'Sister Judy Day' Always A Great School Day

Everybody at St. Benedict Cathedral School in Evansville knows about Sister Judy Day.

Better yet, it happens every school day for up to 80 students at the 450-pupil elementary school.

Sister Judy Dewig, a Sister of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, has been the learning specialist, or resource teacher, for 12 years at the school. She brings her special brand of tutoring to all sorts of students, from those struggling to learn a concept to the brightest kids who may have missed some school time and need to catch up.

The school’s teachers can send their students needing extra help to Sister Judy at designated times each week. It’s amazing how much the kids look forward to going. It’s a tribute to her style – individualized, fun, yet demanding. Students know she will help them. And teachers love having her available to help those in need, while the regular class must forge on to new material.

Lisa Wu, a math teacher for grades six, seven and eight, says, “You have no idea how much I owe her for all she does for me. Sometimes I’ll ask a kid, ‘Do you need help today? Do you want to go to Sister Judy?’ ‘Absolutely!’ Or sometimes they’ll say, ‘Do I get to go today? Is it Sister Judy Day?’

“She’s going to work them hard, but they like being with her. She’s very comfortable and secure to be with. Students know they can count on her to explain things. I think it’s the energy she has, the determination. She doesn’t want to see anybody fail.

“I’ll often ask for her teaching suggestions. She’s definitely an asset. Everybody wants Sister Judy. Teachers want students to go to her because they know how helpful she is.”

Lisa has a special place in her heart for the work Sister Judy did with her son, Brandon, now a high school freshman. He hadn’t passed the ISTEP Language Arts test in fifth grade, so he began weekly tutoring sessions with Sister Judy. He passed the next year.

“He respects her,” says Lisa. “As a parent, it’s wonderful to know that. And to know she was available to tutor him to gain his self-confidence in reading and writing. She just kept plugging away. She does that with every kid she works with.”

Brandon readily acknowledges Sister Judy’s help in getting him through lessons easier.

“She made it a lot easier to focus in on what’s right and what’s wrong in the readings,” he says. “She told me how to do things I couldn’t do by myself. It made me feel better.” He attributes his subsequent passing of ISTEP to Sister Judy’s help. And they had a lot of laughs, too, during the sessions. Which made all the hard work easier to get through.

Sister Judy builds the fun right into the learning exercises. As a student answers a flash card problem correctly, she’ll belt out, “Whew, good job!” Or “You got the power!” “You got it!” “Very good!” Her exclamations are accompanied by high fives, big smiles and plenty of giggles and laughs from all. Other rewards are stickers and earning a spot on the Wall of Fame.

But going to Sister Judy’s tutoring room wasn’t always such a delight. She started out in a utility room. Kids were embarrassed to go there, sneaking in, hiding in a corner, then trying to get out before being recognized. But that has long passed, solved by Sister Judy asking teachers to send the gifted students, too, and the quick realization that she could help them understand concepts they missed in the regular class.

It’s no wonder children now ask to go to her classroom. They clamor to have a Sister Judy Day.

She normally helps from two to nine students in nine 40-minute periods each day. They can be from grades one through eight, and looking for help in English, math, literature, writing, reading, social studies or religion. She also teaches a regular eighth grade pre-algebra class.

Her smaller-sized tutoring classes permit more one-on-one attention with students. She can spend the time needed to discover misunderstandings. Plus she has the patience and experience gleaned from teaching mentally-handicapped pupils for 30 years in Memphis, Tenn.

The concept of a learning specialist such as Sister Judy did not exist in any Evansville Catholic school before she arrived. It was the idea of a fellow Sister of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Sister Karlene Sensmeier, the principal at St. Benedict’s. Seeing the success of the position, many schools have now followed suit.

“The smartest move I ever made was hiring her, seriously,” says Sister Karlene. “We always had kids that needed extra help. I dreamed about how we could get to them before the gap got too big. With her expertise, dedication, and drive, it was a good decision.

“She can delve deeper to figure out what piece the child missed. It’s part of the gift she brings. She makes them talk to her about what they’re thinking, then figures out the holes she needs to plug. Parents and teachers can’t imagine their lives without her, and I can’t imagine St. Ben’s without her.

“When older kids come to school early so they can have Sister Judy tell them how to do it, that tells you something. She also tutors after school to about six most days. She has a waiting list. Parents think she hung the moon.

“She really cares for God’s people, and making sure you do your best. And she’s the epitome of hospitality.

“Her dedication is relentless. She drops everything to take care of a kid. It’s her willingness to never give up on a kid. There isn’t any way a kid can’t succeed if they go to Sister Judy. That’s serious.”

Sister Judy’s passion for working with children needing help was ignited when she was in sixth grade.

“I saw a kid struggling,” she says, “and then they were so happy and excited about learning. I thought that’s what I want to do someday, to help such children.

“The most enjoyable part for me is the visible excitement kids show when they’re learning. Some come in saying, ‘I just can’t get this, I’ll never understand it, it’s too hard.’ So I break it down, and we figure out how to learn it. Then the light goes on, the self-esteem goes up, and they’re more positive. That’s always my goal.

“So the kids feel good. They get better grades, so the parents are happy. And the teachers are happy because it’s impossible for them to get to all these students that need special help.

“The kids know what I expect. It’s firmness with love. They also realize they’re gaining something here.”

She can rattle off plenty of success stories.

One girl who couldn’t read ended up a high school salutatorian. A couple others who were held back in first grade thanked her later for helping them catch up. And Danielle Schall, who she worked with for years on math, recently made the honor roll for the first time in high school.

Danielle says Sister Judy definitely played a big part in making that happen. “When I took algebra this year I remembered most of it from her. She would go through it step by step and was always smiling and positive. She treated me as an individual and really got to know me. I felt more confident with her help. She’s pretty awesome.”

Sister Judy credits her Benedictine and prayer life in helping with her ministry.

“I begin all my classes with prayer. I pray spontaneously with the children and let them do it, too. I ask them about their special needs, so we remember those. And I try to recognize the best in each of them and bring that out. I think that happens through seeking God in them.”

Kelley Coppens, a second grade teacher, says, “Sister Judy just has a way about her of reaching children individually. She is a special education teacher and has skills to reach children where they need to be reached. She just makes learning fun.

“She’s always ready to help you in any way, even at her own sacrifice. That’s part of the Benedictine’s hard work and dedication to their job. She has given up her lunch period to help me.

“My students are always excited to go to Sister Judy. They like getting that special individual attention. They know when it’s Sister Judy Day.”

And thankfully that’s every day for some eager students at St. Benedict Cathedral School.