Congratulations Bonnie Schuette:

Bonnie Schuette, a teacher at Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Dodge City, has been selected as a Distinguished Teacher 2005 for the Kansas Association of Religious and Independent Schools (KAIRS). Schuette will be honored at the KAIRS Annual Meeting in Topeka, Feb. 6-7.

Schuette was born in Spearville to Matt and Barbara Schomaker. She attended Dodge City Community College and St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City.

She started her teaching career at St. Anne’s Catholic School in Olmitz, and later moved to Phillipsburg, Kan., where she team taught at the local grade school.

In 1978 she married Bob Schuette, and began teaching at Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Dodge City, where she has taught for more than 21 years.

She has three children Scott, Jennifer, and Kitrina, all of whom graduated from Sacred Heart.

In an article in last year’s Catholic Schools’ issue of the SKR, Schuette wrote of the fond memories she has of teaching school:

"Memories through the years range from a second grader who expressed after his First Reconciliation, ‘I made it, and I didn’t have to tell the big one!’ to our entire school gathered on the playground on a cold foggy winter morning and releasing red balloons with prayers inside, celebrating Catholic School’s Week.

"What can I say about teaching in a Catholic School? When one has Jesus as a partner, a mentor, and guide, and He can be shared daily within the classroom, why teach anywhere else?"

KAIRS is the state’s largest organization of non-public schools. It represents more than 38,000 children, 2,700 teachers and 25,800 families in Christian, Catholic, Independent, Lutheran and Seventh Day Adventist schools.