Sister Marie Joette Ebert
St Francis de Sales School
Washington, DC

For the past 25 years, Sister Marie Joette Ebert has been a member of the St Francis de Sales School and Parish Community.  She is deeply grateful for God’s grace throughout these years and for the wonderful people with and for whom she has ministered.  She serves as Vice-Principal, as 8^th grade homeroom teacher, and as teacher of Reading and English for grades 6, 7, and 8.  As an inner-city school of Washington, DC, it provides education for African American children of various faiths. 

Since 1987, Sister has shared the task of serving as off campus principal for two small school communities in rural Alabama.  She accepted the challenge of finding ways to provide educational opportunities for children whose families struggle to maintain their farms and depend on their children to assist with multiple tasks. Through phenomenal and generous contributions two facilities were established. 

Benefactors donate texts, materials, etc each year.  Instructional scheduling correlates with the hours family members must attend to farm tasks.  The Tuskegee Institute has provided classes in agricultural science and has made modern equipment available for use of these farms, since 1994.  Sister Marie Joette visits these sites seven or eight times a year, bringing supplies, interviewing potential staff, and visiting families.  She marvels that in addition to the children learning, many adults have learned to read.