Weekly THIS AND THAT for May 25, 2008: Byrdie Ricketts New Principal of Our Lady of Grace School

This and That:
Byrdie Ricketts New Principal of Our Lady of Grace School


If you were at Mass on the weekend of May 18, 2008 you had the good fortune of meeting and hearing from Byrdie Ricketts herself as she addressed our people, and individuals had a chance to shake her hand and wish her well. For those who missed the opportunity I want to share the news with them through this column.

The following is the letter I wrote to all the parents of our school children the week before I presented Byrdie at the Sunday Masses. As a parishioner, should you wish to congratulate Byrdie personally, her email address is byrdiericketts@yahoo.com.

Fondly,
Father Nicholas


Dear School Parents,

It is with great joy that I write to you announcing the name of the new principal for Our Lady of Grace School. She is Mrs. Byrdie Ricketts, one of our own parishioners and a seasoned educator. Byrdie has been involved with our school since its inception. She served on the School Implementation Committee and as Chair of the School Council for the first six years and an additional year as a member of it.

Mrs. Ricketts is well known in northern Baltimore County as a teacher and administrator in a number of schools, having spent many of her 39 years at Fifth District Elementary School. She has a rich background in curriculum, technology and faith formation. Is there anyone in our community who has not either had her for their teacher, talked to her as a parent, been prepared by her to receive 1st Communion, or received Communion from her? What is evident to anyone who knows Byrdie is that she has a passion for teaching children, she loves people, she is a team player and most importantly, she is guided by her faith in God.

Hiring Byrdie Ricketts is a wonderful conclusion to the extensive process we used for the principal search. Last fall, in the consultations that we held with the School Council, the faculty and you, our parents, the consistent advice was that we need someone who has the skills of a “Public Relator.” Mrs. Rickett’s natural warmth, love of people, and passion for our school make her the prime candidate to fulfill that role.

As the Search Committee did its work, the members developed interview questions for each of the roles that a Catholic School Principal must demonstrate: Faith Leader, Curriculum Leader, Administrator and Public Relator. The Search Committee interviewed a total of six applicants. They were all strong candidates, but Byrdie was the best fit for Our Lady of Grace School.

Now that Mrs. Ricketts is hired, Sr. Helen will begin to work with her for a smooth transition in leadership. Sr. Helen has already prepared wonderful materials for this process. The beautiful thing is that Sr. Helen has already worked closely with Byrdie, first as chair of the School Implementation Committee the year before the school was opened, and later with her as chair of the School Council. This is a reality that will make the transition a true “passing of the torch” with a rather small learning curve.

If you cannot quite place Byrdie Ricketts, she is the red-haired lady with the big smile who can be seen at Mass every week serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Communion. She is the first grade teacher you wish you had or the one you remember most. Her faith makes her a natural partner in ministry for me, a great leader for a Catholic school faculty, and someone to whom our parents can entrust the education of their children. I would invite you to join me in welcoming Byrdie to her new role as principal of our school by sending her an email at byrdiericketts@yahoo.com.