Patricia Tempesta Inspires Academic & Spiritual Growth in Her First-Grade Classroom at St. Paul Catholic School

Mrs. Tempesta’s hope for students: “I hope that my students will have a strong love of God and their faith. I want them to feel loved and important.” 

One of the most critical years in your child’s education is first grade. As students transition from Kindergarten to elementary school, the right foundations must be set in place to foster their academic, emotional, and spiritual growth. 

At our Lake & Marion private schools, one of the teachers ensuring young learners succeed is Mrs. Patricia Tempesta. As the first grade teacher at St. Paul Catholic School in Leesburg, she provides engaging lessons in a fun, faith-filled learning environment. Find out more about Mrs. Tempesta’s passion for Catholic education and helping students thrive.  

Finding Hope, Faith, and Success in Catholic Schools

Growing up in the Queens borough of New York City, Mrs. Tempesta entered Catholic school in sixth grade. It was a life-changing event for the better. 

“My faith in God started to blossom – and so did my happiness,” she says. 

She went on to attend the same all-girls Catholic high school that her mother did. She had to take three city buses to get there, but she knew it was worth it.

“Going to Catholic school was the best investment that I have given myself. I had teachers who personally cared for me and helped me academically and spiritually.”

Mrs. Tempesta knew from an early age that she wanted to be a teacher, starting with her Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Groom. She studied education and has been in the teaching profession for 16 years. 

She loves now being part of the Lake & Marion Catholic Schools community as both a teacher and parent. In addition to teaching at St. Paul’s, she sent her children to St. Paul’s and Trinity Catholic High School, wanting them to receive the best education possible while simultaneously learning about their faith. 

Creating an Engaging Classroom for Young Learners

Mrs. Tempesta brings her prior experience as a STEM teacher to her first-grade students, designing interactive lesson plans that help boost their success. She always thinks about what her students like and how they learn the best. She will incorporate songs, videos, hands-on activities, and real-world applications to make students feel more connected to lessons. 

She particularly enjoys teaching reading and phonics to first-graders.  

“The joy it brings my students and me when they have learned their letter sounds and can now start sounding out words is incredible,” she says. “I love to see the excitement on their faces when they start to read on their own.” 

She also appreciates the ability to bring faith into the classroom and to come together as a community through Mass and prayer. 

“There is so much joy when we attend Mass as a school community. The students participate in the readings, the parents are invited to attend, and the parishioners love to see the children at Mass each week.” 

Mrs. Tempesta hopes all her students feel that “they can do anything when they put their mind to it.” She looks forward to their future successes, and there is nothing she loves more than hearing from her past students about how they have grown! 

Getting to Know Mrs. Tempesta 

Outside the classroom, here are a few fun facts about St. Paul’s first grade teacher:

• She has a cat named Tigger, a chihuahua named Millie, and a hamster named Hammy.

• She loves to read history books and her favorite movie is “Rudy.”

• Her favorite Bible story is The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

• Her hobbies include walking, crocheting, sewing, traveling in her camper, and taking boat rides on the lake.

• If she won the lottery, the first thing she would do is help others. “I would want to make a large donation to food banks around the country. I would also like to help animal shelters that are in need of supplies.”

• Her favorite place to travel is NYC to visit her family, eat good food, go shopping, and enjoy the city.

We are blessed to have many wonderful teachers like Mrs. Tempesta at our Lake & Marion Catholic Schools!

Faces of Catholic Education is an ongoing series in which we spotlight faculty and staff at Lake & Marion Catholic Schools and celebrate the love they have in their hearts for seeing children grow through a Catholic school education.