New Geibel principal eager to make impact
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg recently appointed Patricia Nickler as principal of Geibel Catholic High School in Connellsville.
Patricia Nickler began her new position as principal of Geibel Catholic High School earlier this month. The Bobtown native replaces Don Favero, who retired at the end of the school year after serving as principal since 2011.
A new school year will bring a new face to the head position at Geibel Catholic High School.
As a fresh coat of paint dries on Patricia Nickler蘑菇视频 office walls, the new principal of the Connellsville school has a simple message: the only changes to the school will be improvements.
鈥淚 want our parents to know that the basic premise of the school won鈥檛 change no matter who the principal is. Our objective is to provide their children the opportunity to grow academically and in their faith,鈥� said Nickler.
鈥淲hile their child is here, they will be challenged to be the best version of themselves.鈥�
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg announced Nickler蘑菇视频 appointment to the position in May.
A first-time principal, she started in her new role earlier this month, replacing Don Favero, who retired at the end of last school year after serving as principal of Geibel since 2011.
In her short time at Geibel, Nickler has met with students attending STEM and performing arts camps and a cheerleader pancake breakfast to show support for her new students.
鈥淓very kid I鈥檝e met has been excited for the first day of school,鈥� Nickler said. 鈥淚t makes me assume that the teachers have made it an environment that students want to come back to.鈥�
Nickler蘑菇视频 primary goal at Geibel, she said, is to ensure the school maintains its current atmosphere, a familial one that both nurtures and challenges students.
鈥淚t seems like a community that蘑菇视频 really like a family. Any reservations I鈥檝e had, the people here have really made me feel welcome and part of the community,鈥� she said.
鈥淭he faculty I鈥檝e met have been very helpful, knowledgeable and well-educated. I can tell they have a sincere interest in the students and their success.鈥�
The appointment to Geibel is a homecoming of sorts for Nickler.
The Greene County native from Bobtown fled to the warm weather of Florida 32 years ago. She taught in Catholic schools there for the last 17 years.
A graduate of Mapletown High School, Nickler attended Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus before competing her bachelor蘑菇视频 degree in finance at University Park.
After a long career as a stockbroker and portfolio manager, Nickler made the transition to teaching.
She began her Catholic education career in 1999 as a middle school mathematics teacher at St. Juliana Catholic School in West Palm Beach, Florida, before moving to All Saints Catholic School in Jupiter, Florida, where she spent 10 years as an advanced mathematics teacher.
Nickler holds a master蘑菇视频 degree in educational leadership with principal蘑菇视频 certification from Barry University.
Dr. Maureen Marsteller, superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese, said, 鈥淢rs. Nickler identifies as a servant leader. Her pastor (Father Andrew Brierley of St. Luke Parish, Palm Springs, Florida) says she has contributed significantly to the Catholic culture of All Saints.鈥�
With family in nearby Morgantown, West Virginia, Nickler decided it was time to return to southwestern Pennsylvania.
In her new role, she hopes to bring to Geibel ideas that will improve the ways students learn.
At a school that the diocese has pumped money into in recent years to improve technology offerings and create comfortable classrooms, Nickler plans to build on existing methods to help students reach their full potential.
She said she has already spoken to Marsteller about the prospect of adding Advanced Placement courses, and hopes to create learning spaces that will better utilize the school蘑菇视频 technology to help students learn through collaboration.
鈥淟earning is not sitting in rows reading a book anymore. It蘑菇视频 going on the Internet and finding information,鈥� said Nickler, adding that the current generation of students primarily learns through images, collaboration and technology.
鈥淭hat蘑菇视频 the kinds of things I want to see here 鈥� kids working collaboratively and interactively.鈥�
Geibel has 192 registered students for the upcoming school year, which is increase from past years, said Nickler.
Although the school is significantly smaller than the one where she last taught, she feels a small school atmosphere allows for better relationships between faculty and students.
鈥淕eibel permeates the entire community here,鈥� Nickler said. 鈥淓veryone I鈥檝e met has been a Geibel graduate, or the husband or wife of a Geibel graduate, or a child of a Geibel graduate.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 a gift to be here.鈥