A legacy of faith and service

Honoring those retiring from Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Boise

John, Janet McFadden, Joseph, Anakarina, Nick, Mary Brogan, Kelton holding Jameson Dean, James and Zella. (Courtesy Photo/Janet McFadden)

By Tammy Emerich

Diocese of Boise Superintendent of Catholic Schools

In the Diocese of Boise, our Catholic schools are built on a strong foundation of faith, academic excellence and service.

This spring, we joyfully and prayerfully honor a special group of individuals who have embodied those values throughout their years of service. Our retiring employees— a principal, teachers, administrative assistants and staff—have given generously of themselves, answering God’s call to serve with humility, compassion and deep commitment to the mission of Catholic education.

All of our retirees have left a unique and lasting impact on their school communities. Their work has never been just a job; it has been a ministry. In classrooms, offices and lunchrooms, through prayers, lesson plans and quiet acts of kindness, they have exemplified the love of Christ every day. These faithful servants have helped form not only minds, but hearts, guiding students toward truth, beauty and the joy of the Gospel.

Their years of service—some spanning decades—speak to a vocation lived with integrity and love. They have taught more than academics; they have modeled faith, prayer, compassion, perseverance and the joy of learning. In doing so, they have helped nurture generations of students to grow in faith, knowledge and service.

As they retire, we know that their contributions will continue to echo through the lives they have touched. We send them forth with our deepest gratitude and our prayers, trusting that God will continue to bless them in their next chapter of life.

To our retirees, I can’t possibly thank you enough for answering the call to serve in our Catholic schools. Your legacy will live on in the hearts of your students, schools and the strength of our communities.

May you find rest, renewal and joy in the days ahead. May God continue to bless each of you!

Janet McFadden,

Sacred Heart, Boise

Early on McFadden decided that she wanted to teach in a Catholic school environment based on her experience at Sacred Heart School in Boise.

“My teachers and clergy enriched my faith, made me feel valued, and gave me a strong education,” she said. “I wanted to be part of that ‘trifecta.’”

She has taught in Catholic schools in Maryland, Oregon and Idaho, where she said living the Catholic faith took priority and “students were individuals who deserved and received love, validation, and a solid education.”

“Having also taught in public schools, I saw the difference between a Catholic and public education,” she added.

“Throughout my career, I met incredible students, families and colleagues who shared my commitment to faith. I was amazed at how much I learned from my students and how much more I needed to learn to reach every child,” McFadden said.

She attended Sacred Heart School in Boise from 1965 to 1973 before graduating from Kennewick High School in 1977.

McFadden received a Bachelor of Arts from Boise State University in 1982 before earning her Master of Arts in Education in 1995. She received her national certification in 2000.

Her first teaching job was at St. John Baptist de la Salle Catholic School in Chillum, Maryland. She has taught at Sacred Heart in Boise for the last five years.

McFadden taught all grades kindergarten through 9th grade, except second grade, and said her favorite was “all of them.”

“Many of my dearest friends are those from my time at Sacred Heart, both as a student and staff member,” she said.

She has been married almost 46 years and has three “incredible” children, three “children-in-law,” and two grandchildren, with another due in May.

McFadden said it’s not hard to identify her most memorable teaching experiences. “That’s an easy one! The hugs, eyes and smiles from students, parents and staff, especially those at Sacred Heart, and the feeling when a student lit up because they ‘got it!’”

And what will she do with the extra time she will have on her hands?

“I’m going to enjoy time and travel with my grandchildren, children and husband, and continue my faith journey,” she said.

Carol Herring (Courtesy Photo/Carol Herring)

Carol Herring

St. Mary’s, Boise

Herring said her experience attending a Catholic grade school made her want to teach in a Catholic school environment.

“I received an excellent education and made lifelong friends,” she explained. “That positive experience helped me make the decision to be a teacher in a Catholic school. I love being able to teach the whole child, mind and spirituality, which I’m able to do in a Catholic school environment.”

She explained that one of the best parts of teaching is helping young students reach their maximum potential.

“I love teaching, so the whole experience has been wonderful,” she said. “I have had the opportunity to teach kindergarten through 8th grade, and every grade is special. I love helping students be their best selves, and I enjoy listening and watching students have that ‘Ah-Ha’ moment when they understand a concept.”

Herring attended St. Anne’s Catholic school in Lodi, Calif., from 1st to 8th grade. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and an Elementary Education Credential. She began her career in 1979 as a substitute teacher in the public school system.

Her first teaching job came in 1980 at St. Thomas More Catholic School in Paradise, Calif., where she taught kindergarten in the morning and 7th and 8th graders in the afternoon.

“My husband and our two daughters moved to Boise when my husband was transferred to Albertson’s Corporate Office in the summer of 1991,” she said. “That fall, I was hired as the librarian and 1st grade teacher’s aide at St. Mary’s.”

Then, in the spring of 1992, she was hired to teach at St. Mary’s in Boise, where she has worked for the last 33 years.

Herring said one of the most memorable highlights of her career has been taking her 5th and 6th graders to MOSS (McCall Outdoor Science School) for a week and developing a three-day retreat for 8th-grade students at the Monastery of St. Gertrude every May before they graduate.

She and her husband, Tim, have been married for 47 years. They have two daughters and four grandsons, one of whom is a student at St. Mary’s. Plans for the future include enjoying time with family, traveling with Tim, taking night sky photos, reading, gardening and substitute teaching at St. Mary’s.

“The experiences I have had working with so many wonderful educators, administrators, parents, and students who have become my friends have been amazing,” she said. “The students make me smile every day.”

Kathleen Brinegar (Courtesy Photo/Kathleen Brinegar)

Kathleen Brinegar

St. Mark’s, Boise

“From the beginning, in 1993, we knew this community would become a lifelong home for us,” Brinegar said. “The families here have become cherished friends, and the St. Mark’s network has touched every aspect of our lives – faith, education, social and professional.”

She drives her two grandchildren to St. Mark’s every day, a routine she says will continue even though she is retiring.

“Working at St. Mark’s has been a true blessing,” Brinegar said.

“In my role as bookkeeper, registrar and office manager, I’ve had the privilege of working with a wonderful faculty and staff, meeting new families, providing tours, and helping new members integrate into our community. As someone who grew up in a military family - moving every 18 months to two years and attending nine schools before graduating high school - St. Mark’s has given me something truly special: the opportunity to put down roots.”

She said one of her favorite memories is the annual All-Schools Mass.

“Watching all the Catholic grade school students worshiping together with the Bishop Kelly (High School) Campus Ministers is a powerful and moving experience,” Kathleen said. “It gives me hope for the future of our Church.”

Brinegar graduated from Idaho State University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Economics and a minor in Marketing. That same year, she married Clyde at St. John’s Student Center on the ISU campus. Clyde later became an ordained deacon for the Diocese of Boise.

She spent 12 years in the banking industry as an operations officer, managing a call center before deciding to stay home while her two children were still young.

“During that time, I volunteered at St. Mark’s School and in the parish office,” she explained. “I started a part-time position in 2007 in the parish office. In 2010, Mr. (Dan) Maloney offered me a full-time position at the school.”

The Brinegars’ three children - Katy (Privon), Keriann and Mark - all attended St. Mark’s.

Now that she is retiring, she plans to spend more time with her husband and their friends. She looks forward to traveling, enjoying Sunday dinners with four generations of family, gardening, and doing more volunteer work at the church and school.