April 21, 2021 – Arlis DeJaynes, an English teacher and department head at St. Teresa High School in Decatur, is the winner of the 2021 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki presented DeJaynes with the award during a surprise celebration at St. Teresa High School on April 21.
Out of 875 teachers in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award recognizes one Catholic teacher who is making a big difference in the classroom, who authentically lives out what it means to be Catholic and instills the Catholic faith into her students, and who embodies St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who founded Catholic schools in the United States.
Students, teachers, staff, and former students and colleagues were present at the surprise celebration and award presentation to thank DeJaynes for her 35 years of teaching at the school. She is retiring at the end of the year. With several standing ovations and through many moments of tears, DeJaynes says that she was honored and humbled by the recognition as she spoke to everyone inside the gym at the high school.
“It isn’t often you get an English teacher speechless,” DeJaynes said. “I thank all of you, but more than anything, I know that whatever path I have been led on, in Jeremiah, it says that God will direct your path, and I think the path that I’ve been on has been a long and winding road and sometimes we go kicking and screaming down that path, but we are put on that path for a reason. All of you have met me on my path. Every one of you and my students in the past have made my life different because of that path. God bless you. I appreciate everything you have done Thank you very much. It is an honor I will never forget.”
The Office for Catholic Schools and Office for Communications for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, organizers of the award, received nearly 100 total nominations. In all, 36 teachers were nominated – from all corners of the diocese. A team consisting of former educators in the diocese poured through the nominations and read all the stories of impact about each teacher, narrowing the list to five finalists. In the end, DeJaynes rose to the top.
