ST. PETER
CATHOLIC CHURCH
MEET OUR THIRD-GRADE TEACHERS, CIND
O
ne of the mottos at St. Peter School is “Do your best and God will do the rest!” Third-grade teachers Mrs. Cindy Brown and Mrs. Pam Hagerbaumer certainly believe this to be true. They also believe God has led them to their current positions at St. Peter School. They feel right at home as co-teachers — and they happen to be cousins, as well! For Mrs. Brown, coming back to St. Peter School was like coming home, since she attended the school as a child and taught there for five years after college. She then taught for 15 years in the public school system and returned to St. Peter School seven years ago. “Something drew me back when I saw an opening,” Mrs. Brown says. “I felt I was supposed to come back, and I missed the atmosphere.” Mrs. Hagerbaumer found a love for St. Peter School right out of college. She attended the former St. Mary’s School and Notre Dame High School. She interviewed at St. Peter School, loved it, and took the job 23 years ago. During her first four years, she taught sixth grade and has taught third grade in the years since. “I love teaching and sharing the faith with the students,” Mrs. Hagerbaumer says. “Hopefully they leave this school with a stronger faith, and they know they have God to turn to.” Both Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Hagerbaumer look forward to this upcoming school year. And while they certainly encountered plenty of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic last school year, it also led them to appreciate the simple things every day, like seeing a smile. For Mrs. Brown, the year was especially challenging since she was also going through cancer treatment at the time. She taught virtually while her students were together in the room. She was able to return after Christmas break, an opportunity for which she was very thankful. Both teachers love the atmosphere at St. Peter School, along with the students, families, and fellow teachers and staff members. “It’s so easy — if you have a problem, you just ask,” Mrs. Hagerbaumer says. “There’s always someone to
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