Thank you to our retiring educators
May 19, 2022
Two longtime Catholic school administrators and several educators are retiring at the end of this school year.
Ellen Stemler
Ellen Stemler, principal at St. Theresa Catholic School, will retire at the end of this school year after more than 32 years in Catholic education.
Stemler grew up in Des Moines and is the product of Catholic education, having attended both Holy Trinity Catholic School and Dowling Catholic High School.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University.
During her tenure with St. Theresa Catholic School, she led several STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) initiatives to position the school as a leader in STEM education. Her efforts earned the school local, regional and national recognition for its PK-8 integrated STEM education.
“I have loved every moment of this amazing journey because of the people. I have been blessed to watch children learn, overcome obstacles, succeed, and soar! I have worked with the best educators and staff,” said Stemler. “The opportunities given to me by St. Theresa and the diocese have been an important part of my life and for that, I am very grateful and humbled.”
Stemler and her husband, Denny, are the proud parents of four children who attended Catholic schools in Des Moines. She is also the proud grandmother of nine - one of whom is the fourth generation student at Dowling Catholic.
Gretchen Watznauer will be the new school administrator at St. Theresa Catholic School for the 2022-2023 school year.
Watznauer brings more than 25 years of experience in education, having served as an assistant administrator at St. Francis of Assisi, a classroom teacher for Des Moines Public Schools and Waukee Community Schools, and a program coordinator with the Iowa Department of Education.
Mary Jo Kever
Also retiring is Mary Jo Kever, of St. Pius X School in Urbandale.
A product of Catholic education and a Dowling Catholic graduate, Kever has spent 38 years in Catholic education. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Iowa State University, a master’s degree in Teaching and Learning from Drake University, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University.
Adept at curriculum design and faculty development, Kever promotes excellence at St. Pius X by integrating strong curriculum instruction into a Christ-centered environment for the benefit of all students.
“I have enjoyed getting to know so many wonderful students and families over the years,” said Kever. “The friendships I have made with colleagues and families have enriched my life beyond the school walls. The Catholic school community in the Des Moines Diocese is very special.”
Kever is the proud mother of two daughters who attended Des Moines diocesan Catholic schools and graduated from Dowling Catholic. She also has a school-aged grandson who currently attends St. Pius X, making him the third generation of her family to attend a Catholic school in the diocese.
Alex Baranosky will be the new school administrator at for the 2022-2023 school year. Baranosky brings more than a decade of experience in education as a classroom teacher at Dowling Catholic High School and as an assistant administrator at St. Pius X Catholic School.
“The Diocese of Des Moines is grateful for the many years of dedicated service to Catholic education by Stemler and Kever, and we wish them well in their future endeavors,” said diocesan School Superintendent Donna Bishop.
The Diocese would also like to wish the following educators and staff well in their retirements.
Holy Trinity Catholic School
Mary Riordan, middle school English teacher – 45 years
St. Theresa Catholic School
Denise Clark, kindergarten teacher – 35 years
Mary Hingtgen, fourth grade teacher – 27 years
Mary Baker, office staff – 12 years
Dennis Minard, custodian – 26 years
St. Augustin Catholic School
Pam Moore, lunch director – 25 years
St. Malachy Catholic School
Melody Stoner, music teacher – 41 years in education, 7 years at St. Malachy
Sacred Heart Catholic School
Barb Baker, middle school math teacher – 25 years in education, 17 years at Sacred Heart
Jay Flaws, physical education teacher – 41 years
Michelle Duer, third grade teacher – 25 years in education, 7 years at Sacred Heart
Becky Grenier, food service – 24 years
St. Albert Catholic School
Ken Schreiber, athletic director – 40 years