Keeping Faith

	WATCHFUL EYE -- Andrea Pugel watches over fourth-grader Daniel Connor as he works in his St. Rita School, Racine classroom. Pugel is a second-year teacher at the school. (Photo by Jim Mason)

SOUTH MILWAUKEE -- Mention the term, sisters in the classroom, and no doubt images of religious women, dressed in habits, comes to mind.

With dwindling numbers of women choosing religious life, that image is less likely found in Catholic schools.

That term, with a different meaning, does describe two young women, products of the local archdiocesan school system who are now educators, and represent the face of Catholic education today. They're not religious women, but they are siblings, and ironically both teach at St. Rita schools in the archdiocese.

Andrea Pugel, 25, is a second-year fourth grade teacher at St. Rita Elemenatary School in Racine, while her younger sister, Christa, 22, is a first-year kindergarten teacher at St. Rita Elementary School, West Allis.

The sisters -- daughters of Rudy and Pat Pugel -- and their older brother, Mark, 27, attended the former St. John Elementary School, South Milwaukee, just blocks from the family's home. Both recall spending hours in the family's basement playing school with Mark and any of the neighborhood children they could recruit for classes. Using old text books they conducted classes, and Christa remembered always wanting to be the teacher, even though that role generally fell to her older sister.

CLASSROOM DISCUSSION -- Following morning prayer, Christa Pugel and her St. Rita School, West Allis, kindergarteners discuss the days of the week. Pugel is a first-year teacher at the school. (Photo by James Pearson)

After graduating from Thomas More High School, both girls headed to Minnesota for college. Andrea went to Winona State University and a few years later, Christa enrolled at St. Mary's University, also in Winona.

Their career goals were carefully mapped out, and neither deviated from the course. Andrea graduated in 2000 and Christa in 2001.

Back home in Wisconsin, Pat kept an eye out for job openings, and noted that St. Rita in Racine was looking for a fourth grade teacher, just about the time Andrea was to graduate. Pat knew that the principal, Diana Lesnjak, was a former teacher at St. John. In fact, for three years, Pat had worked as her secretary.

A phone call from Andrea to Lesnjak and she was well on the way to securing a teaching position even before graduation.

"I applied at a few public schools and at two other Catholic schools, but I felt most comfortable during the interview. The kids really welcomed me; it really was the best fit," said Andrea.

Teaching fourth grade is also a good fit for Andrea who is a self-described Packer fanatic who displays her devotion to the team in her classroom.

"Kids are so forgiving," she said. "If you correct them, for example, they don't hold a grudge. Fourth graders are independent where they can do many things for themselves. I don't have to cut their paper or help with the glue, but at the same time, they still have an innocence," she said, adding they are eager to learn and are respectful of their teacher.

For Andrea, serving as a faculty member on her former 5th grade teacher's staff, has helped her relive her youth. For example, during Catholic Schools Week, the eighth grade students will battle the faculty on the volleyball court. Andrea remembered years of watching a similar match at St. John, before finally taking center stage herself as an eighth grader.

Andrea noted that her age helps her relate to her students.

"I know their music and I listen to and even like some of it, and I watch their shows on television," she said, noting, however she strives to maintain a teacher-student relationship, not a peer relationship with her students.

Hearing and seeing her sister's enthusiasm for her job reaffirmed for Christa that she had also made the right choice in pursuing a teaching career. Since her high school days, Christa has volunteered at the day care facility at Franciscan Villa, South Milwaukee. What began as a service project turned into a paid position during summer breaks and currently on Sundays.

When she learned of the teaching opening at St. Rita last summer, she contacted principal Sr. Joyce Wagner, and a day after her interview, was hired.

"I've always loved little kids," said Christa of her kindergarteners. "They are so friendly and so eager to learn. They're excited about everything," she said, admitting it can get tiring attending to the daily needs and demands of 15 5-year-olds.

"They are so funny," said Christa, "they just really make me laugh," she said recalling a visit her mother made to her classroom to help the students make Christmas ornaments. "They keep asking me when Mr. Pugel is going to come, now that they've met Mrs. Pugel."

Working in a Catholic school has meant less financial compensation than they would receive in a public school system, agreed Andrea and Christa. But for now, the rewards outweigh the drawbacks.

"There's a lot of parental involvement which is really wonderful," said Andrea. "At a Catholic school I can expect a little more out of students and I am able to bring morality into things, especially when it comes to discipline. We're able to pray, especially during a tragedy like Sept. 11. I can't imagine being in a classroom and not being able to pray during a time like that."

Faith and education have always been at the heart of the Pugel family, they agreed.

Even now, as adults, the family gathers on Sundays to attend Mass together as often as schedules permit.

"My father always said, 'the family that prays together, stays together,' and we really try to live that," said Christa.

During their spare time, the three Pugel children belong to a co-ed softball league, playing for Sparkys tavern in Cudahy. In a few weeks, the family will travel to Cleveland for a basketball tournament in the city where Rudy and Pat first met. Both Slovenians, the couple met through a Slovenian Catholic fraternal organization. Someday they hope to travel to Slovenia as a family to learn firsthand of their heritage.

"Our goal when we were married was to make sure that our children received a good education," said Rudy, a Vietnam veteran and graduate of Marquette University High School. Even though he estimated it has cost the family about a quarter of a million dollars to educate the three children, he believes it is money well spent. And he's pleased the girls are using their talents to contribute to the future of Catholic education.

He's also thrilled the girls have chosen professions they enjoy.

"Sometimes I look around and see my friends who have great apartments or new cars, a lot of material things," said Andrea, adding the extra money would be nice. "But they tell me, 'you get to do something you like everyday.' It really is a big tradeoff, and I'd definitely rather like my job. I do love it, and that makes it all worthwhile."