Alumni

Sacred heart school history

School Sister of Notre Dame (1878-1898):

Mother Caroline Fries

Sr Barnaba

Sr Clovis

Sr Ermenhilda

Sr Dagobertha

Sr Hanna

Sr Paladia
Sr Piatona Theissen

Sr Gregoria Bleckmane

Sr Ulfrieda Stern

Sr Merilla Zotz

Sisters of the Order of St Benedict (1898- 2005):

Sr Boniface Feldman (1898-1903)

Sr Annunciata Janeway (1898-1899)

Sr Mary Grace Jankosky (1898-1904)

Sr Agatha Giesler (1898-1903)

Sr Josephine Feldung (1898-1899)

Sr Scholastica Feldung (1898-1903)

Sr Cecilia Obergfel (1899)

Sr Mary (Staneslas) Donaghue (1899-1910)

Sr Benedicta Obergfel (1900-1901)

Mother Ottilia Haas (1902-1903)

Sr Magdalen Herzog (1905)

Sr Helen Hoch (1909-1910)

Sr Veronica Hirosch (1910 - 1915)

Sr Anastasia Ramsey (1910-1915)

Sr Adelaide Meyer (1917-1927)

Sr Camilla Hess (1918)

Sr Adelgunda Mulzer (1918-1950)

Sr Rita Obering (1918-1941)

Sr Baptista Wagner (1919-1921)

Sr Mary Bernard Geeck (1920-1952)

Sr Dorothy Flynn (1928-1932)

Sr Dolores Olbert (1925-1939)

Sr Marcella Wolf (1931-1958)

Sr Mary Catherine Flynn (1931)

Sr Wilhelmina Tomerlin (1931)

Sr Monica Vogt (1932)

Sr Mary Paul Gusmus (1937-1970)

Sr Felicitas Nemity (1940)

Sr Hedwig Hasenbein (1940-1941)

Sr Hildegarde Mulzer (1942-1952)

Sr Scholastica Warkman (1945)

Sr Mary Frances Crawford (1947-1954)

Sr Mary Michael Schall (1949)

Sr Mary Wilfrid Huettel (1949-1954)

Sr Mary James Karibo (1949)

Sr Miriam Gupton (1950-1959)

Sr Alice Marie Hoelscher (1951)

Sr Maria Mundi (1951)

Sr B Romine (1951)

Sr Eileen Gibbons (1952)

Sr Barbara True (1952)

Sr Celine Campbell (1955)

Sr Mary Stephen Fredrick (1955)

Sr Bridgit Wilder (1955-1958)

Sr Rosalia Reuter (1955-1958)

Sr Lucy Barrett (1955, 1970)

Sr Mary Martin Muller (1956)

Sr Mary Carol Bishop (1956)

Sr Maura Heinberg (1956-1957)

Sr Pauline Longo (1956-1957)

Sr Carmalita  (1958-1959)

Sr Philmena Schmuck (1959-1961)

Sr Mary Agnes Geraldine (1959-1960)

Sr Mary Esther Cooley (1960)

Sr Placida Schaefers (1961-1962)

Sr Mary David Morris (1962-1963)

Sr Denise Kleeman (1963)

Sr Mary William Anderson (1963)

Sr Marie Felice Piazza (1964)

Sr Regina Campbell (1964-1970)

Sr Jeanette Eck (1965-1969)

Sr Barbara Roepke (1965-1999)

Sr Donna Bionco (1966)

Sr Michael Marie Murray (1967)

Sr Therese Soderlind (1969)

Sr Cornelia Beckman (1970)

Sr Bernadette Sachs (1970-1985)

Sr Francine Hasenbein (1970s-1980s)

Sr Mary Vincent Beckman (1986-1990)

Sr Mary Jude Clark (1986-1990)

Sr Karen Lortscher (1986-1991)

Sr Lynn McKenzie (1980s)

Sr Janet Marie Flemming (1980s)

Sr Mary Adrian McLean (1980s)

Sr Alice Roy (1980s)

Sr Mary Stella Williams (1986-1996)

