“I guess it’s in the blood,” Liz Gray, the middle of the three Fulkerson sisters, said of the sisterly vocation to educate.
Katherine Abar, Liz Gray and Chrissy Arrieta are living proof of the lasting impact of Catholic education at St. Thomas More School in Centennial. Their grandfather taught throughout western Nebraska; their mom, the oldest of 12 children, was one of nine who entered the teaching profession. With so many teachers in the family, it really seems as though Catholic education runs through this family’s veins.
Together, these sisters bring a special dynamic to the school that goes beyond the usual teacher-student relationships.
“The students definitely notice,” Gray said. “There’s a lot of banter between us. Katherine is definitely the older sister, so she’s a little bossy.”
“It’s kind of like our dynamic outside of school, too. It’s very easy to be here and feel comfortable,” Abar added.
Their connection to the school and parish runs deep, both professionally and personally. The sisters have taught at St. Thomas More for years, and their parents have been parishioners since 1995, they shared.
“I told Fr. Randy Dollins the other day that I would not be teaching if I were anywhere but here. All of our kids go or have gone to this school. For me, it’s like the parish and the school are the vine and the branches of our family. For us, everything is so intertwined,” Abar continued.
Gray, who also sings in the parish choir, echoed the family’s deep connection with the parish.
“There’s many layers of relationship for us here. I feel incredibly lucky to work at the parish where I’m a member and teach where my kids go to school. I just feel very rooted here,” she said.
Arrieta didn’t originally plan to join her sisters in teaching in a Catholic school, but found herself drawn to join her family at St. Thomas More.
“I was teaching preschool for about 10 years, and then Katherine told me there was a 4th-grade position here,” she said. “I’d never planned on teaching fourth grade, but older sisters are always right.”
“I told her she had to take the job,” Abar confirmed.
“Taking the position was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Arrieta replied.
United not only by family bonds, the sisters are above all unified in their mission to provide a faith-centered education.
“I started teaching in Denver Public Schools, and I loved it. The kids were great, but I missed getting to start the day in prayer and integrating God into every lesson,” Arrieta shared. “This is what education should look like. Our faith should be reinforced every day.”
As the Theology teacher of eighth graders preparing for high school, I consider it an honor and a huge responsibility to help form them before they leave St. Thomas More,” Abar said, agreeing with her sister. “As they enter high school and are faced with a new set of worldly challenges, it’s important to arm themselves with and to practice prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. Their decision-making development desperately needs these virtues and it’s my prayer that when practiced they provide protection and grace which is so important for teenagers.”
The ability to incorporate prayer in their daily routines is another cornerstone that sets apart their work as Catholic school teachers. Not only are these teacher-sisters able to form their students in faith, but they too are able to grow in their love for Christ.
“I love that I can start every class with prayer and go the adoration when I have a free moment, and I’m so grateful to have the chance to practice my faith at work,” Gray said. “Every day is a challenge and an opportunity to live my faith, whether it’s helping a student who’s struggling or keeping the peace at recess.”
“Of course, I try to always practice what I preach and hope that my genuine love for God and the faith is a positive witness for them as well,” Abar added. “I also try not to let them leave St. Thomas More without a sense of their own personal prayer life and relationship with Jesus. This flame of love within their hearts is what keeps them in the faith down the road.”
Whether her students or her children, Abar works to encourage her students towards a living relationship with Jesus, “because a relationship with the Lord is the key to peace and happiness.”
In a world that often separates family and faith from education, Abar, Gray and Arrieta stand as a powerful reminder of the joy and strength that come from an intentional community. In their classrooms, Catholic education is more than a curriculum, it’s a family tradition and a shared mission they’re passing down to the next generation.
Katherine, Liz, and Chrissy have been recognized as this month’s Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal Disciples of the Month in recognition of their unwavering service to their parish and school community. Their steadfast witness has strengthened the community at St. Thomas More, and their story is a testament to the bond of the family and the profound impact of a supportive faith community.
Congratulations, Katherine, Liz and Chrissy, for being named the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal Disciples of the Month!
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