Dear Junior and Senior Parents/Guardians,
As previously announced, Mr. Duggins will be leaving the education profession at the end of this semester. We appreciate his sharing of time and talent with our students and wish him the best in his future endeavors.
Four applicants applied for the Theology 11/Theology 12 teaching position and three were interviewed. The position was offered and accepted by Mrs. Marie Walker. Mrs. Walker, a native of Ireland, has recently moved to the Lafayette area from Florida. With multiple years of classroom experience, she is anxious to return to the classroom and learn more about the Central Catholic Community. Please continue reading below a letter from Mrs. Walker for more details about her educational background, teaching experience, and profound love of her faith.
Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Walker to Central Catholic!
Melissa Robertson, Principal
Letter from Mrs. Walker:
Dear parents/guardians,
My name is Mrs Walker and I will be the new Theology teacher for year 11 and year 12, starting in January 2023 at Central Catholic Jr/Sr High School.
A little bit about me, I am originally from Dublin, Ireland and I’ve taught Theology, Philosophy and English for almost eight years now. I have a Bachelor’s in Religious Education and English from Dublin City University and a Master’s in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from Anglia Ruskin University. I’ve also completed the Catechist CT Track and Online Catechetical Institute Mentor Training Certification at the Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University.
I went to a small Catholic primary school in county Dublin and for secondary school, I attended Loreto College which was run by the Loreto nuns. I have taught in a range of private and public schools both in Ireland and the United Kingdom teaching Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate, GCSE and A-Levels. I’ve also been a state examiner and superintendent during state examinations in Ireland. Prior to coming to the USA, I was the General Manager for a Catholic Charity in Ireland and I’ve been involved in a range of Catholic ministries over the years from Youth 2000, whose charism is young people leading young people back to the heart of the church, to Pure in Heart whose charism is educating and inspiring young people to live pure and chaste lives. I’ve had the privilege to volunteer alongside pro-life NGOs in the past at the UN in both New York and Geneva and in 2019 I bought 40 days to Life to Ireland and it is now in four cities across Ireland.
I’m very passionate about my Catholic faith and eternally grateful to my parents who inspired my brother and I to live out our faith and get involved in Catholic youth groups, which really helped form our faith. I have one younger sibling, who is a Catholic Diocesan priest in the midlands of Ireland. He was ordained four years ago.
I am married to my wonderful husband, Jason, who is from Florida and we moved from Florida to Lafayette a few months ago. We have received such a warm welcome coming here and we are settling in well to the area. We are keen fitness enthusiasts and enjoy the outdoors. We are parishioners at St Boniface Catholic Church in Lafayette.
I am excited to start working at Central Catholic. I’m looking forward to teaching your child Theology, with the hope they will have a life-long enthusiasm for learning, and be ready for college, work, religious life or family life – whatever his or her calling may be. Ultimately helping my students become Saints.
May the Lord bless you and your families during this Advent season and rest assured of my prayers for you all.
In Christ,
Mrs. Walker
Ex Sede Sapientiae ora pro nobis
Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
