Stephanie Camisa was in second grade when she first walked through the doors of St. John Paul II Catholic School in Lecanto, Fl. Now, decades later she still goes to school each day, but this time as a teacher.

“The school has not changed its layout. So, the principal's office now is the same principal's office that was there when I was a student,” said Ms. Camisa.

As a child, going to school was a family affair for Ms. Camisa. Her mother was a teacher at the school, and she remembers everyone being on the same schedule, always being in the same building and the faith community surrounding them.

“It's a feeling of family, sharing in the common value of our faith, a love of Christ and being able to express that every day in all aspects of the school day. I couldn't imagine growing up differently,” said Ms. Camisa.

It was this experience and the birth of her daughter that steered her towards a career in teaching.

“I did not begin my career in teaching; I found this vocation later in life. I was determined that my children have the same upbringing so faith would be reinforced at school. That is where your basis is, your whole foundation, and I wanted that for my daughter,” she said.

That’s a sentiment shared by many at the school. Twelve of the twenty-nine employees at St. John Paul II Catholic School currently have children enrolled there or have children who have graduated from the school. Principal Lee Sayago says this is a testimony of the school’s strong dedication to its mission and beliefs.

“Catholic schoolteachers understand very well their commitment to education is delivered through ministering to the mind and the spirit of the students. The last two years especially have been an amazing testimony to the love and persistence each of our teachers bring to school every day,” he said.

That dedication is being celebrated during Catholic Schools Week in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Teachers like Ms. Camisa, administrators and staff who support teachers in their important work are being honored. Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2022 is January 30 – February 5. During this time, schools highlight the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.

For Ms. Camisa, that’s something she’s invested in continuing, “I could not picture myself anywhere else than a Catholic school.”

Catholic Schools and Centers in the Diocese of St. Petersburg provide a faith-filled community where students grow spiritually, academically and socially. They reflect the richness, diversity and beauty of our Catholic faith. To learn more about a Catholic School near you visit https://www.dosp.org/schools/

To view photos of our community celebrating Catholic Schools Week, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/diostpete/albums/72177720296374723

Individual donations to the Catholic Ministry Appeal make the Office of Catholic Schools possible in our Diocese, serving thousands each year.