Career in education is family affair for Catholic school teacher and principal

Teaching is all in the family for Catherine and Bonnie Veth, a mother-daughter team of educators in the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools.
Catherine is a first-year teacher at Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School, 4416 N. Troy St. Her mother, Bonnie, is in her 11th year as principal at Santa Maria Addolorata Elementary School, 1337 W. Ohio St.
Catherine credits her mother for influencing her career path. And Bonnie says her own mother, who was a teacher in Iowa, influenced her decision to become an educator.
“I always knew teaching was my mission, and not just because my mother was a teacher,” Bonnie said. “It’s been a calling for me.” Bonnie instilled that same calling to teach into her daughter.
Both Bonnie and Catherine are products of Catholic education. Bonnie attended Catholic schools in Iowa, while Catherine attended Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Catherine is a 1994 graduate of St. Eugene Elementary School and a 1998 graduate of St. Ignatius College Preparatory High School.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and special education from Loras College in Dubuque, IA, a Catholic liberal arts college, Catherine applied for a position with the Archdiocese of Chicago.
“Since my entire education is rooted in Catholic schools, I wanted to be a Catholic school teacher,” Catherine said. “I believe that people who work in Catholic schools or send their children to Catholic schools really care about education and want to help children excel. Also, my mother always speaks highly of the Archdiocese of Chicago.”
Just like Catherine, Bonnie began her teaching career in Catholic schools. Her first teaching position was at St. Mary of the Woods Elementary School in Chicago in 1966. Although Bonnie said she loved teaching, she knew that becoming a principal was an important next step in her career.
Bonnie said her greatest satisfaction has been working with students at Santa Maria Addolorata because the small classes give her the ability to become familiar with all of the students and their families.
“I work hard to learn each child’s story, including any challenges they may face in the classroom,” said Bonnie, who lives in Chicago. “That interaction and insight enable me to work with the students and their teachers to overcome those challenges and give them a solid academic foundation.”
Catherine said she’s happy to have the opportunity to begin her career with her mother’s guidance.
“Students admire my mother and they respect her,” said Catherine, who also lives in Chicago. “I want to live up to her reputation because she’s my guiding light.”
There are more than 6,000 teachers in the Catholic school system who instill values, teach discipline and achieve strong, consistent academic results in the Archdiocese of Chicago’s 248 elementary and 42 secondary schools. Visit the Archdiocese of Chicago Web site at schools.archdiocese-chgo.org.