Teachers dedicate their time to students helping them use their knowledge to better understand the world. Teachers contribute not only to a student’s academic success but also to her growth and development. At Nerinx, teachers and students are called to be empowered in order to make a difference in the world. This year, there are five teachers who will leave their mark at Nerinx as they begin a new journey: Mrs. Noeli Lytton, Dr. Mary Leopold, Sr. Eileen Fuchs, Mrs. Charlotte Simcox, and Mrs. Amy Tricamo.

As a member of the Nerinx community for 39 years, Noeli Lytton says that she has been “…allowed to be creative, thrilled everyday to have the chance to work with a big community.” As a teacher, Lytton says that she will most miss, “…being part of the students’ growth and interacting with them when they realize something”. The longtime English teacher mentioned how she has been strengthened by helping others learn. After she leaves Nerinx, she would like to teach mythology to adults and get involved in efforts to fight hunger in St. Louis, using her abilities to help the less fortunate.

Similarly, Dr. Leopold wants to work on an issue specific to her interests, such as human rights or climate change. In fact, she would like to teach a graduate course at Washington University in computing skills, specifically for physics research. In her interview, Leopold expressed that she will miss the well-behaved, fun students, but also the teachers. She explained, “In college, I was only ever with physics professors, not even chemists. So at Nerinx, it was fun mixing with teachers of other disciplines.” Although Leopold will miss the pleasant environment and faculty shows, she looks forward to working with higher-level physics.

Sr. Eileen, another physics teacher, will also be leaving Nerinx and is not retiring entirely but simply “… going from one ministry to a different ministry.” When asked how the Loretto sisters have affected her teaching, she answered “Well, I’m a BVM [Blessed Virgin Mary], so they’re really the sisters who have affected me. But, the sisters of Loretto have allowed and encouraged me to bring into the classroom the love of the earth.” For 17 years, she has loved Nerinx and “…still and will always love Nerinx.”

After 16 years, Charlotte Simcox, a math teacher, will be retiring. While she does not have a certain plan, she has considered gardening and giving tours at the Frank Lloyd Wright House. During her interview, she was asked what she will miss and answered, “I will miss teaching and taking my [geometry] students to the Frank Lloyd Wright House.” She believes Nerinx students are special and loves teaching them. She hopes to tutor students for math in the future.

One of Nerinx’s history teachers, Amy Tricamo, will be leaving to fulfill a counseling position at Chaminade. Tricamo taught a psychology class at Nerinx, which she will also be teaching at Chaminade as a college-credit course. Throughout her years, people have asked her if she attended Nerinx. Every time, she responds, “I wish I did!” Tricamo explained that Nerinx has given her so much personally and professionally. She expressed that she will miss “…being inspired by students from developing their skills and interests on a regular basis.” Tricamo believes Nerinx will continue to inspire everyone within the school community.

As students, we are grateful for these teachers’ hard work and dedication. Teachers at Nerinx make sure their students learn, understand, and develop. They care about our education and well-being, and these five teachers have demonstrated their dedication to their teaching careers at Nerinx.