2022 Metro Catholic School Administrator of the Year
Lynn Schultz, Principal – St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary, Bellevue
Many people describe Lynn as “open…”
- She has an “open door policy” where all are welcome to her office to discuss work concerns and personal problems.
- She “openly shares her faith” during the course of the day and thus inspires others to be Christ-like in their actions.
- She is “open to new ideas from staff and students,” brainstorming ways to make St. Bernadette the best learning environment it can be.
Faith in action
Students love to hear of her pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Medjugorje. She established a First Friday Adoration for each class, and a Bible study course she took resulted in the creation of Prophetic Ministries at St. Bernadette. Several times a year the school community gathers to pray the rosary, led by 8th graders. Lynn’s favorites include the light stick rosary and cupcake rosary.
Under her leadership, St. Bernadette has acquired State of Nebraska Accreditation and an International Accreditation, Cognia. She has implemented Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).
Lynn sees each student as a child of God, and her background in special education was a great asset in developing better support and resources for students who learn differently. St. Bernadette now has a full-time special education teacher as well as a resource room with a teacher.
More words of support
“She never judges but simply asks how she can support them,” says St. Bernadette music, art, and drama teacher, Stacey Fanciullo, adding that Lynn’s superpowers are kindness and Christian empathy.
“I have never felt more supported by an administrator,” says 22-year veteran, Katie Laughhunn, the 2nd grade teacher at St. Bernadette.
Background
A graduate of St. Thomas More and then Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School, Lynn attended the College of St. Mary where she earned a BS in elementary education and special education. She continued her studies, graduating the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a Master’s in learning disabilities and an administrative certificate PK-12. She began her teaching career at Madonna School before joining the Council Bluffs Community School District to teach special education. Her 12 years at St. Bernadette was preceded by 10 years in administration in the public school setting.
Lynn is active in her home parish of St. Leo, participating in its music ministry, serving as an EMHC, leading RCIA and vacation bible school groups, among other volunteer opportunities. She loves to run with the sun comes up, using this time to commune with Christ, and come summer she is often outside painting.
She and her husband, John, have been married 24 years and have a daughter, Kylee, and son-in-law Jason.
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Lynn is part of a larger group of eight educators the Archdiocese of Omaha honors each year. The annual event helps us recognize and reward the impact of our local educators, celebrate Catholic education and raise important scholarship dollars for tuition assistance that helps make tuition accessible and affordable for many more families across our community.
Please join us in person for this year’s Archbishop’s Dinner for Education on September 22.