Motherly Sister
Even though an ice storm last month closed schools in Butler County, Sister John Ann Mulhern sat at her desk at Butler Catholic School, answering the phone in a college logo sweatshirt.
“My nephew gave me this,” said the principal of eight years, explaining her casual attire. On regular school days she opts for professional wear over a traditional nun's habit.
Although Mulhern expressed pride in the college nephew who calls her “Aunt Sister,” the longtime educator is equally emphatic when speaking of students who attend her school.
“The kids know they are very important to me,” Mulhern said. “I will go to bat for them in whatever way I can.”
According to Mulhern, going to bat can mean providing rules and structure that exemplify the schools' motto: “Where academic excellence and gospel values come together.”
But Mulhern also fulfills her role by making herself accessible.
“This year I am teaching math. It keeps me in touch with the kids, and it keeps me in touch with what the teachers go through,” she said, listing cafeteria duty as another self-appointed job.
“(And) I attend as many basketball games as I can. We are very proud of our varsity teams — both girls and boys,” she added, noting that both have advanced to the diocesan playoffs.
Though Mulhern admits to weekend time spent with books by her favorite authors, free Saturdays are scarce. As director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Forensics League, she often attends competitive speech events for the 27 schools that participate.
“I have no Saturdays free until April,” said Mulhern.
Because of that she schedules weeknight meetings with prospective students and families.
Luckily, travel is minimal, since she lives in the convent adjoining the school.
Although Mulhern lives alone, she said the convent formerly housed Sisters of Mercy of Dallas, Pa., who staffed the school in earlier times. Since the late 1990s, the school has been staffed by lay teachers, likely due to a declining population of sisters. Currently, the staff consists of 17 full-time and three part-time educators.
Formed in 1969, the school on East Locust Street resulted when schools at St. Peter, St. Paul and St. Michael Roman Catholic churches merged.
Since the baby boom, Mulhern said enrollment has dropped, and changing demographics reflect a shift away from Western Pennsylvania toward schools in the south, where enrollment is rising.
At that time, attendance peaked at about 1,200. Numbers in recent years have remained steady with about 200 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and 40-some children in preschool.
Families also have changed. Although Catholic families once were known for size, the two largest families at Butler Catholic have five children, with three four-child families and five three-child families enrolled.“But most are single-child families,” Mulhern said.As one of the school's larger families, the Voelkers deviate from the norm, with four children enrolled. The Center Township family also is atypical in that neither Nancy Voelker nor her husband Jeffrey attended Catholic school themselves.“We're very happy (with our choice),” Nancy Voelker said, describing Mulhern as strict, yet maternal.“I kind of feel like she treats the kids almost as I would — as a mother almost. She'll even go out to the buses and wave all the buses goodbye at the end of the day. She makes sure they zip their coats,” she said, noting Mulhern knows each child by name.“I feel that my kids are very safe there and sister and I are on the same page,” she added. “They all know what the rules are and the consequence, and she's good about following through.”Although the school's Catholic focus initially attracted the Voelkers, Mulhern said some students also hail from other denominations.“Our doors are open to anyone,” she said.According to Mulhern, all Butler Catholic students must complete religious studies as well as attend Mass, but enrollment comes with “no strings attached.”Academic achievement, she said, stands out among the school's strong points.“We take the TerraNova (standardized achievement) tests. Our scores have always been way above the national norm,” she said.“The longer kids are here, the higher their achievement scores.”The results could stem from Mulhern's experience. The Brentwood native is in her 50th year in education, 37 of them spent as an administrator.She has a bachelor's degree in history from LaRoche College, a master's in math and elementary education from Clarion (Pa.) University and an administration certificate from Duquesne.For 53 years she has belonged to the Sisters of Divine Providence, an order based in Allison Park and associated with LaRoche.Her inspiration to become a nun came from her own teachers in childhood. Her inspiration to work with children also began in youth, when as the oldest girl on her block she was highly prized as a baby sitter.“Being one of the older groups at St. Sylvester School, I (also) was asked to watch younger kids at lunch,” she added.“God has been good. He's given me a way to work with kids,” she said. “It's something that I would never change. I'm grateful for the opportunity.”Mulhern also remains tied to her youth through her identity as a sister. Although many nuns choose or are given religious names as part of becoming invested, Mulhern's name, John Ann, combines the names of her parents.“It's one way I have of keeping my mom and dad in my mind,” she said.Physically, Mulhern is otherwise removed from family, since her siblings and other relatives live out of state. Serving in Butler also separates Mulhern from the communal lifestyle of nuns.Still, Mulhern doesn't want for companionship. Butler, she said, has made her feel welcome.“The people here are great. They're friendly, accepting — just really good faith-filled people,” she said.“I'm really glad I have the opportunity to be with them.”
<B>Association:</B> A member of the Sisters of Divine Providence<B>Address: </B>Butler<B>Family: </B>A brother in Florida; a sister and sister in-law in Virginia; six nieces and nephews; and six great-nieces and nephews.<B>Employment: </B>Principal, Butler Catholic School<B>Education: B</B>achelor’s degree in history from LaRoche College; master’s in math and elementary education from Clarion (Pa.) University; administration certificate from Duquesne University<B>Interests: </B>Reading authors like James Patterson and Jack Higgins<B>Quote:</B> “God has been good. He’s given me a way to work with kids. It’s something I would never change. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