Sr Claire Addamus (1988-1989)

Sr Lucy Simoneaux (1988-1990)

Sr Emilie Schmitt (1990-1991)

Sr Sara Aiden Burress (1990s)

Sr Tonette Sperando (2010-2018)

Others assigned to Sacred Heart School but dates are unavailable:

Sr Mary Charles Daly ( - )

Sr Agnes Joseph ( - )

Sr Angela Janeway ( - )

Sr Aloysia Ramsey ( - )

Sr Antoinette Priest ( - )

Sr Mary Joseph Tomerlin ( - )

Sr Coletta Riegal ( -)

Sr Mary Thomas ( - )

Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (2014- current):

Mother Mary Rose (2017-current)

Sr Mary Peter Julian Lawrence (2017-current)

Sr Mary Therese Lopez (2017-current)

Sr Adrienne (2018-current)

Sr Frances (2023?-current)

Sr Cherubim (2017-2026)

Sr Elizabeth (2017-2018)

Sr Genesis (2017-2019)

Sr Gianna (2020-current)

Sr Giles (2017-2019)

Sr Ursula (2017-currrent)

Lay Teachers:

Jackie Ceterowski (1962-1965)

Martha Ann Warnke (1965-2007)

Sharron Brownell (1965-1969)

Linda Pauli (1065-1969)

Carol Hasenbein (1965-1969)

Elaine Stancil (1965-1969)

Mary Agnes Geisen

Virginia MIsegades

Mrs. Brock (1970-1979)

Mrs. Fehrenkamp (1970-1979)

Mrs. Hilton (1970-1979)

Lois Burns (1978-1979)

Betsy McLeroy (1978-1986)

Jim Miller (1978-1986)

Carol Mize (1978-1986)

Kay Powell (1978-1987)

Jeannie Sarsfeild (1978-1979)

Martha Kinney Wells (1978-1982, 1990-2005)

Sara Bedard (1978-1982)

Linda James (1981-1982)

Carolyn Peinhardt (1982-1983)

Jennifer Hook (1982-1983)

Lantry Brandon (1982-1985)

Phillis Mangum (1985-1986)

Larraine Garza (1985-1987)

Debra Foots (1985-1986)

Shelia Downs (1985-1988)

Mary Mayo (1986-2012)

Betty Hauk (1986-1988)

Roberta Denton (1986-1990)

Shannon Knight (1987-1989)

Carol Collier (1987-1989)

Howard Denton (1988-1995)

Nancy Spurgreon (1989-1997)

Linda Earnest (1989-1993)

Shannon Bailey (1989-1997)

Tammy Waddle (1990-1992)

Barbara Ruffo (1991-2006)

Patti Hanes (1991-1996)

Jeaniece Slayton (1992-1993)

Shawna Norman (1992-present)

Mitch Morris (1993-1997)

Jennifer Grey (1995-2025)

Florence Lynch (1997-1998)

Tracy Holmes (1997-current)

Christy Ferguson (1997-1998)

Nannette Camp (1997-2007)

Jennifer (Woodard) Arndt (1997-current)

Sherrie Wise (1998-2001)

Nicky Taylor (1998-1999)

Lisa Jones (1998-1999)

Jody Stone (1999-2000, 2007-2009)

Terry Shuttleworth (1999-2000)

Cindy Norris (1999-2000)

Anne Miller (1999-2000)

Lori Ashbaugh (1999-2001)

Theresa Johnson (2000-2003)

Jessica Percle (2000-2002)

Phillis North (2001-2002)

Barbara Assell (2001-2004)

Mark Acocella  (2001-2002)

Kelly Styles (2002-2003)

Misti Murphy (2002-2005)

Kellie Thompson (2003-current)

Lisa Rawlings (2004-2007)

Anne Phillips (2005-2007)

Sherrell Cochrane (2005-2006)

Monica Saxton (2006)

Nella McGraw (2006-2011)

Dana Conn (2008-current)

Kathy Chopin (2008-2013)

Jennifer Loring (2009-2018)

Glenda Gregory (2009-2010)

