We are welcoming six (6) new faculty and administrators to the IC Catholic Prep family this school year. In the following series, we are sharing short bios about each individual. We kick off the series with Mrs. Wagner.
Question: I teach/work in education because…
Danielle: I hope to play a small part in influencing the next generation of leaders. I hope my work leads students to think critically, reflect on their experiences and do something with their future that will help others.
Q: What inspires you about teaching?
Danielle: It’s inspiring to watch young people grow and change. We get to watch students transform into their “next self,” which I hope is a stronger, smarter and kinder one.
Q. Please share a quote from someone that inspires you, gives you strength and describe why when you reflect on the words.
Danielle: My grandma, we called her Honey, had lot’s of inspirational quotes to share with us. I cannot repeat any of them, but at their core was the message of hope. She raised nine (9) children alone after her husband passed very suddenly. My mom, Honey’s 9th child, never met her dad as he passed a few months before she was born. Honey taught her children to be hopeful in times of struggle and she taught it to us, her grandchildren too. She never let any of us believe we couldn’t solve a problem. She reminded us that there are many angles with which to see the world. We had to find the one that worked for us. I think of her often now, both in my roles as a mother to my own sons and an educator. I hope I can keep her message going through many generations to come.
Q: In your brief tenure with IC Catholic Prep, what impresses you the most? Why?
Danielle: I’m impressed by the welcoming nature of the staff. I think this speaks to the overall mission of the school to be a “home” for all.
Q: Undergraduate Degree, Major, School
Danielle: B.A. in Secondary Education and English from Marquette University (I am also a Chick Evans Scholar; C’O 2007)
Q: Graduate Degree(s), Major(s), School(s)
Danielle:
- M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University, Chicago
- LBS1 endorsement from Lewis University