St. Agnes 4th Grade Teacher Katie Marking Honored as Outstanding Educator

Updated April 19, 2024

St. Agnes Academy 4^th grade teacher Katie Marking was honored today as the 2024 recipient of the Albertus Magnus Award. The award, which is presented annually by the St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School Board of Trustees, recognizes an outstanding educator who demonstrates the Four Pillars of the Dominican charism - Study, Prayer, Community and Service.

Katie Marking has been a teacher at SAA since 2012. When colleagues and students describe Mrs. Marking and her teaching style, one of the words most often heard is joy.

“Katie is an example of Christian virtue who joyfully lives the Four Pillars of the Dominican Tradition–Prayer, Study, Community and Service,” said Jenn Wojcik, Dean St. Agnes Academy Lower School. 

“No doubt, Katie was called to be a Catholic educator. In The Holy See’s Teaching on Catholic Schools, a Catholic educator is identified as so much ‘more than a master who teaches.’ A Catholic educator ‘gives testimony by his or her life.’ This is Katie Marking. In her gentle way, she guides her students and colleagues to discover their own talents and to see the strengths of others,” Dean Wojcik said.

Pictured above, Mrs. Marking's students surprised her with pink roses during the award presentation. 

Mrs. Marking creates a classroom filled with joy and excitement where each student feels important, noticed and worthy. She lovingly builds relationships with each student, establishing a positive and encouraging environment where students feel safe to take risks and try new things. She instills in each girl a confidence to face obstacles with a sense of optimism and perseverance.

“By the end of each school year, I want my students to have learned all they need to know to knock 5^th grade out of the park, but most importantly I want to send students on to the next grade with a sense of joy and optimism about what lies ahead, knowing that they have within them exactly what it takes,” said Mrs. Marking.

Throughout her tenure at St. Agnes Academy, Mrs. Marking has been the coordinator of the Lower School Geography Bee as well as a coach for the Robotics team. She is a dedicated member of the school’s Faith Formation Team working closely with our Director of our Dominican Catholic Identity to enhance the faith life of all our students.

Katie and her husband Stephen have six children, Elizabeth, Jacob, Michael, Ethan, Annabelle, and Daniel. She is an active parishioner at Church of the Holy Spirit where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister and lector.

Click here to read more about Mrs. Marking.