2022 Rural Catholic School Elementary Educator of the Year
Cathy Hutchinson, Teacher – St. Anthony Catholic School, Columbus
“Because of her organizational and technology skills, she is asked by everyone to help with everything, and she never says no,” says Fr. Ross Burkhalter, pastor of St. Anthony’s in Columbus, Nebraska. “She is very unselfish.”
“The bigger the challenge, the more Cathy enjoys it,” says Amy Sokol, principal of St. Anthony School in Columbus, where Cathy Hutchinson works as a 4th grade homeroom teacher, a 4th-6th grade language arts teacher, and a technology teacher for grades K-6.
She’s busy, and an in-demand resource for the community.
Cathy is active in school and parish life. Just some of her past and current activities include:
- Chair, St. Anthony Church bazaar
- Chair, Scotus Central Catholic High School’s gala
- Member, St. Anthony Home and School committee, also having served on the school board,
- Current manager of the the school’s Facebook account
- Creator of the new Saints on the Sprint running program that integrates faith and fitness and the after school STEAM program and week-long STEAM summer camp called Angels Academy
More testimonials
“Cathy has a wonderful rapport with her students, who “know that she is always there and that she would do anything for them.” – Amy Sokol
“Mrs. Hutchinson is very patient. She doesn’t want you to get frustrated, so she waits for you to get caught up or works with you at recess.” – Jaci Harrington, student
Background
Columbus is Cathy’s hometown. She attended St. Isidore School then Scotus Central Catholic. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Doane College. Her teaching career began in Lincoln at St. Theresa’s. She joined the faculty at St. Anthony’s in 2009 after she and her husband, Chris, relocated to Columbus.
The couple have four children, Abee, a senior at Scotus; Caitee, sophomore at Scotus; Bella, a 6th grader at St. Anthony’s; and 2nd grader Preston, also at St. Anthony’s.
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Cathy 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.