Where is Pikeville?
Almost on the Virginia and West Virginia border, the place where these states meet—about a 2½ hours drive east of Lexington.

Principal Kathleen Morrissey, BVM and students
are delighted with the school's new playground equipment.

At school in Santa Barbara, Calif., BVM Kathleen Morrissey (Rosalima) learned about the feuds of Hatfield and McCoy. Of course to a fifth grader that tale seemed unreal and certainly the place existed in another world. Today Kathleen finds herself in Pikeville, Ky., the exact place of those historical feuds, a place that is very real and today, fairly peaceful.

The town is surrounded by mountains, and the area's chief resource is coal. A large health care facility is testimony to the dangers of the mines and the after-effects of Black Lung disease.

Having previously been an elementary school principal in California, Iowa and Illinois, the transition to being a principal of the 80-student St. Francis School here in eastern Kentucky might be considered to be a “piece of cake.”

But, “Each place brings its own challenges, gifts and concerns,” says Kathleen. “While I know elementary schools, I had to learn the Kentucky culture. I had to understand the people, their history, their way of coming to know God.”

Kathleen does know elementary education. Preceding the move to Pikeville, she had been principal at St. Patrick Academy in Momence, Ill.

“I have seen elementary schools change but it is necessary to adapt to the students and their needs. While there are more opportunities to engage students today, the aim of education has always been to have the children involved in their learning and not just memorize facts.” Active learning is key to the success of a school.

Sophisticated Technology

Technology can help students learn. In this school, an online reading and math program supports the instruction teachers present in the lessons. Teachers also plan curriculum using a web-based program. This enables the teachers to continually monitor what content and skills are actually taught and how they are assessed.

Kathleen is also beginning to use technology to collect data on teaching strategies employed in the school.

“As I walk the building, a simple check list on my palm pilot is used. Later this can be uploaded and a graph of our activities over time can be seen. I am anxious to see how this simple graph can help us as a faculty know our own strengths and limitations and provide for the needs of our students.”

Partnerships

Forming a partnership with parents and volunteers is crucial for the success of today's schools. Volunteers are needed for governance, financial support, grant writing, tutoring and host of other activities. Kathleen states, “Working with parents and volunteers has intensified over the years. Today we cannot do without this help.” The people are very generous and so this little school is well equipped.

“In Momence, I worked very hard just to keep St. Patrick Academy open. Here in Pikeville my main focus is guiding the efforts to improve the instructional program and the opportunities for our students.” Kathleen has succeeded in getting new playground equipment and putting in a wetland behind the school.

Ecumenism

Another change experienced over the years is the number of families of other Christian faiths who send their children to Catholic schools. Never before has Kathleen been in such an ecumenical setting. In California, Iowa and Illinois, Catholic students had been the majority.

For many people in Eastern Kentucky, the Catholic religion is considered different and strange. Becoming accustomed to being a member of a minority group took just a bit of time. The people who bring their children to St. Francis School are seeking a faith-based school with high academic standards.

Kathleen believes that respect for the religious beliefs of all people must be the focus of the school, although the school does not hide its own Catholic identity. Many times Kathleen is called upon to clarify some custom or practice of the faith. Schools have become an instrument of evangelization.

Sense of Family

While Kathleen has experienced changes in geography, customs and majority religions, children seem to be the same the world over. Their creativity, challenges, talents and problems are all familiar to an experienced educator.

The fact that this school is small gives it a family atmosphere. With societal changes, many children experience family disruptions and difficulties. The principal and teachers are called upon to respond to children and show caring and concern.

To emphasize the atmosphere of caring, Kathleen recounts a recent incident in which the father of one student was seriously injured in an automobile accident. The student had a birthday just a few days afterwards while the father was still in the hospital.

Other parents came together with Kathleen and provided a surprise birthday party at the school one evening, inviting all the students to come. Although everyone in the school knew of the intended party, the secret was kept and the little girl had a memorable birthday knowing that she was loved and supported.

Pikeville may be the site of terrible long-ago feuds, but the climate at St. Francis would not indicate that. Kathleen continues to use her strengths to help students develop and work out their problems in more peaceful ways. She loves the people and the school. “I am really at home here,” she keeps saying.

Obviously Kathleen has managed the changes in elementary education and the transition from Illinois to eastern Kentucky very well. Kathleen has also found a way to further the mission of Jesus as a principal in an elementary school in this part of the world.

About the author: Bernadette McManigal, BVM (Lucinus) is superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Lexington, Ky.

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© 2007 Sisters of Charity, BVM