This week’s Valpo Life in the Spotlight, Mrs. Jane Scupham, has been the Principal at Saint Paul Catholic School for over nine years now and she is absolutely enjoying it. “It’s been a wonderful experience, it really has.” said Scupham.
She hails from the the University of Cincinnati where she received her undergraduate degree. She then attended Valparaiso University for her Masters after moving to the area for her husband, David’s job at VU as a Chair on the Biology Department.
Her husband is originally from Chicago and his mother lives in the area. Scupham says that it’s been nice living so close to family.
When she first came to Valparaiso, she was a substitute teacher in Valparaiso Public Schools. Though she prefered to teach at Catholic schools, she really enjoyed the variety of cultures that she came in contact with during her time there.
Before becoming the Principal at Saint Paul’s, Scupham was a teacher. She taught 3rd and 5th grade students there.
Scupham’s love for teaching began when she was just a young girl. She would often receive old teaching manuals to play with from a friend’s mom who was a teacher. “I’ve always loved teaching,” she said. “I would play school all the time”
Her favorite part about teaching is the creativity involved with it. She enjoys the process of creating lessons and seeing the plans come to life. “It’s really a performance,” Scupham said.
Another great dynamic of teaching that Scupham enjoys is the many different ways she can get involved in schools. There are so many different aspects including speech therapy and education law, both of which she thought about getting involved with. She finds all of it fascinating.
“You can help kids in so many different ways in a school.” said Scupham.
When Scupham began teaching, she never thought of teaching anywhere else except a Catholic school. She went to all Catholic schools as a kid anyway, so it seemed like the right fit for her. She enjoys teaching at Catholic schools because she can be open about her faith and she doesn’t have to worry about not being able to practice her faith or even praying with the kids.
Scupham was told by many people that she should be a principal. After teaching there, she decided that it would be a great way to give back to the school that she loves so much. So, she decided to give it a try.
During her first two years in the position, she attended Indiana State University for her Principal Licensure, which helped her learn how schools are run, about school law and all the administrative duties involved.
Her job as Principal at Saint Paul’s requires a lot of attention to taking care of students, teachers and parents everyday.
Scupham says that a day in the life of a Principal at Saint Paul’s is never what she plans. “I’m always amazed when the day is over because it goes by so quickly.”
Scupham thought back on her day and recalls changing the soap in the girls bathroom at one point. “I wear a lot of different hats,” she laughed. “It’s a true mission.”
If the students left Saint Paul Catholic School knowing one thing, Scupham hopes it is that, “Being a good person gets you very far in life.” And knowing that “your faith is what you can lean back on.”
Scupham’s children seem to be following in their parents footsteps when it comes to learning and education. Her daughter Hannah is currently a student at the University of Kansas working on her Masters in English. Hannah really wants to go into teaching when she is finished.
Her son Will has just finished his Masters in Social Sciences at the University of Chicago and has been thinking about going into teaching also. Scupham and her husband have definitely passed on their love of learning and teaching onto their children.
“I do think we instill the love of learning, whatever that may be,” said Scupham. “[And] being curious about life.”
In her spare time she enjoys quilting, which she learned how to do in college and then taught hand quilting for 20 years to beginners. She can also knit and cross stitch.
Scupham says she likes to do it because of how creative she can be with the fabric. “It’s the fabric. It’s beautiful. There’s so many beautiful colors. It’s an addiction.”
She also likes to go sailing with her husband and kids out on Lake Michigan. It was mainly her husband’s hobby, but has become a family experience. Her husband has made it his mission to teach Scupham and their children all how to sail.