BCS alumna returns to teach
Molly Moses said she knew she wanted to be a teacher from the time she started kindergarten at Butler Catholic School.
Now, fresh out of college, she is starting her career in education at the same place where she started as a student.
Moses, who finished eighth grade and graduated from Butler Catholic in 2009, was hired as a full-time substitute there this fall. She is filling in for third-grade teacher Kate Jordan, who is on maternity leave, until Christmas break.
A native of Center Township, Moses attended Butler High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Grove City College in May.
She said she specialized in elementary education and also special education and would like to work in the Butler area long-term doing either one.
Moses said she has fond memories of Butler Catholic and was excited to have a chance to return there.
“It's a very nice community. Everyone really cares about you and is supportive. There is a lot of parental involvement; it's very nurturing and close-knit,” she said.
She said that she had good teachers as a student at Butler Catholic and hopes to follow in their footsteps.
“It's really special to be involved in children's lives. It's a privilege, but also something that shouldn't be taken lightly,” Moses said.
Former students returning to teach at Butler Catholic has become something of a tradition, said principal Sister John Ann Mulhern.
Several teachers currently at the school came back after once attending as students, though Moses was the first to be hired by Mulhern. The others are second-grade teacher Donna Preston, first-grade teacher Manda Rensel and seventh-grade teacher Fred Pinto.
Pinto and Moses both had eighth-grade teacher Carol Dorcy, the longest-tenured teacher on the staff, when they were students, Mulhern said.
“I feel very good about it because the message it shows is that she valued what she learned here and wanted to continue showing that to others,” Mulhern said.
