Mrs. Woodson

Fifth Grade Teacher

Bio

 

Favorite Quote: 

“Do ordinary things with extraordinary love.”

St. Teresa of Calcutta, Mother Teresa

 

Mother Teresa’s simple path:

“The fruit of silence is PRAYER,

the fruit of prayer is FAITH,

the fruit of faith is LOVE,

fruit of love is SERVICE,

and the fruit of service is PEACE.”

 

Why I teach:

My passion is to help students to grow in appreciation and awe of God’s beauty, goodness and truth in creation and grow in virtue. I recognize that parents are the primary teachers and I am partnering with them. All learning in subjects point to the Truth, Jesus Christ. By growing in knowledge and understanding of our world, we are equipped to share the Truth with others. I want to instill in every student this mission and the importance of growing in relationship with God, with family, and the Church.

Monica Woodson

Education and Training:

I earned my B.S. in Education with a specialization in Math at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. In a program at the University of Dayton I have taken courses to acquire certification as a catechist to teach Religion in the Dallas Diocese. I have been blessed to have experienced professional development in teaching Classical Education through my experience at Mount St. Michael School here in Dallas.

 

Professional Experience:

After teaching two years of Math and Science at a Jr. High in the Irving I.S.D., God called me to teach at Mount St. Michael Catholic School in Dallas, then called Prince of Peace Community School. Over the years, the school changed its name and transitioned to the Classical Approach to learning. I have taught various subjects in the middle school grades over the years including Math, Science, American History, World History, Language Arts, and Religion. The last few years at Mount St. Michael were in the 6th and then 5th grades teaching all the core subjects for an integrated classical approach.

 

Where I have lived:

I am a native Texan, experiencing both the city and rural life. Until I was 10 I lived in Arlington, then we moved to the country off a dirt road about an hour drive north. I attended a small town public middle school and High School in Leonard, TX. I have experienced the farm life of a large garden, tractors, bailing hay, chickens, milking cows, horseback riding, swimming in lakes, and of course, long dirt roads.

 

My Family:

My parents were always active in parish life. My mother was secretary at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Arlington. After we moved to the country my dad became a deacon and served at St. Elizabeth in Bonham, Texas, for over 35 years before retiring recently. I am one of 5 siblings who all continue to live in NorthTexas.

I met and married Mark, my husband of 27 years through our common participation in The Christian Community of God’s Delight, a private association of the faithful in our diocese. Our son, John is 25 years old. 

 

Some things you may not know about me:

In my twenties, I was a member of NET, the National Evangelization Teams. We were blessed at St. Joseph to have NET at our parish a couple of years ago. My time as a "NETer" was a time of growth in faith.

Youth 2000 is movement to lead young people into an encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. I was blessed to lead the music ministry for Youth 2000 for a few years including the awesome experience of participating in music ministry for an English Mass and adoration at a Church in Denver, Colorado during World Youth Day in 1994.

My favorite tune to listen to is silence. 

 

Prayer for my Students:

Loving God, I thank you for the gift of my students. May my students come to know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. May your Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope, and love so they may know and recognize what is good, beautiful, and true.

Like Jesus may they be obedient and grow in wisdom and stature before God and men. (Luke 2:51-52)

May their ears hear your voice. May their eyes see your presence in all things. May their lips proclaim your word. May their hearts be your dwelling place. May their hands do works of charity. May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.

Amen.