Principal’s focus on growth is rooted in the Catholic faith

Members of the horticulture club at St. Bartholomew School in Columbus pose for a photo with principal Helen Heckman in the school’s greenhouse-outdoor learning lab in March. (File photo by John Shaughnessy)

By John Shaughnessy

Helen Heckman has a special appreciation for the Resurrection Gardens that students create in the outdoor learning lab at St. Bartholomew School in Columbus.

The combination of faith and growth reflects the approach that Heckman has had for St. Bartholomew School since she became its principal in 2013. Since then, the school’s enrollment has grown from 341 students to more than 400. And the number of Hispanic students has increased from 11% to about 40%.

Still, for Heckman, the most important growth has been in the school’s ever-increasing commitment to have students learn and live the Catholic faith.

“We want them to grow in mind, body and spirit,” she says. “We want them to grow in their faith and their relationship with people.”

At the same time, St. Bartholomew has been consistently recognized as an “Indiana 4-Star School” by the state’s Department of Education.

All these avenues of growth, faith and success led Heckman to be honored earlier this year with a 2020 “Lead, Learn, Proclaim Award” from the National Catholic Educational Association for her dedication and commitment to excellence in Catholic education. She was chosen from more than 150,000 Catholic teachers and administrators across the nation.

She also received recognition for that honor during the archdiocese’s “Co-workers in the Vineyard” virtual awards ceremony on Sept. 29, a ceremony that celebrated the contributions of people who work in the areas of Catholic education, catechesis, youth ministry, and marriage and family ministry.

With students from Asia, Europe and several Spanish-speaking countries attending the school due to local industry, Heckman has strived to create a welcoming atmosphere that supports such diversity. She has hired numerous bilingual staff members and stressed professional development for teachers in the area of cultural awareness.

“It’s to better serve them, to be more supportive of their families,” she says.

Everything she does is rooted in her Catholic faith and her desire to keep growing in her faith.

“As a principal, I’ve tried to focus more on my Catholic faith, and be an example for my staff—reading Scripture daily, praying together with school and parish staff, and getting more involved with service projects.

“It’s just trying to make sure the school community knows we are a Catholic school—and that it’s important to us.” †