Joslyn Fox & Isa Hoban
The Blue & White
Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS
1st Place
Division 4, News Writing
Personality Profile
“Four of you to the board!”
According to recent graduate Aubrey LaVoie (‘14), writing out problems in front of the room was always worrisome in Sister Robert Anne Erno’s AP Calculus class.
“The scariest part would be when she would start a lesson and send us to the board for examples,” LaVoie said. “I would be super nervous if I was the first one because most of the time I didn’t really know what I was doing. She would normally help me, though.”
For LaVoie, what she expected to be her toughest class of the day soon turned into her favorite class, and she felt really lucky to have gotten to experience the “legendary” Sister her last year.
After 44 years of teaching, Sister officially retired from classroom teaching at the end of last year, although she still works in the Advancement Office and tutors students in math.
LaVoie is one of nearly 7,000 graduates spread over four decades who experienced what she calls a “nerve wracking experience” in Sister’s class, when going to the whiteboard might lead to Sister’s response of “oh, brother” or “erase that off the board before someone thinks it’s right.”
Other generations remember Sister’s bluntness, too.
“She told it like it was,” said Amy Zoellner Lake (‘84.)
However, memories of fear were minute compared to the positive impression Sister had on her community.
Zoellner Lake said when she went to Michigan State University she didn’t struggle with math because of Sister’s thorough teaching methods.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher,” Zoellner Lake said. “She was hilarious and people loved her. She made the math department very sound and was the best math teacher CC ever had.”
Zoellner Lake added that Sister was passionate about helping students understand.
She didn’t want anyone to be left behind,” Zoellner Lake said.
English teacher Mr. Mike Nelson (‘04) recalled sitting in Sister’s class as a student, too. What he remembers most is the passion she displayed for both teaching and math.
“You could tell she loved what she was doing,” Nelson said.
Alicia Hoban (‘11) also was able to see Sister’s lighter side.
“Sister is a sweetheart,” Hoban said. “[She] just wanted everyone to learn.”
Sister is a member of the Grand Rapids Dominican order, which was founded in 1877 and has been involved with CC since 1906. As a whole, the Dominicans have taught, touched, and influenced tens of thousands of CC alumni, according to Beth Banta, Advancement Director.
Banta pointed out how special it was to have a teacher so involved in the community.
“She follows her students out of the classroom, and that is really cool and rare,” Banta said.
Even though she is no longer a classroom teacher, Sister still immerses herself in the school community. She can still be seen attending plays, concerts, athletic contests, and many other student activities.