Sister Carolyn Sieg—Someone You Should Know

By Mark Zonca
September 2015 View more SYSK

After serving for nearly half a century as the principal of St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Lisle, Sister Carolyn Sieg has turned over the reigns of the school to the next generation of leaders. Sieg, who was responsible for bringing innovation and technology into the classroom and is credited with creating a family atmosphere at the school, retired in June. Sieg was the inaugural recipient of the Diocese of Joliet’s Bishop Roger L. Kaffer Outstanding Principal Award in 2010 and was instrumental in St. Joan of Arc’s recognition as the Education Department’s Excellence and Blue Ribbon awards. Sieg shares her thoughts about her years of service and her plans for the future.

What will you miss the most about being principal of St. Joan of Arc?

What I will miss most will be the kids, their smiling enthusiasm and their reverence at prayer.

Not only have you been the principal of the school, you also attended the school as a student. How different is the school today compared to when you attended?

I feel that there are many similarities and difference between then and now. During my years in school, education met the historic needs of the time and we continue to do that today. However, there have been vast changes made to our educational system. We now address the instructional needs of the individual students and fuse that with technology in the classroom. Instruction in the classroom now is focused much more on small group interaction, hands-on and interactive learning.

Looking back at your nearly 50 years of service at St. Joan of Arc, would you do anything differently?

There really isn’t anything I would do differently if I had to do it again. My actions and decisions were appropriate for the time and situation.

As you make the transition from your current position into retirement, what advice do you have for the next principal of the school?

I believe it to be critical for my successor to create a climate of high morale with the staff and students of Saint Joan of Arc. He should emphasize programs that are child-centered and involve the principal. It is important that he encourage professional growth and enhance the on-going professional learning communities of the staff.

Do you have any words of wisdom for your current and former students and their parents?

I would tell my students and parents to look at everything in a positive manner. Keep Christ as the center of their lives and fully utilize and appreciate the gifts that God has given them.

How do you want your students and parents to remember you?

After serving so many wonderful families over all of these year’s, most importantly I want my students and parents to remember me as a warm, caring and loving person.

What are your plans for retirement?

During retirement, I plan to be active in mentoring new principals within the Joliet Diocese and to spend more time in spiritual reading and prayer.