Ms. Poole graduated from St. Paul Catholic School in 2014, and now, as a teacher, she hopes to have the same impact on her students that the school had on her. 

“I wanted to become a teacher because I loved my teachers growing up,” she said. “I would always talk about them, and I wanted to be that person for other kids. Every day as a teacher is different, and that’s what I love most about the job.” 

After graduating from the University of North Florida, Ms. Poole stayed in Jacksonville to teach first and second grade at a Title I school in Duval County. But after two years, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to continue teaching. “I wanted to quit teaching in Jacksonville,” she admitted. “Coming back to St. Paul Catholic School has reminded me of my love for teaching.” 

Ms. Poole felt called to something more. “The Lord was calling me elsewhere,” she said, which led her to take a leap of faith. When she checked St. Paul’s website and didn’t see any job openings, she took the initiative to call the school and ask about available positions. 

“I feel grateful I took that leap of faith,” she said. “Now I’m teaching at a place I love. The community here has shown me that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be, without a doubt.” 

Ms. Poole added, “Sharing in our faith and uniting with the faculty, staff, and students is a true blessing. They are a very welcoming community, and I am not afraid to ask for help if I need it.” 

St. Paul Catholic School is "inspired by the charism of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. The mission of St. Paul Catholic School is to provide students with a foundation for life through faith, academics, and service and to assist students in developing their gifts and talents so that they may fulfill the plan God has for their lives." 

To learn more about St. Paul Catholic School, please visit stpaul1930.org.