St Rose of Lima School Principal Bardhyl Gjoka has created a new dean of student life position at the school and named fourth grade teacher Mary Jo Bokuniewicz to the position.

Mrs Bokuniewicz will continue to teach fourth grade while also fulfilling her new role. Mr Bardhyl said on September 14 that Mrs Bokuniewicz is a dedicated teacher who knows the community well. He also said he trusts her “outstanding” dedication to the school.

According to Mrs Bokuniewicz, some of her new responsibilities will include creating a positive school climate by working in collaboration with administrators, staff, and parents to help students to develop a positive self-concept and have a positive school experience. She will also facilitate communication, develop positive behavior support systems and intervention strategies, guide students in individual decision-making responsibilities, and more.

“We want to create... a positive climate where students are being challenged, learning, and they know they are precious and are happy,” said Mr Bardhyl.

Mrs Bokuniewicz was officially introduced to St Rose of Lima School parents in her new role at the first Home & School Association meeting of the school year on September 13.

The formal description for the new role reads in part, “the Dean of Student Life works with the principal in carrying out the school’s academic, extracurricular, and behavior programs. Under the direction of the principal, the Dean of Student Life will serve as an instructional leader in the planning, coordination, and administration of school activities and programs, including curriculum, instruction, assessment, student conduct and attendance, athletics, and extracurricular programs. The Dean of Student Life provides proactive leadership to engage all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to support the students’ academic achievement [and] personal and social development. The Dean of Student Life works cooperatively with the principal, counselor, nurse, staff, coaches, students, and parents towards a positive school climate.”

Mrs Bokuniewicz summarized her new role as, “enriching the experience of the student on a day-to-day basis.”

From academic success in the classroom to supporting students’ particular interests, Mrs Bokuniewicz said her role will be to support students as individuals while also helping them to understand that they are “part of a family.”

“I love to teach… I am an avid learner,” Mrs Bokuniewicz said, sharing that she recently told her students that everyone is both a teacher and a student.

Mrs Bokuniewicz has worked at St Rose for 21 years. She began her career at the school by teaching first grade when a position opened. This is now her sixth year teaching fourth grade. She also acted as assistant principal of the school for a portion of the 2011-12 school year before she was tapped to serve as interim principal that same school year and the following year at St Joseph Catholic Academy in Brookfield. She returned to St Rose of Lima School for the 2013-14 school year, according to Mrs Bokuniewicz.

She is both excited for her new role and humbled for being chosen.

“I still love this school. I still believe in this school… I believe in Catholic education. My two children [Zachary and Elyse] are products of a Catholic education.” Mrs Bokuniewicz said, adding she frequently says, “St Rose gave them a foundation like no other.”

Mrs Bokuniewicz explained that she sees her new role as a way to bring a “whole new climate” to the school by supporting a collaborative model for the student body, parents, and faculty. She said she will perform her new duties mostly before and after school or during planning periods when possible.

“I would do anything to make sure these students have a positive experience,” said Mrs Bokuniewicz. “I care about them so much.”