Reflections Magazine Issue #57 - Spring 2002 | Page 16

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Siena Heights marked Alumni Awards Day on Monday, April 8. Always a highlight of the
spring semester, this year’s celebration was no exception. Five accomplished graduates of
the University met with students, faculty and the community, sharing insights and perspectives gleaned from lives of service and achievement. Meet this year’s honorees.
the Adrian Dominican Congregation and as
a Siena Heights Trustee.
(Nominated by: Joan Christie, OP ‘62, Deb Carrington
Keller ‘74,Pat McCarty, OP ‘61, Frances Nadolny, OP
‘72, and Pat Stellmah, OP ‘64)

Since graduating from Siena with a degree in
English and earning her master’s in English
literature from University of Michigan, Karla
has pursued dual careers in education and
counseling. After teaching in Catholic elementary, middle and high schools in Michigan, she relocated to Texas. As director of
the Family Life Office for St. Rose Parish in
Houston, Karla provided counseling and education in the areas of family life and mental
health. She then spent six years as coordinator of education at Houston’s Center for Multiple Handicapped Children, a program for
children 3-21 with intellectual levels from
profound deficit to near normal abilities. She
went on to serve 16 years as director of therapy services for the Harris County (Houston) Department of Education. In 2000, she
retired after five years as principal of the
Highpoint Middle/High Alternative School
in Houston.
“Karla’s dogged determination to develop
programs of learning for the emotionally and
physically impaired brought her into direct
conflict with the civic leaders in education.
This challenge sparked her sense of justice,”
says Marcine Klemm, OP. “She searches for
truth and creative approaches for areas of
special education where children’s needs are
so often misdiagnosed, misinterpreted and
dismissed as being hopeless.” Karla currently works part-time with “Safe Schools”
evaluating safety and security in schools, and
continues to volunteer with the AIDS Foundation of Houston.
(Nominated by Marcine Klemm, OP ‘82/MA)

Pictured (l to r): Loretta, Karla, Margaret,
Donna and Phyllis

Working as a team, Sr. Phyllis and Sr.
Loretta have dedicated their careers to children through elementary education. Through
their commitment to Catholic education,
they have empowered teachers and children,
developing personalized classroom programs
that encourage both teachers and learners
to be the best they can be. Together, they
developed “the unique elementary program
of departmental teaching now in place at St.
Joseph Academy,” their nominators wrote.
This program “builds on the Montessori
pre-school program by offering personalized
instruction using all modalities of learning.”
Sr. Phyllis today is an educational consultant for the Archdiocese of Detroit Catholic
Schools. Her prior ministries, in addition
to working at St. Joseph Academy, include
developing and directing an adult literacy
program in Lenawee County, initiating an
elementary program at Rosarian Academy
(W. Palm Beach, FL) and establishing an elementary program for the Holy Cross Brothers at Gilmour Academy (Gates Mills, OH).
Sr. Loretta today is an associate superintendent for the Archdiocese of Detroit Catholic
Schools. Previously, in addition to working
at St. Joseph Academy, she served with Sr.
Phyllis at Gilmour Academy where, as director of the lower school, she worked with faculty to introduce a K-6 peace education program. She also has served as treasurer of