Presenting the annual St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award
By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor
We asked people from across the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois what Catholic teacher in our schools is making a big difference in the classroom? What teacher goes above and beyond, someone whose impact is deep and personal? What teacher authentically lives out what it means to be Catholic and instills our faith into his or her students? What teacher embodies St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who founded Catholic schools in the United States?
This year, the Office for Catholic Schools and Office for Communications for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, organizers of the award, received about 150 nominations from all across the diocese from principals, teachers, parents, previous students, and current students. Nominations were reviewed by the Office for Catholic Education who then narrowed the list to five finalists, which Catholic Times presents in this edition along with quotes taken from nomination forms. Catholic Times will reveal the winner of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in the June edition. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination and thank you to all our teachers for their hard work and dedication!
Judith Carstens
Christ the King School – Springfield
Physical Education
“Mrs. Carstens serves not only as the physical education teacher but also leads both the before and after school programs that support working families. Her dedication goes far beyond her formal roles. She also runs Share the Word, the children’s ministry during Mass, helping to nurture students’ faith alongside their physical and social development.
“What truly sets Mrs. Carstens apart is her constant presence and genuine care for every child. She is always available, always engaged, and always encouraging. She takes the time to notice when students do something exceptional — whether big or small — and even shares those moments with parents, which speaks volumes about her thoughtfulness and commitment.
“Most importantly, the children absolutely love her. She creates an environment where they feel seen, valued, and excited to participate. She embodies the values of our Catholic school through her kindness, service, and unwavering dedication.”Elisabeth Robinson, parent of children
“As the Pre-K through eighth-grade Physical Education teacher at Christ the King School, Mrs. Carstens creates an environment where students not only develop physical skills, but also learn teamwork, perseverance, and respect for one another. Her classes are filled with energy, encouragement, and purpose, reflecting her belief that every child is capable of growth and success.
“Beyond the gym, Mrs. Carstens’ impact stretches across the entire school community. She serves as the head of the After School Program (AWP) and summer camp, providing safe, structured, and enriching experiences for students outside the traditional school day. Her leadership ensures that children continue to feel supported, engaged, and valued long after the final bell rings.
“Each morning, Mrs. Carstens is also a welcoming presence as she manages the morning drop-off line and greets students at the door. With a smile, a kind word, and her crazy-patterned socks, she sets the tone for the day, making every child feel seen and cared for. These daily interactions, though simple, reflect the heart of her ministry and her deep commitment to living out her faith in action.
“Mrs. Carstens is a devoted Catholic who models the values and teachings of the Church in all that she does. She strives for academic excellence while remaining grounded in the mission of Catholic education — forming students who are compassionate, faithful, and service-oriented individuals. Her work is not just a profession, but a vocation rooted in love, service, and faith.”Maggie McCord, parent of student
Patricia Fraley
St. John Evangelist School – Carrollton
Kindergarten
“Mrs. Fraley exemplifies academic excellence in every aspect of her classroom. She sets high expectations for her students while creating a nurturing, supportive environment where young learners feel confident and capable. In kindergarten, where the foundation for a child’s entire educational journey is built, Mrs. Fraley goes above and beyond to ensure each child not only meets academic benchmarks but truly understands and grows. She recognizes that every student learns differently and thoughtfully adapts her instruction so that all children can succeed.
“What sets Mrs. Fraley apart even more is her unwavering commitment to the Catholic mission. She does not simply teach subjects, she forms hearts. Faith is woven naturally into her daily lessons, conversations, and classroom culture. She models kindness, patience, compassion, and forgiveness in ways that young children can see and understand. Through prayer, service, and everyday interactions, she helps her students recognize God’s presence in their lives and encourages them to reflect Christ’s love to others.
“Because of Mrs. Fraley, my daughter regularly comes home having memorized new prayers, and confidently shares them with our family. She has also learned to recognize and talk about the gifts God gives us each day whether through acts of kindness, the beauty of creation, or the blessings in our home. Seeing her faith grow so naturally at such a young age has been one of the greatest blessings of this school year.
“Mrs. Fraley creates a classroom rooted in respect, joy, and faith. She partners with families, communicates openly, and truly cares about the spiritual, academic, and emotional growth of every child entrusted to her care. My daughter has grown not only in reading and math this year, but in confidence, character, and love for her faith. Mrs. Fraley is the kind of teacher who shapes both minds and souls.”Tabitha Brown, parent of student
“One of the most remarkable examples of her dedication is the summer reading program she personally created to combat the “summer slump” in literacy. Each week, she challenges students with five creative reading tasks, encouraging them to read by the pool, outside, upside down, and in other fun settings. Students who complete the challenges are entered into prize drawings. Mrs. Fraley secures these prizes through donations from local businesses and personally delivers them to the winners each week. She does all of this voluntarily, without compensation, sacrificing her summer break purely out of love for her students and a desire to help them grow.
“Mrs. Fraley’s commitment extends beyond academics. She lives her Catholic faith openly and faithfully, attending Mass each weekend, often alongside her grandchildren. She models Christ’s love, patience, and servant leadership in her classroom and in our school community.
When our school endured severe flooding and underwent extensive repairs, Mrs. Fraley was required to move classrooms in the middle of the year. Following that initial move, she was asked to relocate six additional times due to remodeling and additions. Each time, she did so without complaint, dedicating her own time and personal resources to thoughtfully restore and beautify each new space for her students. Her flexibility, grace, and unwavering positivity during this challenging period spoke volumes about her character and her deep commitment to our school’s mission.
