Sacred Heart School in Effingham used Harvest of Thanks, Springtime of Hope endowment funds to reimburse teachers for professional development units such as technology workshops. Shown above are computer teacher Marsha Bloemker (left) and math teacher Shauna Albert assisting seventh grade-students Alex Keller and Mary Perkins with their prime numbers lesson on the Smartboard. For the second year, teachers and administrators in the diocese's 43 Catholic elementary schools and six Catholic high schools are eligible for continuing education tuition reimbursements from an endowment created through the Harvest of Thanks, Springtime of Hope campaign.

The Harvest of Thanks, Springtime of Hope campaign was held in conjunction with Jubilee 2003, the year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the diocese. The endowment for the continuing education of Catholic school educators was created to assist Catholic school teachers to update their education, maintain state certification and achieve certification in the diocesan catechist certification process.

"Educators who choose to work in Catholic schools often do so at great personal sacrifice - especially financial," said Jean Johnson, diocesan superintendent of schools. "We feel it is important to support the teachers and administrators in our Catholic schools. Continuing education reimbursement is a practical way to provide that support."

Johnson said that a total of $60,282 in reimbursements for the current school year has been generated from the continuing education endowment. Individually, schools with fewer that 100 students (based on 2006-2007 enrollment) may claim $506 in total reimbursements for faculty members. Schools having 100 to 200 students are eligible for $1,013 and schools with enrollment of more than 200 may apply for $1,519.

Through their schools, individual faculty members may apply for a 100 percent reimbursement for catechist formation classes. Workshops, seminars and similar educational opportunities may be reimbursed for half of tuition costs up to a $75 limit. Tuition for graduate college courses is reimbursable for one-third of the total cost up to $250.

Johnson said that last year, 42 diocesan schools took advantage of these funds.

At St. Mary School in Paris, principal Barbara Holton-Moy said the parish applied for and received the maximum reimbursement for the school's size. "I looked for things that were faith-filled," she said.

Holton-Moy said faculty members at the school were offered a catechist formation program conducted by their pastor, Father David Zimmerman. Those costs were reimbursed through the endowment money.

"We also used the money to reimburse our teachers for registration at the DAEC," Holton-Moy said. The Diocesan Adult Education Conference for teachers and catechists is sponsored biennially by the diocesan Department of Catechetical Ministries (formerly Office for Catholic Education).

Judy Luchtefeld, principal of Sacred Heart School in Effingham, said her school also received the maximum amount of reimbursement for its size and also helped teachers pay for last year's DAEC. In addition, many of her teachers received partial reimbursements for technology workshops, reading workshops and other kinds of continuing professional development units (CPDUs).

"Teachers have to have roughly 120 CPDUs every five years," said Luchtefeld. "The cost of these kinds of workshops has gone up incredibly. It's been great to be able to give our teachers partial reimbursements from this money."

Johnson said that deadline for the first round of 2007-2008 reimbursements is on Dec. 30. Applications for the second round of reimbursements will be accepted from school principals until June 30, 2008.

"We have already notified principals and regional chairpersons that these funds are available for the 2007-2008 school year," Johnson said. "This year, we'd like to see every single one of our schools claim the entire amount available."