Editor’s Note: This article was also published in the Benet Herald 2024 Graduation Edition.
This year marks the end of one of our most beloved teacher’s Benet careers. After forty years of teaching, eighteen at Benet, Mrs. Rose Sterr will be retiring from the Academy. Her years of dedicated service and commitment have left a lasting impression on the school, its students, and its teachers. After she earned her BA in Mathematics from Saint Mary’s College at Notre Dame and her MS in Mathematics from Illinois State, Mrs. Sterr spent a short stint teaching at the junior high level in California and at St. Raphael in Naperville. Mrs. Sterr then began her Benet career in 1986 in the mathematics department where she taught until 1994. She then spent some time teaching at Plainfield Central High School, the College of DuPage, and Benedictine University until she returned to Benet in 2013. For the past eleven years, Mrs. Sterr has taught most levels of math ranging from Algebra to AB Calculus. She has also served as the Benet Math Team coach for the past ten years leading the team to several state contest appearances. Mrs. Sterr’s impact has stemmed far outside of the classroom. Always leading by example, particularly when it comes to her faith, Mrs. Sterr has left an indelible mark on every student and colleague she has met.
When asked about why she chose to teach at Benet she said, “I wanted to be able to express my faith in my work” and that “teaching at a Catholic high school was a perfect fit.” Since that decision in 1986, Mrs. Sterr has never stopped following in Christ’s footsteps, especially in her close connection and dedication to the senior LOGOS retreat. Mrs. Sterr has been part of the Benet LOGOS community since 1990, serving as a moderator while teaching at Benet and providing assistance when away. It is clear that Mrs. Sterr truly loves her students and wants to see them grow both academically and spiritually.
When asked about her favorite memories at Benet, Mrs. Sterr highlighted the LOGOS retreats along with the electric ABC7 High School Flyover in 2013. However, Mrs. Sterr said that one thing fills her with the most joy: “Watching her students at their athletic events and performances like the variety show, musicals, and concerts.” She always loves to see her students succeed both in the classroom and in the community. In her retirement, Mrs. Sterr plans on spending time with family and friends including her husband of thirty-seven years, Tom, and her 4 adult children: Joseph, John, Andrew, and Angela. She loves the outdoors and plans on camping, hiking, riding her new E-bike, and taking golf lessons.
She also plans on reading, joining the choir at her church, and doing yoga. Mrs. Sterr hopes her students realize the parallel (no pun intended) between practicing useful math habits and applying them in life. She leaves her students with one last piece of advice: “Persevere through frustration and don’t give up.”
From her infectious southern twang, to her sweet and joyful personality, to her pre-exam yoga sessions, Mrs. Sterr will be truly missed. Congratulations on your retirement and good luck in the next chapter of your life!
