STRATTMAN WILL LEAD TO ST. MARY'S SCHOOL

Carol Strattman may find herself being called "sister" next school year even though she's not a nun.

The St. Mary's Cathedral School teacher was recently hired as the Catholic school's principal, the first lay person to serve in that position in the 118-year history of the Cape Girardeau institution.

"St. Mary's has always had a nun who was the principal. The students have asked if they will call me Sister Carol next year. It is confusing to them," Strattman said.

Strattman will begin her new job at the start of the 1993-94 school year. She replaces Sister Jeanne Goessling, who is moving to Kenya to do missionary work.

"I am very excited," said Strattman. "I appreciate the support that the school board and everyone at St. Mary's has given me."

Strattman, who grew up in Perryville, has been a teacher at the parochial elementary school for 14 years. She teaches seventh grade. She also teaches social studies for seventh and eighth graders.

In all, Strattman has been an educator for 21 years. She previously was a high school teacher in Jefferson City. She also has taught at Perryville, Sydney, Australia, and Bluford, Ill., near Mount Vernon.

Strattman said she is looking forward to her administrative duties. "I hope to be able to continue a lot of the very progressive moves that Sister Jeanne has started, and I just hope to keep St. Mary's the happy, loving place that it is."

She said Goessling "brought us a long way with curriculum and textbook changes, and computers."

Strattman said she enjoys the parochial school setting. "We can deal with the children academically, morally and socially, and you are there for them emotionally."

The school at 210 S. Sprigg has an enrollment of more than 200 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, and a dozen teachers.

"It is like a family," she said.