“If ever there were a teacher who embodies the spirit of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, faith-filled, resilient, innovative, and wholly devoted to her students, it is Mrs. Patti Fraley.”Jackie Reed, parent of student
Lori Bertram
St. Peter School – Quincy
First grade
“She intentionally fosters a culture of kindness and perseverance through her ‘Marshmallow Moments,’ recognizing students when they demonstrate kindness, effort, and a strong work ethic. These moments reinforce positive behavior and help students understand the importance of compassion, responsibility, and encouragement toward others.
“What truly sets Mrs. Bertram apart is her faith-driven approach to teaching. She weaves Catholic values seamlessly into daily instruction, helping students grow in their understanding of faith in a way that is authentic, age-appropriate, and transformative. She loves each of her students equally and is deeply committed to helping them grow both spiritually and academically.
“As a parent, I have seen firsthand the impact Mrs. Bertram has made. My daughter has grown significantly in her reading, writing, and math skills this year, but just as importantly, she has grown in confidence, kindness, and faith. Mrs. Bertram creates a classroom where students feel loved, supported, and inspired to do their best.”Heather Schrage, parent of student
“I am nominating Bryce’s first-grade teacher, Mrs. Bertram, because of the profound impact she has had on my child both academically and emotionally, while fully living out the Catholic mission. Bryce struggled significantly with separation anxiety over the summer, and when we learned Mrs. Bertram would be his teacher, I shared my concerns with her before Back to School Night. Without hesitation, she offered to meet with him individually and went above and beyond during the first week of school by personally walking him out each day to ensure he felt safe, secure, and supported. Because of her intentional care and compassion, Bryce’s anxiety has completely resolved, and he has grown tremendously in confidence and trust in safe adults outside of his parents.
“Mrs. Bertram consistently recognizes and affirms Bryce’s kindness, emphasizing that kindness is one of the most important skills a person can have — something he carries with pride. During curriculum night, she spoke about God in a way that was deeply authentic and inspiring — it was clear that her faith is the foundation of her teaching and that she views educating children as her calling. She meets every student exactly where they are and teaches through modeling Christ’s love in her daily actions. Mrs. Bertram is truly a joy and an incredible example of academic excellence rooted in faith.”
Heather Schrage, parent of student
Marta Savorani
Father McGivney Catholic High School – Glen Carbon
Math and physics
“I am nominating Mrs. Savorani because she is an amazing person and has helped me grow in faith and my algebra skills. She is by far one of the best math teachers I have ever had. She makes sure you understand the topic thoroughly and teaches in a way that is easy to understand. Here at McGivney, we have something called “House,” which is a time for a group of students from all grades to get together and bond like a family. Mrs. Savorani is my House mentor and during one of our faith talks, she really inspired me. She shared this experience that she had with a priest and how she felt when she was our age about service work. She talked about how she did not understand why she had to do this work, but the priest told her it was for the greater good. This really impacted me and my view on service work. I realized that the work I am doing is greatly impacting others and is greatly appreciated. Now when I go out and volunteer, I have this mindset that Mrs. Savorani gave me.”
Sophia Auer, current student
“Mrs. Savorani is patient, kind, understanding, and many other traits. If I were to write all her attributes, the list would be more than one page. She has had excellent patience with me and cares for me and my classmates. I take her Honors Algebra 1 class in seventh hour, and she has definitely helped me learn an abundance of new things I would never know without her. She is also my House mentor, and acts as a responsible leader who wants the best for our House and the school. I appreciate Mrs. Savorani and all she has done for me in my freshman year, and I think she is the favorite for ‘Teacher of the Year.’”
Charles Grinstead, current student
Ashley Jansen
St. Anthony High School – Effingham
English
“During my freshman year, I was dealing with several things causing my grades to drop. One main thing is that I was constantly very hard on myself. Although Mrs. Jansen was not my teacher at the time, she had spoken about the things she had gone through when she was in high school during a faithful women’s group she and a few other teachers had created. During her talk, I realized I was going through everything she had gone through. The next day, I went to Mrs. Jansen for advice, and I told her what was going on. She agreed to talk, but while we were talking, she had unburied many things about me that I did not realize were going on.
“She has made such an impact on my life that I could not be any more grateful for her. She is always there for me when I just need to vent, or if I need to get something heavy off my heart. She cares about the small things that no one else seems to care about or understands why it affects me. She has always been willing to listen to anyone who goes to her for advice. Mrs. Jansen has been at St. Anthony for nine years and has changed the lives of so many students. One thing that has made her who she is, is her faith. She has personally inspired me to grow in my faith, especially when I have felt the most lost and forgotten. Mrs. Jansen will always be my biggest role model, and I will forever be grateful for all the things she has done for me when she never had to.”
Morgan Stephens, current student
“I am nominating Mrs. Jansen because she truly brings God into everything that she does. Even though she is an English teacher, she incorporates her faith into her class. She is always reminding her students of the many blessings God has given us, and that we need to have a relationship with Him on a deeper level. At St. Anthony, we have a women’s religion group called Women of Worth. We meet on Thursdays to talk about our faith and help lead our sisters in Christ to Heaven. Mrs. Jansen is one of the founders and leaders of this group. She has such a passion for Women of Worth, and she dedicates a lot of her time into helping us grow closer to God. She loves God so much, and you can tell just by the way she radiates true joy. Mrs. Jansen has greatly impacted my faith life. I love listening to her speak on Thursdays during our meetings. She always shares wonderful stories and has said many things that still resonate with me to this day. She cares about her students both academically and spiritually. She wants to see us all succeed. She truly is the greatest teacher I have ever had!”
Aubrey Denning, current student