Schools' staff honored for years of service

Published: April 27, 2021

Fifteen Catholic school teachers, staff members and administrators were recognized for serving 25 and 50 years in Catholic schools in Arkansas recently. These honorees are usually recognized by the Catholic Schools Office during its Professional Day for Teachers, but this event was not held in 2020 or 2021. 

50 Years

• Sister Joan Pfauser, RSM, director of archives and Mercy charism at Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock. She previously served at Mercy High School, St. Louis; St. Alphonsus School and Holy Name of Jesus School, both in New Orleans; and Mount St. Mary High School in Oklahoma City.

25 Years

• Marguerite Olberts, associate superintendent of Catholic schools for marketing and public relations. She previously was principal at Our Lady of Fatima School in Benton and St. Theresa School in Little Rock.
• Teri Breeding, high school principal, overseeing grades 7-12 at St. Joseph School in Conway
• Brent Bruich, director of high school athletics for grades 7-12, physical science teacher, and boys’ basketball and cross country coach at St. Joseph School in Conway
• Melanie Kordsmeier, academic interventionist for grades 1-12 at St. Joseph School in Conway. She is retiring in May.
• Laurie Hindman, fourth-grade teacher at Immaculate Conception School in Fort Smith. She is resigning at the end of the school year.
• Christie Rader, computer lab and technology instructor at Immaculate Conception School in North Little Rock
• Eileen Freeman, middle school teacher and flutist at school Masses at St. Joseph School in Paris
• Melanie Meuse-Warg, P.E. teacher at St. Theresa School in Little Rock. She has also worked at St. Edward in Little Rock and Immaculate Heart of Mary and North Little Rock Catholic Academy in North Little Rock.
• Joan Finnegan, registrar and executive assistant at Catholic High School in Little Rock. She retired Jan. 31.
• Richard Cochran, an English teacher and assistant football coach at Catholic High School in Little Rock. He previously worked at St. Joseph High School in Pine Bluff.
• Gretchen Gowen, English Department chairwoman, journalism teacher and newspaper and yearbook advisor at Catholic High School in Little Rock. She previously taught at Our Lady of the Holy Souls School in Little Rock.
• John Taylor, fourth- through sixth-grade math and science teacher at Sacred Heart School in Morrilton
• Nancy Handloser, principal at Our Lady of Holy Souls School in Little Rock
• Melissa Roberson, pre-K teacher at Our Lady of the Holy Souls School in Little Rock

This information courtesy of Arkansas Catholic. This and much more was published, April 24, in the newspaper's special section of the Catholic Schools Herald. In this section, the superintendent of Catholic schools reflects on the year. Other articles explore how teacher vaccines made an impact, what graduations and the fall semester might look like, how principals continued their educational growth this year and schools that are saying goodbye to longtime educators. To learn about Catholic schools in Arkansas, visit our schools directory or contact Marguerite Olberts, associate superintendent for marketing, at (501) 664-0340.