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October 3, 2019Jane Nusz from Saint Anthony of Padua in Okeene has been selected as the 2019 Archbishop Paul S. Coakley Religious Educator of the Year. The announcement was made during the Catechetical Congress held Sept. 21 at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Oklahoma City.
The award is presented annually by the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma in recognition of volunteers or staff who make significant contributions to faith formation of youth. Along with Nusz, the other finalists are Mara Lemcke from Saint Monica in Edmond and Peggy Kitchens from Saint Peter in Woodward.
Nusz has taught high school religious education classes and confirmation classes for 25 years.
In their nomination letter, her colleagues and students’ parents said, “She is extremely thorough, dedicated, knowledgeable and insistent that each candidate understand completely our Catholic faith and what Confirmation means. … I have seen so many kids who feel like she is family to them. She just has a way of being there at the right time and helping them through situations, good and bad. … Jane is the epitome of a servant of the Lord.”
Nusz has a master’s degree in teaching and has taught FACS (Family and Consumer Science) at the public high school for more than 40 years.
Diane Clay is editor of the Sooner Catholic.
Photo: Office of Christian Leadership Development Director Jason Fugikawa, Ph. D., Mara Lemcke, Peggy Kitchens, Jane Nusz and Catholic Foundation Director Nancy Koons. Photo Cara Koenig/Sooner Catholic.
