My name is Mary Kay Herrmann. I have been teaching elementary school for five years- four of which have been here at Queen of Peace. After working on Wall Street for ten years, I decided to stay at home and raise my two children. They have been, and still are, going to The Schools at Queen of Peace. Once they were settled into school, I returned to finish my degree in Elementary Education. I am a firm believer in catholic school education. There is something very special about going to school and having the ability to pray for what you believe in. We instill a religious and moral background that our students carry forward with them on their life's journey along with an enriching academic program. Education is most valuable to students when they can apply what they have learned in the classroom to what they need to carryon with their everyday lives. Therefore, I always try to give a real life example with every lesson. Students do their best when they receive positive input both in the school atmosphere and in the home. Students will tend to put their best foot forward every time if they believe in themselves and what they do. I use this thinking in my classroom every day.