When Principal Tricia Weis walks the halls of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic School, she’s flooded with memories of friends and teachers at the Naperville school and church that are the foundation of her life.
The youngest of 10 children in her family, Weis attended the elementary school from 1975 to 1983 as did all her siblings. “The school didn’t have kindergarten back then,” said Weis, who grew up in a big, white house on Chicago Avenue that is no longer there.
The 51-year-old Naperville native, whose maiden name is Reidy, now resides with her husband in Plainfield. She was hired by her alma mater this year to serve as its new principal.
It’s the school’s deep history, sports teams, camaraderie and faith traditions that she recalls with fondness. Her closest friends to this day are those she met in elementary school, she said.
Even as a first-grader, Weis said she knew education would become her chosen vocation. “I always wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “Teachers here had a big impact.”
Weis said she always thought about returning to the place where it all started. “It was one of those pipe dreams” that actually came to fruition, she said.
“Coming back, I wanted to give back to what was such a large part of my faith formation,” Weis said. “It doesn’t feel like work; it’s a joyful vocation.”
The biggest changes she’s noticed are in size of school and the curriculum.
Enrollment was much bigger back in the ’70s – about 700 students to the 340 they have today.
In addition, the curriculum today is focused on cooperative learning and less teacher-directed, Weis said. “The way students learn is more collaborative,” she said. “I want students to be engaged.”
Weis said she treats her students as if they were her own five children, “with the utmost respect and care” and “to progress and grow at their own ability level.”
“I want students to be the best version of themselves,” she said.
Weis got her first chance to work at Ss. Peter and Paul while studying elementary education Augustana College in Rock Island, when she did a college practicum at the school. “I worked with Mrs. Quain for a quarter, who was one of my favorite teachers,” she said.
After earning her bachelor’s degree, she started out substitute teaching at Ss. Peter and Paul and in Naperville School District 203, the same district she attended when she went to Naperville North High School.
Her first full-time job was in the Salt Creek School District in Oakbrook Terrace and then moved on to East View Elementary School in Oswego, which has since closed.
She went on to earn a master’s degree in education administration at the University of St. Francis in Joliet.
With her new degree, Weis began working for the Catholic Diocese of Rockford, teaching at Holy Cross Catholic High School in Batavia and St. Peter School in Geneva. She also served as assistant principal at St. Petronille in Glen Ellyn.
One day last year she noticed several openings in the Joliet Catholic Diocese, one of which was at Ss. Peter and Paul. She jumped at the chance to apply, she said.
She’s extremely proud, she said, that she’s succeeding her former principal, Frank Glowaty, who came out of retirement to serve as interim principal until a new one could be hired.
Being an alumna of the school is a huge advantage for Weis, Glowaty said.
“In addition to being an experienced and talented educational leader, she knows full well the history, accomplishment and culture of our school,” he said. “This gives her great insight as to why so many alums, current and former parents, as well as parishioners feel so strongly about our school’s mission in this our 168th year.”
Even though she’s familiar with the school, Weis said transitioning to Ss. Peter and Paul amid a pandemic has been difficult at times. “It’s been the most challenging time in my professional career,” she said.
Weis said the outpouring of support she’s received from families, the school’s staff, church leaders and the school community was amazing.
People donated air purifiers, picnic tables for the staff to eat or meet outdoors, and money for any COVID-19-related expenses.
Gwen Wujciga, a kindergarten aide for the last 15 years, said she’s thankful a former student is in charge during this unprecedented school year. “To have Tricia back is such a gift,” she said.
With so many changes for students, staff and families, Wujciga described the first day as a “miracle.” “The Holy Spirit was with us,” she said.
One change that’s different from when Weis was a student is the school now provides lunch. Students sit outdoors on beach towels brought from home so they can eat in space that is socially distanced.
Despite the challenges, Wujciga said the efforts of Ss. Peter and Paul School can prove to the rest of Naperville that schools can safely open to students. “We can be the example of how we can do this,” she said.
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