Meet our Teachers
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Ms.Gibbs-1st grade
My name is Jennifer Gibbs and I am the first grade teacher at Holy Family Catholic School. I have been in the teaching profession for sixteen years and at Holy Family for five years. Throughout my career I have had the opportunity to teach in multiple grade levels within different school districts. I have gained so much knowledge throughout my career and have met so many wonderful colleagues, families, and students. I have been in a handful of school buildings, but consider only one “home”....Holy Family Catholic School.HFCS allows me to use my plethora of skills and experiences throughout the school building. HFCS gives me the opportunity to involve families in their student’s school life. It also gives me the openness to drive first graders to do their best and show me what they are capable of in all subject matter. My classroom is full of learning opportunities, amazing discoveries, wonderful discussions, loads of AHA! moments, dancing and singing, lots of technology, and more!
The best part is I can open a student’s mind, build their imagination, their confidence, their social skills in every topic from Religion to Science, Social Studies to Literature, Reading to Writing, and Language Arts to becoming an author! HFCS has given me the chance to use what I have and show my students what I am capable of doing for them and with them within our learning environment. The greatest thing is God’s gift….kids! I love that I have the chance to help shape His children. I wouldn’t trade “my kids” for anything in the world!
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Ms. Smith-2nd Grade
Tell us a little about you.
My name is Randi Smith and I am the second grade teacher at Holy Family. I have been in the teaching profession for 19 years and have been at Holy Family for three years. Over the years I have worked with multiple grade levels with different school districts. I have been able to gain a ton of knowledge through the years. Currently I am working on my masters of education from Baker University and will be done in August of 2024.What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time you can find me spending time with my family. You can also find my camera in my hand, I love taking photographs of families, animals and Mother Nature. You can also find me on a John Deere tractor, driving in tractor drives through out Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa.
What are you passionate about?
I would say my students, I know I can be hard on them sometimes, but I want only the best for them. I truly love each one of my students like they are my own. I grew up hearing from teachers that because I have a learning disability that I shouldn’t go to college and I will not make anything of myself. I want to make sure no student ever feels that way, and that they can do anything they put their, mind, heart and hard work into.What do you love most about Holy Family?
I love that everyone here if like family.What do you love most about teaching 2nd grade?
Second grade is a blast. Watching students eyes light up when they figure something out for the first time. I love how creative my students are.What do you feel that students get at Holy Family that you would not get somewhere else.
I truly feel each student is lucky as not only are they getting a great education they have the honor of building a great relationship with God.
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Mrs. Self-Pre K
Tell us about your family: I was born and raised in Kansas. I attended Sacred Heart grade school and Highland Park and Washburn Rural High School. I graduated from Washburn University. I married my high school sweetheart. We have been happily married for almost thirty years and we have been blessed with three amazing boys. Our oldest son, Michael graduated from Missouri S&T and is married. Our middle son, Matthew graduated from Washburn University and works for the newspaper. Sadly, our youngest son Nathaniel passed awayat the age of nineteen. Our hearts are still very heavy with sadness.
What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy walks, hikes and bike riding. I also enjoy gardening and learning about flowers. I love sitting on my porch swing reading a book and listening to the birds. Baking is also a favorite activity.
What else would you like readers to know about you? My husband and I love to travel and experience new things. I am a huge Disney fan! I am very family oriented and have a strong relationship with my boys. Our faith is important to us and we pray together and go to mass as a family.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about my calling, to teach the little ones. I have been teaching preschool for over twenty years and it has brought me such joy. Teaching the little ones is very inspiring, to see everyday through the eyes of a child is a gift! The wonderment in teaching them about God. The awe they have in learning the Bible stories. It makes my heart sing!
What is something that most people don't know about you? I love to ride my bicycle! It is a wonderful stress reliever! It allows me to listen to my inner voice.
What do you love most about Holy Family Catholic School? That our shared faith brings us together as family! It allows us to work together and accomplish great things!
What do you love most about teaching preschool? I have always wanted to teach preschool! As a child I would make my own tracing pages for younger neighbors to work on. I love teaching the little ones because they are full of awe and wonder. Having the opportunity to interact with them daily is a gift.
What do students get at Holy Family that they won’t get somewhere else? The support and encouragement of an amazing faith based community that wants to see all the children succeed in achieving their goals.