Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

Sr. Mary Alma, principal at St. James School in Crete, has been honored with the 2024 St. Thomas Aquinas Award for School Administrator of the Year. Raised in Ithaca, New York, Sr. Mary Alma was born to Nebraskan parents and credits her Catholic upbringing for shaping her path.

“My dad and my mom knew they wanted a big family,” she shared about her family's move to Ithaca due to her father's job at Cornell University. Reflecting on her childhood, she said, “I credit the Sisters that taught me... who gave me a great gift of knowing how to talk to Jesus as a friend.”

Her journey into education began after high school when she attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and became involved with the Newman Center. Her calling to religious life led her to join the School Sisters of Christ the King.

“We’re a community whose primary apostolate is Catholic education,” Sr. Mary Alma explained. Initially pursuing teaching, she transitioned into administration upon being assigned by Mother Joan Paul.

She spent two years as head teacher at St. James School before completing her administrative degree while serving as principal at St. Peter School in Lincoln for nine years. After five years dedicated to vocation and formation work within her religious community, she returned to St. James School in 2015.

“I’ve been here ever since,” she stated, marking over two decades as a principal.

Discussing her tenure and dedication as an administrator, Sr. Mary Alma emphasized, “It’s so different (being a principal) for (professed) religious... What else is there besides God and his will?” She added that working towards "the formation and salvation of souls" motivates her daily commitment.

Under Sr. Mary Alma's leadership, St. James School strives to restore education rooted in Catholic tradition—a vision echoed by Bishop Conley’s pastoral letter on Catholic education.

“Education in the Catholic tradition is education in wisdom and virtue,” she noted, focusing not on test scores but on forming well-rounded individuals through literature and history.

Looking ahead, Sr. Mary Alma dreams of expanding the school facilities: “We are really limited by our small space.” She envisions adding more classrooms and grades if resources allow.

Reflecting on three decades of service in Catholic schools, Sr. Mary Alma remains steadfast: “What else is there besides God and his will?”