Gifts Allow Pius X to Reward Teachers; Build Usage of Strengths
Pius X High School is proud to announce that it has received two generous gifts to reward and support its faculty. The first donation provided a financial bonus to Pius X teachers, and the second gift enabled teachers to discover and build upon their God-given talents and natural abilities.
An anonymous donor approached Pius X last fall with their intent to provide a gift to teachers. In February, the gift of more than $41,000 was funded and distributed to award each faculty member for their dedication to their students and for their service to Pius X High School. Pius X has 85 full or part-time certified faculty members who received a bonus check through the donors’ generosity.
“What a wonderful tribute to our teachers who make such a difference in our student’s lives and impact them daily,” stated Michelle Birkel, Pius X Director of Development. “We thank these benefactors who are investing in the education of our students by supporting our teachers.”
“Pius X is an outstanding school with strong community support,” shared the anonymous donor. “We are proud of Pius’ affordable tuition rates, but we recognize that it limits how much the school can afford to pay teachers. Our donation is a way to supplement the teachers’ base pay and reward teachers for their outstanding work. Each teacher has a huge impact in helping our students find and use their God-given gifts to serve others,” continued the donor. “We hope our gift reinforces the importance of the work they are doing.”
“I am grateful for this gift and to the donors for helping to tangibly express what I can only say with words: I am blessed to be able to work with all of our teachers at Pius X,” commented Principal Tom Korta. “Our teachers are very dedicated and positively touch the lives of the young people entrusted to our care. They are indeed the hands and mouth of Christ.”
The second donation was provided at the start of the New Year when Dr. Courtney McCashland offered her expertise and business solution to Pius X’s administration to help build a strengths-based culture within its academic program. McCashland is the CEO of Strengths Research, a performance-based talent assessment and development company.
Pius X faculty were asked to take a 3-minute survey to measure how deliberately, effectively, and consistently they engaged their strengths in their work. The survey is part of a Strengths Engagement Track (SET). McCashland’s goal was to start Pius X on a journey of “intentional focus around how to engage your strengths at work every day.”
McCashland, who is a member of the Pius X Foundation Board of Directors, explained that “once we understand our innate talents, we can then engage those talents and become highly successful. I believe that the better we know ourselves and the activities that bring out our best, the more effective we will be at using our time wisely.”
While each teacher received the results of their individual strengths survey, McCashland presented a summary of the results at a faculty meeting on March 16th. Her research has found that highly effective teams play to their strengths 84% of the time. She explained that when people engage their talents through strengths activities, they “feel invigorated and aligned with God’s plan for them.” The key is for teachers to understand their strengths and to manage their time and day around those strengths.
After the session with McCashland, Pius X teachers were provided a series of video workshops designed to help them learn to use their daily activities to identify their strengths and to focus their time on those activities for which they have the greatest passion, impact and fulfillment.
“I sincerely thank Courtney for offering her expertise to help our school,” Korta acknowledged. “She is providing our teachers with an opportunity to learn more about developing their strengths and how to capitalize on the gifts God has given to us to live a happier, more satisfying life.”
“By putting our collective strengths to work, Pius can fulfill its mission to graduate students who experience the joy of an authentic, Christ-centered life of service,” McCashland added. 
