Beverly
Fiala has seen St. Odilo from the perspective of both a teacher and a
parent. “Both my daughters have been students at Catholic schools
from grade school to college, starting at St. Odilo. Their faith is
very important to them and they have made me very proud.” For over
15 years, Mrs. Fiala guided students in 5th – 8th
grade Science and 7th – 8th grade Literature.
“I believe learning should be a process of discovery, not drudgery. I
try to make learning fun and exciting, especially since Science
and Literature can be a lot of hard work for Junior High students.
Plenty of specimens and hands on “toys” make for an interesting
day at school. Field trips and learning celebrations also keep their
interest piqued.” She sees the students and their parents as a
blessing to the school and to her life. “I always tell them I
wouldn’t drive forty miles to work each day if they weren’t. When
the last child in a family graduates, it is always a bittersweet
occasion.” Mrs. Fiala holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and
Psychology with State of Illinois endorsements in General Science,
Language Arts, and Social Science from The University of Illinois at
Chicago. She has also earned an M.A. in Educational Leadership from
Aurora University.