Ernest Hauk (2009-2016)
Rebbeka Whited (2010-2016)

Holly Winfrey (2010-current)

Lisa Bennett (2010-2016)

Susan Kraft (2011-2020)

Brandi Lumley (2013-2020)

Sarah Harper (2014-2016)

Barry Stoner (2016-2020)

Greg Hughes (2016-2018)

Erin Moriarty (2018-2019)

April Miller (2018-current)

Summer Moon (2019-2020)

Ashley Miles (2020-2021)

Keisha Harris (2020-current)

Kelly Gentry (2020-2021)

Maria Cipollari (2020-2021)

Pam Yates (2025-current)

Katie Paulino (2025-current)

Sara Morris (2025-current)

Schenaye Hopper (2025-current)

After the establishment of Sacred Heart Church in 1873 it is unknown if an actual school building existed until around 1877 when construction started which included a small convent for the Sisters from Notre Dame. On Dec 14, 1878 the sisters arrived from Milwaukee and began teaching on Dec 16th to both Catholic and non-Catholic children. the school was then called Mary Help School. By 1879 enrollment was at 100 students. On July 1, 1879 a construction of a new schoolhouse began, and by March 17, 1880 the building was completed and the Sisters moved into new quarters in the schoolhouse. Consistent with other records of this kind, the school building colored in pink in the picture below  is the area that the Sisters lived. 

The school grew so much that in 1889 construction started on a new and larger schoolhouse. It had three large classrooms, a cloak room and meeting room for church societies on the first floor with a large hall of exhibitions, concerts, and fairs on the upper floor. This new schoolhouse was blessed on Oct 27, 1889 at 3:30pm.

The nuns then occupied the old school and took in orphan girls or girls who lived a great distance from the school as boarders. It was then called Angels House.

For twenty years Sacred Heart School was staffed by the Notre Dame Sisters. in 1898 the sisters were called back to their motherhouse in Milwaukee. By this time many sisters had become ill and four had died. These sisters are buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

From 1878- 1898, Sisters of Notre Dame, from Milwaukee, staffed the school:

Sister Clovis

Sister Ermenhilda

Sister Paladia

Sister Dagobertha

Sister Hanna

Before the Sister of Norte Dame left, Abbot Benedict and the St Bernard Monks began to look for another community of sisters to take over the school. He needed German speaking sisters since many of the Cullman residents were Germans. In September of 1898 five sisters from Holy Name Mother House in Florida arrived in Cullman. The Sisters took charge of the parochial school at Sacred Heart Parish.

A two-story brick structure next to the wooden parish church served as their home.

Teachers in 1898

Sr Boniface Feldman (Prioress)

Sr Annunciata Janeway

Sr Mary Grace Jankosky

Sr Agatha Giesler

Sr Josephine Feldung

Teachers in 1899

Sr Boniface Feldman (Prioress)

Sr Annunciata Janeway

Sr Mary Grace Jankosky

Sr Agatha Giesler

Sr Josephine Feldung

Ms Elizabeth Obergfel (Sr Cecilia)

Ms Anna Donaghue (Sr Mary Stanselas)

Ms Eva Feldung (Sr Scholastica)

In 1900 the school was a two story wooden structure with four classrooms on the first floor, and the parish hall on the second floor. Those that attended school prior to 1950 will remember this school and carrying coal from the coal bin beside the church to the coal stoves in the classrooms.

Angels House at this time was a furnished dormitory, dining, and recreation space for the few boarding students.

In the summer of 1902 the sisters changed the name of their Foundation from Mary Help to Sacred Heart.  In that year during a community retreat and election of the a new prioress, Angels House accommodated the overflow of sisters. Mother Ottilia because the first prioress of Sacred Heart Community on July 7, 1902.

