BNI veteran teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Conley has retired after 28 years at Bishop Noll and 48 years in education. Earlier this school year, Conley was named the American Legion, Department of Indiana’s 1st District 2017 9-12 Educator of the Year. She was chosen for her continued work to educate the future of Indiana.
After teaching 48 years and touching thousands of lives, Mrs. Conley retires
Bishop Noll Institute veteran teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Conley has retired after a total of 48 years in education. Mrs. Conley, who served as a speech, theater, debate and physical education teacher, has taught at BNI for 28 years. She also served as head of the theater department and as director of countless productions.
Outside the classroom and theater, Mrs. Conley was a beloved consultant for students. Every school year, she attended one of the four-day long Kairos trips with the junior class. These Catholic retreats use personal talks from peer and adult leaders, as well as discussions, periods of silence and reflection and integrated prayer experiences to help teens discover God in all things.
“I’ve definitely felt the positive ends of her presence. She has helped me in numerous ways with my personal life, daily life and school life. School has stopped being a chore but something enjoyable solely based off her antics,” said Alexis Rodriguez ’18.
At the start of her career, Mrs. Conley was a professional actress in Seattle when a friend asked her to temporaily teach her theater class.
“I fell in love with teaching theater and directing,” Mrs. Conley said. Prior to her 28 years of teaching at Bishop Noll, she taught at schools in Illinois, Indiana, Seattle and Albuquerque.
Mrs. Conley has a long lasting effect on not only her students, but her colleagues as well. Principal Lorenza Jara Pastrick ’01 said it was interesting to have Mrs. Conley first as a teacher and then as a colleague.
“As a teacher, Mrs. Conley always had me thinking and to date, she still has me thinking about the right way to approach obstacles and challenges. In many ways, she still is my teacher,” Mrs. Pastrick said.
Mrs. Conley said her favorite part about Noll is her students. When asked what is important about Catholic education, Mrs. Conley said, “The Lord. You get to pray ... To me the Noll student is like no other student. We have diversity that is unbelievable. The range of the kind of student we have is amazing and I love that."
“She is a true inspiration for students and teachers alike, no matter what type of field you are going to go into from teacher, family person, or whatever. Mrs. Conley is the perfect example of adults that we need in the world for being not only open but also caring and friendly to all people around,” said Abel Alejandre ’18.
“Everything that I’ve done, especially times when I had a pivotal fork in the road moment, one of the voices I always have in my head coaching me on things is Mrs. Conley,” said David Negrete ’99.
Mrs. Conley has no special plans in honor of her retirement. However, she plans on traveling with her husband in their trailer. Although she will no longer be a full-time teacher, Mrs. Conley will teach theater part-time at Calumet College of St. Joseph and also plans on subbing at Noll periodically.
- With additional reporting by Rebecca Aguado, JourNoll Staff Reporter
