Stahl: Spirit to Serv
Bleeding “ICS BLUE”
Stephanie Meeks Stahl’s ties to ICS go all the way back to 1969 when she entered the 5th grade after moving from Delaware to Tampa. Mrs. Shirley McIntyre, her Social Studies teacher from fifth through eighth grade, inspired Mrs. Stahl to teach. She has fond memories of Sr. Eugene Marie and Sr. Emeline with whom she still keeps in touch.
After graduating from ICS in 1973 (the 3rd graduating class ever) Mrs. Stahl went on to Tampa Catholic and Stetson University. In her senior year at Stetson Mrs. Stahl came back for 4 days to fulfill a graduation requirement. Much to her surprise she was offered a teaching position and then intended on staying for only one year. Well, here we are in 2010, and Mrs. Stahl is still teaching Social Studies and is one of our Assistant Principals. “After one year I was hooked. Despite the promise of more money in a public school, I knew I needed to remain a member of the ICS family.”
Stephanie and Tom Stahl are the proud parents of Tad and Mollie, who are also graduates of ICS. “I always wanted a Catholic school education for my children, and having them here with me at ICS was an added bonus.” The Stahl’s know that their children received a quality education at ICS. They were both accepted into the high school and college of their choice.
In addition to being a Social Studies teacher and an Assistant Principal at ICS, Mrs. Stahl is the driving force behind our Student Council, our 8th grade Washington DC trip coordinator, and runs our annual Pasta for Pennies Campaign which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societies. “I am proud to say that over the last 16 years I have taken 734 eighth graders to Washington, DC as the culmination of our year-long study. I hope this tradition will continue.” She also proudly states “Our ICS students have raised over $35,000 for the Pasta for Pennies Campaign. Students at ICS are taught to share and give back to the community.”
When asked to describe ICS in one word, Mrs. Stahl quickly said “Family. At ICS you become part of a family. You are a member for life. Some of us came and never left.” Mrs. Stahl feels that children at ICS are educated, loved and nurtured and are well prepared for the future.
Almighty and eternal God, who created us in Thy image and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful, especially in the divine person of Thy Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, that, through the intercession of Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor, during our journeys through the internet we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
For translations view Fr. Z's Blog