending an exploratory meeting and learning that she could administer, so she took some classes and was offered a position at St. Mary School in Greenville. "I like the interaction with the various groups - students, faculty and staff, parents and other administrators," Sands said. "I like to be a part of the planning process and the decision-making about what will be good choices for our students."

Franz, 47, graduated in human development elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and has a master's degree in administrative leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has worked in the diocese since 1980 as a teacher and administrator at St. Gregory in St. Nazianz, Holy Cross in Mishicot, Two Rivers Catholic Central and St. John the Baptist in Howard.

Sands, 59, was born and raised in Ironwood, Mich. She graduated in elementary education from Northern Michigan University in Marquette and has a master's in educational leadership from Marian College in Fond du Lac.

Sands began teaching in 1970 and has been involved with Catholic education since 1974. She has been at Our Lady of Lourdes since 1996.

Franz called St. Bernard "a supportive, faith-filled community that has a universal vision of its ministry. The pastoral team is dynamic and that energy permeates all of the ministries including the school."

Sands said the Our Lady of Lourdes' faculty and staff are very dedicated. "The students are very neat kids who try to do the best thing and really try to learn and grow academically. The parents are very supportive and cooperative. It's really the people that make Our Lady of Lourdes such a great school."

Fink said she appreciates Sands' "positive attitude and her efforts to support our staff and future of the school."

The most difficult part of being an administrator is time management, Franz said. "There are so many things to be done."

Sands said discipline is the most difficult aspect of administration. "That should be such a black and white issue, but it really isn't. There are so many things that students bring as baggage that it can't always be a cut and dried answer to behavior issues. The other hard part of administration is the number of evening meetings and events that you are expected to attend."

Sands said she enjoys how administration regularly offers new challenges and opportunities. "The job really changes from minute to minute. You are constantly being challenged and offered opportunity to work with others."

Franz lives in Mishicot with her husband, John. They have been married for 26 years and have two children - Amy, 23, and Noah, 17. She enjoys traveling, reading and supporting her son in high school sports.

Sands and her husband, Pat, have three grown children and one grandson. "I truly enjoy spending time with our three children and their spouses and taking care of our grandson." She enjoys biking, reading, singing and starting, but not always finishing, crafty items.