Teachers in 1900

Sr Boniface Feldman (Prioress)

Sr Mary Grace Jankosky

Sr Agatha Giesler

Sr Benedicta (Cecilia Obergfel)

Teachers in 1901

Sr Mary Grace Jankosky (Prioress)

Sr Boniface Feldman

Sr Agatha Giesler

Sr Benedicta Obergfel

Sr Mary Donaghue

Sr Scholastica Feldung

Teachers from 1902 - 1905

Mother Ottilia Haas (Prioress)

Sr Mary Grace Jankosky

Sr Boniface Feldman

Sr Agatha Giesler

Sr Scholastica Feldung

Sr Magdalen Herzog

Others assigned to Sacred Heart School but dates are unavailable:

Sr Coletta Riegal

Sr Angela Janeway

Sr Aloysia Ramsey

Sr Antoinette Priest

Sr Mary Joseph Tomerlin

Secular Staff 1900-1902

Ms Julia Rasch (later Buffler) of St Florian

Ms Margaret Fossick of Sheffield

The school stayed in the same location on the block until it was relocated for the construction of the current church building.

By 1917 the second Sacred Heart church building had been demolished and the school had been expanded into the wooden “L” shaped school shown in the 1917 Sanborn map and photo from 1920s.

Teachers from 1906 - 1919

Sr Adelaide Meyer

Sr Helen Hoch

Sr Anastasia Ramsey

Sr Veronica Hirosch

Sr Dorothy Flynn

Sr Camilla Hess

Sr Rita Obering

Sr Adelgunda Mulzer

Sr Hildegarde Mulzer

Sr Baptista Wagner

Teachers from 1920- 1924

Sr Adelaide Meyer

Sr Mary Bernard Geeck

Sr Baptista Wagner

Sr Adelgunda Mulzer

Sr Dorothy Flynn

Teachers from 1925 - 1929

Sr Adelaide Meyer

Sr Dolores Olbert

Sr Dorothy Flynn

Teachers from 1930 - 1934

Sr Dorothy Flynn

Sr Mary Catherine Flynn

Sr Dolores Olbert

Sr Wilhelmina Tomerlin

Sr Mary Charles Daly

Sr Marcella Wolf

Sr Monica Vogt

Sr Adelgunda Mulzer

Sr Mary Wilfrid Huettel

Sr Mary Frances Crawford

Teachers from 1935 - 1939

Sr Mary Frances Crawford

Sr Mary Paul Gusmus

Sr Dolores Olbert

Sr Rosalia

Due to continued growth at the school, construction on what is the current schoolhouse began in April 13, 1947. This included demolition of the small on-site brick convent.  The school was complete and operational on Dec 1, 1949 and on Dec 2nd, the Sisters and students began to move into the new school, bringing items from the old school over.

The outside walls of the new school was constructed with native sandstone quarried  three miles from Cullman on a farm of the parishioner Matthew Laux.  The school was built to match the Church in bother material and style. It included eight classrooms, music room, meeting room for organizations of the parish, a library, a nurses quarters, a lunchroom and a recreation area in the basement, and a convent on the top floor for the teaching Sisters.

Teachers from 1940 - 1944

Sr Mary Paul Gusmus

Sr Rita Obering

Sr Hedwig Hasenbein

Sr Felicitas Nemity

Sr Mary Bernard Geeck

Sr Marcella Wolf

Sr Hildegarde Mulzer

Teachers from 1945 - 1949

Sr Mary Paul Gusmus

Sr Hildegarde Mulzer

Sr Scholastica Warkman

Sr Mary Bernard Geeck

St Patricia Hitt

Sr Mary Frances Crawford

Sr Mary Wilfrid Huettel

Sr Mary James Karibo

Sr Camilla Hess

Sr Mary Michael Schall

The new stone school was completed in Dec 1949 and dedicated in 1950 during pastorate of Rev. Marion Schwallie, O.S.B. It was complete with a residence on the top floor for the Sisters that taught at the school. In later years, the Sisters moved back to Sacred Heart Convent and commuted to the school, and the upper floor was renovated to use for music and other needs of the school curriculum. 

