I am proud and honored to have been involved with St. Theresa School since it reopened on August 31, 1994. In that time, I have witnessed an amazing academic and spiritual program turn into a cornerstone of the Lake Tahoe community. I speak as a parent, an educator, and most importantly, as an administrator.

We are a WASC/WCEA (Western Association of Schools and Colleges/Western Catholic Educational Association) accredited and well established academic and spiritual institution. We are the only accredited elementary school in the Tahoe Basin. Our teaching staff is fully credentialed with two holding Masters' Degrees. Our academic standards are high. We follow the Sacramento Diocesan Standards which include the California State Standards.

Our school administers the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skill) standardized tests to students in grades K-8th each fall. The purpose of the testing is diagnostic only. The test has a mixture of questions covering key information from the prior school year, and introductory information from the current grade level expectations. Individual test results are analyzed by teachers who use the scores to assist them in planning appropriate curriculum for each student. At the end of the school year, each student is given an exit exam to ensure proper preparation for grade promotion. Over the last four years, our standardized test scores have risen. Student test scores for the 2007 school year placed a vast majority of our students either at grade level or above grade level, validating our strong academic program. Scores showed improvement in math computation, reading comprehension and listening skills.

St. Theresa's middle school teachers and South Tahoe High School counselors have a very strong and effective communication system. Students graduating from the 8th grade are appropriately placed in classes that are based on student performance, test scores, and teacher recommendation. The newly established alumni association will track long term performance of our student population from the first graduating class in 1997 to present. We offer a values-added education in which we nurture the students to grow into capable and compassionate adults. We teach that we are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. Daily prayer is a strong component of our foundation. Our Mission focuses on the whole child and when I share the school’s mission, I am reminded of a quote from a survivor of a concentration camp:

My eyes saw what no person should witness. Horrible acts of humanity inflicted by learned engineers, educated physicians, trained nurses, high school graduates and college students. So I am suspicious of education. My request is to help your students become more human. Reading, writing and arithmetic are important only if they serve to make our children more humane.