Pat Phillipp to retire after 43 years at Our Lady of Lourdes

Friday, Apr. 15, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — Next month, Pat Phillipp will retire after 43 years of teaching second grade in the same classroom in which she started at Our Lady of Lourdes School.  

Phillipp grew up on a farm in Idaho, the oldest of 12 children. Her mother insisted that all of them attend college;  Phillipp fell naturally into teaching after ordering around 11 younger brothers and sisters. She attended Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho and graduated with a degree in elementary education.

Phillipp’s career has seen countless changes in education and technology, which she has embraced to help her reach the minds and hearts of students of all backgrounds and excite them about learning and challenge them in ways to enable them to grow.  

“There is something about second-graders that is awesome,” said Phillipp, who has taught more than 900 students, many of them the children of her former students. 

“So many things come to mind when I think about Ms. Phillipp,” said former student Lisa Rose, who works at St. Francis Xavier School in Kearns.  “One of my favorite things she taught us was to make animals out of the letters.  To this day I still remember how to make a dog face out of the letter ‘F.’ She was one of the most kind, gentle, loving teachers I had. She truly has followed her calling in life and has made such an impact on so many young minds. She definitely made an impact on me.”

As is evident from her 43 years, Phillipp loves the school and the community at Lourdes; she says the faculty, parents and students are close knit. She credits many of the Lourdes teachers from when she first started as having an influence on her as a young teacher.

“Pat is a loving, gentle person who has given over 35 years to teaching in a Catholic school,” said Holy Cross Sister Catherine Kamphaus, associate superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools. “Her students love her because she is so kind and helpful. She has expectations of them and they know what they should learn and how to act. In her quiet way, Pat has always given her time to the school for extra activities beyond the classroom. Her sense of humor and loving ways make her a friend for life. We will miss her at the school but hope we continue to see her at the parish and other events.”

When Phillipp interviewed at Lourdes back in 1973, Sister Joan Allem, the principal at the time, told her that she would have very big shoes to fill, as the prior second-grade teacher had been there for 18 years. Phillipp remembers thinking that she would never be able to make it for that long.

A retirement reception to celebrate Phillipp will be held Wednesday, May 11 at 6 p.m. at the school. Past and present students, parents, family, friends and colleagues are invited. For information visit www.lourdesschool.org/Pat-retirement or contact Cheri Wright, cwright@lourdesschool.org.  

Donations are being sought to help create the Pat Phillipp Library Endowment Fund to honor her love of reading and teaching reading. The endowment will fund books and library resources (printed and digital) for OLOL students.

Donations may be made online at www.lourdesschool.org/Pat43, or sent to the school, 1065 East 700 South, SLC 84102.