Principals from 1950 - 1959

Sr Mary Agnes Geraldine ( - )

Sr Mary Esther Cooley (1959-1960)

Teachers from 1950 - 1954

Sr Mary Frances Crawford

Sr Mary Wilfrid Huettel

Sr Hildegarde Mulzer

Sr Adelgunda Mulzer

Sr (Treasure) Gupton

Sr Anastasia RamseyS

Sr Maria Mundi

Sr Alice Marie Hoelscher

Sr Mary Bernard Geeck

Sr Bertha True

Sr Eileen Gibbons

Sr B Romine

Teachers from 1955 - 1959

Sr Mary Esther Cooley

Sr Mary Agnes Geraldine

Sr Rose Reuter

Sr Mary Stephen Fredrick

Sr Bridget Wilder

Sr Lucy Barrett

Sr Miriam Gupton

Sr Celine Campbell

Sr Maura Heinberg

Sr Mary Martin Muller

Sr Marcella Wolf

Sr Pauline Longo

Sr Mary Carol Bishop

Sr Carmalita

Sr Philomena Schmuck

Sr Mary Jude Clark

Principals from 1960 - 1969

Sr Mary Esther Cooley (1959-1960)

Sr Wilfrid Huettel (1960-1977?)

Teachers from 1960 - 1964

Sr Mary Agnes Geraldine

Sr Mary Jude Clark

Sr Philomena Schmuck

Sr Mary Esther Cooley

Sr Placida Schaefers

Sr Mary David Morris

Sr Denise Kleeman

Sr Mary William Anderson

Sr Rita Obering

Sr Mary Wilfrid Huettel

Sr Marie Felice Piazza

Sr Regina Campbell

Teachers from 1965 - 1969

Sr Mary Wilfrid Huettel

Sr Rita Obering

Sr Donna Bianco

Sr Jeanette Eck

Sr Regina Campbell

Sr Michael Marie Murray

Sr Therese Soderlind

Martha Anne Warnke

Linda Pauli

Elaine Stancil

Carol Hasenbein

Sharron Brownell

Principals from 1970 - 1979

Sr Mary Adrian McLean (1977?-1981)

Teachers from 1970 - 1979

Sr Mary Paul Gusmus

Sr Mary Adrian McLean

Sr Bernadette Sachs

Sr Cornelia Beckman

Sr Rita Obering

Sr Regina Campbell

Sr Lucy Barnett

Sr Agnes Joseph

Sr Mary Thomas

Mrs. Hilton (Kindergarten)

Mrs. Brock

Mrs. Fehrenkamp

Martha Anne Warnke

Principals from 1980 - 1989

Sr Mary Adrian McLean (197x-1981)

Jim Miller (1981-1984)

Carol Mize (1984-1986)

Sr Mary Jude Clark (1986-1997)

Teachers from 1980 - 1985

Sr Mary Adrian McLean

Sr Mary Paul Gusmus

Sr Bernadette Sachs

Sr Cornelia Beckman

Sr Rita Obering

Sr Regina Campbell

Sr Lucy Barnett

Sr Alice Roy

Jim Miller

Martha Anne Warnke

Lantry Brandon

Kay Powell

Teachers from 1986-1989

Sr Mary Jude Clark

Sr Mary Stella Williams

Sr Vincent Beckman

Sr Barbara Roepke

Sr Karen Lortscher

Sr Mary Wilfrid

Sr Lucy Simoneaux

Sr Claire Addamus

Martha Anne Warnke

Betsy McLeroy

Jim Miller

Carol Mize

Kay Powell

Lantry Brandon





Carol Mize

Martha Kinney Wells

Sara Bedard

Linda James

Carolyn Peinhardt

Jennifer Hook



Phillis Mangum

Larraine Garza

Debra Foots

Shelia Downs

Mary Mayo

Betty Hauk

Roberta Denton

Shannon Knight

Carol Collier

Howard Denton

Nancy Spurgreon

Linda Earnest

Shannon Bailey

Principals from 1990 - 1999

Sr Mary Jude Clark (1986-1997)

Sr Tonette Sperando (1997-1999)

