By: Lily Meldrem (12)

Walking into a new school can mean learning new names, new routines and, sometimes, even figuring out which buttons to push. For Mrs. Deanna Cooper, her first year at Helias Catholic High School has been all of that and an opportunity to share her passion for theology with students.

Cooper joined the Helias Catholic theology department this year and teaches sophomores in the Mission of Jesus Christ course. While she is new to Helias, she is not new to religious education.

Before coming to Helias, Cooper worked with several parishes as a Director of Religious Education, where she helped run religious education programs. She holds a master’s degree in Catechetical theology and has continued her education by working toward another master’s degree in theology.

Now, Cooper is focused on her students and what they can take away from her classroom.

“Really just planting the seeds in the students to help them to have that true relationship, the knowledge of the Church, all the sacraments, the Scriptures, everything,” Cooper said.

For Cooper, those “seeds” represent more than simply learning information for a class. She hopes students will continue to explore their faith and allow what they learn to influence their lives.

“I hope they take away that this whole subject, the subject of theology, religion, everything, this is the basis for the way of life,” Cooper said.

As with any new job, Cooper has had to adjust to how things work at Helias Catholic. One of her goals during her first year is to learn the school’s programs, apps and technology so she can create the best experience possible for her students.

Technology, however, has provided some challenges along the way.

“Someone will go, ‘Oh, I just turned that on,’ and it pops up on my screen, and, well, it doesn’t,” Cooper said.

She joked that if pushing a button doesn’t make something work the way she expects, her first thought might be that the entire machine needs to be replaced.

Despite the occasional technology struggle, Cooper’s main goal is to become comfortable with the school so she can focus her attention on teaching.

Her faith has played a major role in her path to Helias. 

Cooper said, “ I didn't ever set out and go ‘oh I really want to get a theology degree.” 

Instead, she believes the opportunities in her life have developed through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

“It has been truly because I’ve let the Holy Spirit guide me,” Cooper said.

That perspective is something she hopes to bring into her classroom as well.

Cooper wants students to know that they can come to her with questions not only about what they are learning in class, but also about their faith and doubts.

“If I don’t have the answer for them, I’ll be happy to find it for them,” Cooper said.

As Cooper begins her first year at Helias, she is learning the school, getting to know her students and adjusting to a new classroom. At the same time, she is beginning what she hopes will be a lasting impact on the students she teaches.