SUBMITTED PHOTO Riley Hickson, a fourth-grader at SS. Francis & Clare of Assisi School, and Assistant Principal Rebecca Stone work together to practice multiplication skills.
By Bob Kelly
Southsider Voice correspondent
Rebecca Stone had a childhood reminiscent of many youths who were raised in the Catholic faith; now she wants to share that bond with teachers, students and others in the Greenwood community of SS. Francis & Clare of Assisi School.
The 2005 graduate of Indiana University Bloomington was ready to use her education degree when she landed her first job at Pope John XXIII Elementary School in Madison, Ind. She was hired by Sister Anna Rose and stayed for two years before moving on to St. Mary’s Catholic School in North Vernon, Ind., which was the home and site of her first eight years of education.
It would be those years in education right out of college when she would use her strong Catholic faith to guide her in the classroom and again in the future. It was a tough decision for her to leave those at Pope John XXIII, but it was the strong pull of her Catholic faith that steered her back to where it all began and where she would be a teacher in the same school with her mother and sister.
“I always felt drawn to Catholic education,” Stone told The Southsider Voice. “Anyone who serves in Catholic schools makes many sacrifices. We do not do it for the money, but instead we look at our job as a ministry and an answer to a vocational calling. We are rewarded leaps and bounds by blessings other than money. For me personally it was about answering God’s call to teach within Catholic schools.”
This year marks the 10th year for SS. Francis & Clare, which opened its doors with an enrollment of only 34 students. Today, it boasts more than 500 in one of the fastest-growing areas in the state. It was a close call that Stone ended up at there six years ago, or one can say it was another intervention why she ended up at the school.
“I interviewed at St. Malachy in Brownsburg and then later that day went on to my interview with SS. Francis & Clare,” Stone said. “After great discernment I graciously accepted the position at SSFC.”
Fate intervened again when Stone was encouraged to attend Butler University, where she would go back to school to earn a master’s degree in administration. Two years ago she was offered a position in administration as an assistant, and after receiving encouragement from many staff members she accepted the position that she has today.
“It was difficult because I love the classroom,” Stone said. “A position opened up much sooner than anyone anticipated. Now I help families on a much larger scale, and I love this new role. I use my faith in God to guide me every day.
“I have the opportunity to share my Catholic faith daily with students, staff and the parish at SSFC. My position is challenging in a new way, but I still continue to rely on my Catholic faith as I reach out to others in the school and guide them. I work in the church and for the church because this is my family, and it is my life.”
Southsider Voice correspondent
Rebecca Stone had a childhood reminiscent of many youths who were raised in the Catholic faith; now she wants to share that bond with teachers, students and others in the Greenwood community of SS. Francis & Clare of Assisi School.
The 2005 graduate of Indiana University Bloomington was ready to use her education degree when she landed her first job at Pope John XXIII Elementary School in Madison, Ind. She was hired by Sister Anna Rose and stayed for two years before moving on to St. Mary’s Catholic School in North Vernon, Ind., which was the home and site of her first eight years of education.
It would be those years in education right out of college when she would use her strong Catholic faith to guide her in the classroom and again in the future. It was a tough decision for her to leave those at Pope John XXIII, but it was the strong pull of her Catholic faith that steered her back to where it all began and where she would be a teacher in the same school with her mother and sister.
“I always felt drawn to Catholic education,” Stone told The Southsider Voice. “Anyone who serves in Catholic schools makes many sacrifices. We do not do it for the money, but instead we look at our job as a ministry and an answer to a vocational calling. We are rewarded leaps and bounds by blessings other than money. For me personally it was about answering God’s call to teach within Catholic schools.”
This year marks the 10th year for SS. Francis & Clare, which opened its doors with an enrollment of only 34 students. Today, it boasts more than 500 in one of the fastest-growing areas in the state. It was a close call that Stone ended up at there six years ago, or one can say it was another intervention why she ended up at the school.
“I interviewed at St. Malachy in Brownsburg and then later that day went on to my interview with SS. Francis & Clare,” Stone said. “After great discernment I graciously accepted the position at SSFC.”
Fate intervened again when Stone was encouraged to attend Butler University, where she would go back to school to earn a master’s degree in administration. Two years ago she was offered a position in administration as an assistant, and after receiving encouragement from many staff members she accepted the position that she has today.
“It was difficult because I love the classroom,” Stone said. “A position opened up much sooner than anyone anticipated. Now I help families on a much larger scale, and I love this new role. I use my faith in God to guide me every day.
“I have the opportunity to share my Catholic faith daily with students, staff and the parish at SSFC. My position is challenging in a new way, but I still continue to rely on my Catholic faith as I reach out to others in the school and guide them. I work in the church and for the church because this is my family, and it is my life.”
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