Meet the Sisters

Energy, Potential and Promise - S. Ginny Scherer

“It’s the ‘Ah Ha!’ moment, when a student really ‘gets’ the material - that’s what I enjoy,” claims S. Ginny Scherer, chair of the science department at Lehman Catholic High School in Sidney, Ohio. Sister teaches physics, chemistry and AP chemistry.

S. Ginny believes, “My teaching ministry at Lehman Catholic allows me to experience the energy, potential and promise of youth. The kids are always fresh, new. I may be teaching the same subject, but each year the material takes on a new life. As my students grow and mature academically, I appreciate the opportunity to provide them moral instruction, a set of values so they can meet what lies ahead. Learning involves thinking critically about what’s best for themselves, for others, as well as society.” Sister has served in education for more than 47 years with a total of 32 years ministering at Lehman Catholic (1968-’77 and 1987-2010).

S. Ginny has enjoyed numerous awards over the years. According to her 2009 golden jubilee press materials, “Sister received the Lehman High School Teacher of the Year honor in 2007 for her years at the school as a teacher, coach and administrator. She was the first coach for the women’s athletic teams, and initiated substance abuse education at the school. Other awards and honors S. Ginny has received include: Secondary Educator of the Year from the Westinghouse Education Foundation; an Excellence in Education Award from the Miami Valley Catholic Education Council; the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year Award in 1996; the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Science Teaching from 1990 to 2007; and recognition from the Ohio Academy of Science as the District Ohio Academy of Science Outstanding Teacher in 1971, 1982 and 1994.”

In addition, Sister has received six National Science Foundation grants, and in 2009, she was inducted into the Lehman Catholic High School Hall of Fame. S. Ginny is considered an “icon in educational circles” (Catholic Telegraph June 6, 2008).

With sincerity and gratitude, S. Ginny explains, “If you don’t have kids willing to work, as well as volunteers, staff and the cooperation of faculty you can’t generate any of these awards. Many, many people contribute time, resources, coordination and motivation for things like this to happen.”

Sister’s initial bent back in the late 1950s was to study medicine at the College of Mount St. Joseph ( Cincinnati). “Teaching was not something I really wanted to do,” she said. “I fell in love with chemistry, however, in my freshman year when S. Ignatius Sanche so dynamically presented the material. From then on I was destined to teach high school science.” With a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry and mathematics from the Mount in 1962, Sister began her teaching ministry. In 1971, she earned her master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame, a degree she “treasures.”

 

 

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