Teachers from 1990-1994

Sr Mary Vincent Beckman

Sr Tonette Sperando

Sr Karen Ann Lortscher

Sr Mary Stella Williams

Sr Lucy Simoneaux

Sr Emilie Schmitt

Martha (Kinney) Wells

Martha Anne Warnke

Howard Denton

Patti Hanes

Barbara Ruffo

Shawna Norman

Shannon Bailey



Teachers from 1995-1999

Sr Karen Lortscher

St Tonette Sperando

Sr Mary Vincent Beckman

Sr Mary Stella

Martha Anne Warnke

Mary Mayo

Martha (Kinney) Wells

Sherrie Wise

Terry Shuttleworth

Cindy Morris

Lori Ashbough

Jody Stone

Barbara Ruffo

Tracey Holmes

Shawna Norman

Mary Mayo

MItch Morris

Nancy Spurgeon

Linda Earnest

Tammy Waddle



Anne Miller

Jennifer Grey

Jennifer (Woodard) Arndt

Lisa Jones

Nicky Taylor

Patti Hanes

Shannon Bailey

Teachers from 2005 - 2009

Sr Mary Jude Clark

Nanette Camp

Barbara Ruffo

Jennifer Grey

Jessica Percle

Lori Ashbough

Martha (Kinney) Wells

Jennifer (Woodard) Arndt

Martha Anne Warnke

Mary Mayo

Shawna Norman

Tracy Holmes

Misti Murphy

Kellie Thompson



Mary Mayo

Shawna Norman

Tracy Holmes

Sherrie Wise

Barbara Assell

Kelly Styles

Misti Murphy

Kellie Thompson

Lisa Rawlings

Lisa Rawlings

Anne Phillips

Nella McGraw

Jody Stone

Dana Conn

Kathy Chopin

Glenda Gregory

Jennifer Loring

Principals from 2010 - 2019

Ernest Hauk (2009-2016)

Greg Hughs (2016-2018)

Shawna Norman (2003-2009, 2018-present)

Teachers from 2010 - 2014

Mary Mayo

Kathy Chapin

Dana Conn

Shawna Norman

Tracy Holmes

Kellie Thompson

Jennifer Arndt

Jennifer Grey

Jennifer Loring

Lisa Bennett

Rebecca Whited

Nella McGraw

Holly Winfrey

Susan Kraft

Brandi Lumley

Sarah Harper

Teachers from 2015 - 2019

Mother Mary Rose, LIHM

Sr Elizabeth, LIHM

Sr Genesis. LIHM

Sr Giles, LIHM

Sr Cherubim, LIHM

Sr Ursula. LIHM

St Juliane, LIHM

St Therese, LIHM

Sr Adrienne, LIHM

Dana Conn

Shawna Norman

Brandi Lumley

Tracy Holmes

Kellie Thompson 



Jennifer Arndt

Jennifer Grey

Susan Kraft

Sarah Harper

Jennifer Loring

Lisa Bennett

Rebecca Whited

Barry Stoner

April Miller

Erin Moriarty

Principals from 2020 - 2026

Shawna Norman (2003-2009; 2018-present)

Teachers from 2020 - 2024

Mother Mary Rose

Sr Cherubim

Sr Ursula

Sr Gianna

Sr Adrienne

Sr Juliane

Sr Therese

Dana Conn

Jennifer Arndt

Jennifer Grey

Erin Moriarty

Pam Yates

Kellie Thompson

Schenaye Hopper

Teachers from 2025- present:

Mother Mary Rose

Sr Cherubim

Sr Francese

Sr Ursula

Sr Gianna

Sr Adrienne

Sr Juliane

Sr Therese

Jennifer Grey

Dana Conn (3K)

Jennifer Arndt (4K)

April Miller (5K)



Tracy Holmes

April Miller

Keisha Harris

Kelly Gentry

Maria Cipollari

Summer Moon

Holly Winfrey

Keisha Harris (1st)

Pam Yates (2nd)

Kellie Thompson (3rd)

Schenaye Hopper (4th)

Tracy Holmes (5th)

Sara Morris (6th)

Katie Paulino (Tech)

Holly Winfrey (PE/Health)