Beth Schmitz (Servant Branch), a mathematics and Scripture teacher, gifted speaker and leader among the faculty, will be the next head of school at Trinity School at River Ridge. Beth, who graduated from River Ridge in 2001, is the first Trinity School graduate to serve as the head of a Trinity School.
She follows Jon Balsbaugh (Servant Branch), who will assume the role of president of Trinity Schools, Inc. in the summer of 2017. Jon takes the helm from Kerry Koller (South Bend) who is stepping down as president after 36 years and will continue to serve Trinity Schools, Inc. in an advisory role.
Beth, who can still remember getting directions to morning prayer from a senior on her first day of school in 1995, says she is humbled, honored and grateful for the chance to lead her alma mater. “I look forward to continuing our work of offering students a truly excellent education, one that allows them to develop their natural abilities but also helps them to identify other gifts they would not necessarily identify on their own, so they can serve the Lord in whatever ways he calls them to serve,” she said.
Beth grew up in Prescott, Wisconsin, in Servant Branch’s East Area, the daughter of Tony and Claudia Schmitz (Servant Branch). After graduating from River Ridge, she attended the University of Minnesota at Morris, where she majored in mathematics, with minors in both music and statistics. She credits her time at Trinity with broadening her interests and helping her to discover a love for mathematics, which she continues to nurture by reading mathematical books on her summer breaks. During her senior year in college, a friend suggested she might make a good Trinity School teacher. Beth applied and was hired right out of college, never looking back. This is her twelfth year on the faculty at River Ridge. Beth made the covenant of the People of Praise in 2009 and serves her branch as a handmaid.
At Trinity, she has taught Latin, Scripture, Catholic doctrine, science, MATLAB computer programming and every math course in the curriculum. “I love sitting down at a seminar table with students from different traditions and digging into the Scriptures together, something we are only able to do because Trinity is an ecumenical school,” Beth said.
She has served as master teacher for the tenth grade Scripture course and for several mathematics courses. She developed the mathematics course for River Ridge’s new sixth grade and has trained math teachers at The Wilberforce School, a Trinity member school, in Princeton, New Jersey.
David O’Hanley (Servant Branch), a fellow science teacher, says Beth has an unusual ability to tailor her mathematics lessons to the needs of individual students. “She has a reputation as someone who listens to and understands students,” he said.
Penny Arndt (Servant Branch), who has taught at River Ridge since 1987, called her “very collegial—an excellent teacher and an excellent mentor for other teachers.”
“She is a clear and confident public speaker with a lot of gravitas,” Kerry said. “She is a leader not only among the faculty at River Ridge but among the faculty of all our campuses and member schools. I am delighted that she has agreed to serve us in this new way.”
“Beth has distinguished herself for her calm, serious-minded and unwavering commitment to our mission,” Jon Balsbaugh said. “She brings to the office of head of school her long experience as a teacher and a considerable breadth of perspective that goes back to her days as a Trinity student. She cares for her students individually and puts forth all her effort to help them make their learning their own.”
Beth is the fifth head of school at River Ridge.
Responses
Virginia Kadera says:
May 5th, 2017 at 11:01 AM
Congratulations Beth! What a wonderful choice. May the Lord continue to bless you in this new role at Trinity. We will be praying for you.
Gina & Jim Kadera
Ruth Sanford says:
May 5th, 2017 at 11:07 AM
How wonderful! Congratulations to Beth, and Congratulations to Trinity School at River Ridge!! It sounds like Beth's background with such diversity will place her in an excellent position to lead the school forward.
John Fasbender says:
May 5th, 2017 at 11:13 AM
Congratulations Beth on your appointment and new Role!
You will no doubt do well and be successful in this role.
God bless.
Anne Brewer says:
May 5th, 2017 at 11:19 AM
Such good news!
Cheryl Schmitt Muncie says:
May 5th, 2017 at 11:22 AM
Wow! What a milestone!
Lisa Krueger says:
May 5th, 2017 at 2:51 PM
Congratulations, Beth! I am so proud of you dear sister in the Lord. Trinity School at River Ridge is in wonderful hands. Praise God!
Louis Grams says:
May 5th, 2017 at 7:38 PM
What great news! Our whole family is happy for you, Beth, and for the future of Trinity. You have a treasure in your hands, but God has clearly provided Trinity with a treasure in you. We are praying for you and for a grace filled transition.
Tom Caneff says:
May 7th, 2017 at 11:42 AM
I've had the privledge of knowing Beth her whole life. I am honored and blessed to see her grow into the fine woman she is now. She will do Trinity School and the People of Praise a great honor to serve Him and us in this capacity. Praise be to God!
Jane (Barfknecht) Buch Appleton says:
May 10th, 2017 at 4:31 PM
Beth, congratulations; and what a blessing to you, Tony and Claudia. Though I have been in Appleton for 30 yrs now, and Beth would have been only 7 or so when I left to join Appleton Branch, I share in the blessing of having our "young ones" take leadership roles! God is so good.
Sue & Jim Hooper says:
June 27th, 2017 at 6:33 PM
Beth, What a wonderful opportunity for you and Trinity School.! We understand how leading a school with faith and grace is challenging and rewarding. God Bless you as you take this path.
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