Katie Guilbault Decker ’89 Wins Big as Principal in Las Vegas

Katie Guilbault Decker ’89 has made learning fun again for stu-dents, teachers and parents at the Walter Bracken STEAM Academy in urban Las Vegas. As the recipient of the 2013 Magnet Schools of America Principal of the Year Award, Decker has transformed an underperforming, underprivileged school into one of the best in the state of Nevada.

But it wasn’t easy.

“It was a mess,” said Decker, who was assigned as its principal in 2001. “(Bracken) was one of the scariest schools in the district. Substitute (teachers) didn’t like to come here because SWAT used to practice here.”

Decker, who spent the previous 11 years as a teacher and an assistant principal in the Las Vegas area, saw an opportunity to improve the failing school. But not many shared her vision.

“It was definitely a challenge,” Decker said of the early resistance she encountered from teachers and parents.

“The staff that was here, their idea of instruction and my idea of instruction were very different.”

Almost immediately, Decker decided that Bracken would become a “magnet” school—one that remains a free public school but has a focused theme and aligned curriculum. Magnet schools use an approach to learning that is inquiry- or performance/project-based, and do not have entrance criteria; students are chosen from a blind lottery-based system.

Because of the shift to more of a science, technology, arts, engineering and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum, she required all of her existing teachers to re-apply for their jobs.

“Everyone interviewed for their positions,” Decker said. “I looked for teachers with science backgrounds. Those were my first picks for interviewing.”

Read more . . .

Softball

Sophomore first baseman Taylor Hayes was named an honorable mention NAIA All-American and a second team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She led the Saints with a .450 batting average including seven home runs, 14 doubles and 42 RBI. Senior Tonya Berta was named to the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American second team. The language arts major previously earned academic all-district honors and is a two-time academic all-conference honoree. Berta and juniors Katie O’Hotzke and Hayes were each named to the All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference first team. Berta, a center fielder, hit .360 and scored 34 runs. She had 28 stolen bases, and leaves as SHU’s career stolen base leader. O’Hotzke was named as a designated player. She batted .352 with 10 doubles, five home runs and 33 RBI and had a 12-12 record on the mound with 94 strikeouts in 142 2/3 innings. Earning honorable mention were sophomore catcher Bitty Treece and freshman outfielder Mariah Boss. Hayes, O’Hotzke and Berta were also each honored the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region first team in the Great Lakes region. Berta, Hayes and Treece each earned spots on the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. Siena registered a 3.45 team grade point average during the 2012-13 academic year, good for ninth place in the NAIA, according to the NFCA. The Saints finished 19-23 on the season.

Baseball

Senior catcher Corey Caldwell and senior second baseman Kyle Benschoter were named to the All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference first team. Caldwell had a .343 average with 14 doubles, three home runs and 28 RBI. Benschoter hit .358 with 17 RBI. Junior outfielder Mike Lollo was named to the honorable mention team after leading SHU with a .392 average. He was also tabbed to the conference’s Gold Glove team. Earning academic all-conference and NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors were Caldwell, Lollo, juniors Alec Duncan, Drew Byers, Nolan Herendeen, Robbie Schwartz and Travis Mielcarek and sophomore Kyle Johnson. SHU finished 13-28 overall, 6-16 in the WHAC.

Read more . . .

Tell Us Your Stories about Sister Leonilla Barlage, OP

The Alumni Office wants to expand its memory bank about Siena’s early faculty. We have dates and titles, but we want your input—anecdotes of personal stories to bring those teaching legends to life. In the last Reflections, we asked about Sister Ann Joachim (see below). This time the spotlight is on Sister Leonilla Barlage.

Here’s what we know: Professor of English, Speech and Drama (1934-45, 1948-69). An innovator who directed yearly productions including the annual Lenten play. She established the “Little Theater” for productions in the basement of Sacred Heart Hall, across from the radio station she established (now SHU marketing and an adjoining faculty office) where students went on-air for a local radio station (far left, photo right,).

What can you tell us about Sister Leonilla? Bring the picture to life.

Send your stories and recollections to:
SHU Alumni Office, 1247 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI 49221
or email to alumni@sienaheights.edu.

Insights into Sister Ann Joachim, OP

Thanks to all who sent stories about Sister “AJ.” Here are a few:

“I met Sister ‘AJ’ within a week of my arrival at Siena. I was a lowly freshman. We students were eating lunch when this Dominican nun—in my eyes she was 6’ tall—came striding into Benincasa cradling a shotgun! ‘I’m gonna get that crow yet!’ she announced. Later, of course, I got to know her as an inspired political science teacher.”—Marianne Egan McKeague ‘54.

“You did not cross your legs in Sister’s class. If you forgot, her stern look reminded you immediately.”—Rose Marie Campbell Freeman ‘56.

“I was impressed seeing Sister Ann study from 3×5 cards she always carried with her as she walked everywhere. I was an immigrant from the Netherlands and Sister helped prepare me for the examination and citizenship process.”—Maggie van Staveren ‘69.

Read more . . .