Principally Speaking - Guiding Students with Their Personal Relationship to God

This is the sixth post in a new series in which we sat down with our staff members and asked them about their experiences at St. Paul, and what brought them here. Sally has been serving St. Paul Lutheran School for ten years! She has not only brought her love for teaching but also a strong dedication towards amplifying God’s love and teachings to our youth.  The impact that makes, is exactly what we love to see from our SPLCS faculty sow into our community.   
– Pam Robinson, Principal

Spotlight: Sally Niemann

Hello, my name is Sarah Niemann (but everyone calls me Sally).  Occasionally, I am known as “Bad Sally;” especially if I am seated next to Chyza in a staff meeting. I have been teaching at St. Paul Lutheran School since 2016.  These past ten years have been filled with challenges, joyous moments, a few heartaches, and so many fabulous memories.  

After teaching in the public schools for many years, I was thankful to get the opportunity to teach in the parochial school connected to my church.  I got my “foot in the door” when a part-time 1st grade teaching opportunity became available.   It felt like coming home.

I was thrilled to become the full-time 3rd/4th grade teacher the following year.  Over the next few years, I also taught 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.  The best part of teaching at St. Paul is that our focus is to keep Christ in the classroom at all times.  Academics are important and our standards are high, but our focus is to guide students as they move forward with their personal relationship to God.  It is a calling!

Being afforded the opportunity to become a rostered teacher was a blessing. Throughout the Colloquy process, our congregation was supportive in every way possible, for which I will be forever thankful.  My days in the classroom have always been wonderful because I love teaching.  My days in St. Paul classrooms have been, and continue to be, daily blessings from God.  

In this building, I have had the chance to work in classrooms once occupied by such legends as Pam Floetke, Becky Denny, Becky Thomlinson, and Elmer Orlowski.  There is a podium in my room which I inherited from Helen Genter.  Resounding in these halls is the love and dedication to Christian education shown by these teachers and so many others since 1863.   Being a small part of the oldest Lutheran school in Kansas is rewarding, to say the least.  I am honored to be here.