The faith, Catholic education a Charles family affair

The faith has always played a major role in the lives of the Charles family. So has education.

David and Liz Charles are currently principals of Catholic schools. Their children attended Catholic schools from the first day of kindergarten until they received their high school diplomas. One of their children, Hayden, is now a priest of the Diocese of Wichita and was recently assigned as the chaplain at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School.

David Charles

David Charles has been the principal of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School since 1999, after teaching music in Maize public schools. He began his career at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Wichita.

“I started in Catholic education and always felt like that was home,” he said.

While teaching in the Maize school system he was prompted by his administrator to consider administration, a move that provided a pathway back to working in Catholic schools.

Catholic school formation

Fr. Hayden’s Catholic schooling played a role in his vocation, David said.

“Both my wife and I are cradle Catholics and that was one thing we agreed upon when we got married. We wanted to raise our family in the faith, and, if possible, we wanted our children to attend a Catholic school – to be fully immersed in the faith.”

He said the family was fortunate that the diocese’s adoption of the stewardship way of life helped make that a reality.

The interview with the Advance was conducted four days into the school year, so David said he and his wife weren’t yet sharing any “war” stories. Elizabeth is the new principal of St. Joseph School in Ost.

“It’s kind of funny because SEAS is on the larger side of Catholic Schools and (St. Joe) Ost is on the smaller side of Catholic schools and, so, while we’re still teaching the faith, there’s a little bit of difference between a small, rural school compared to a suburban school,” he said.

“Liz will call me and ask questions as a new administrator and my answer has been, ‘I don’t know. I have people who do that for me.’ That’s the one thing we’ve found so far that’s funny.”

Catholic education a blessing

David said Catholic education has been a blessing for the Charles family. Although he and Liz both have teaching experience in public schools, they began their married life as teachers at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School and will likely end their careers as Catholic school administrators.

Both of their careers are bookended by Catholic schools. “We’re happy that’s where God has landed us,” he said.

Elizabeth Charles

Liz Charles, the principal of St. Joseph School in Ost, says she and her husband, David, were fortunate to be able to send their three children to Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school.

“And Hayden went on to the seminary,” she said. “I would like to believe that David and I played some part in that, but I really think it was the Catholic schools that formed him to become a priest.”

He was young when he felt he was being called to the priesthood and he pursued that, Liz said. “But again, I think being fortunate enough to put all three of our children through a Catholic education is what really formed all three of them.”

A love of Catholic education has also played a role in her and David’s life, of course.

“David and I got married in ’92 and we were both teaching at St. Francis, so we started our marriage in Catholic education, and now we are both fairly close to retirement. And so it’s kind of cool that we’re going to end it together in Catholic education.”

Being a Catholic school principal allows her to more fully live out her Catholic faith, she said.

“Being able to live my faith every single day, attend Mass every single day, I think those things, and being around people in this atmosphere of Catholic education and Catholic schools, and watching people live their faith, it increases my faith and my love of God,” she said. “I hope that I transfer that over to my children.”

Fr. Hayden Charles

Having the opportunity to receive the sacraments at school and to pray at school became part of who Fr. Hayden Charles is.

“The foundation of that was at home with mom and dad taking us to Mass, praying with us and teaching us the value of the faith,” he said. “Catholic school education was able to build upon that.”

He said his parents being educators and administrators emphasized the importance of a Catholic education and to put all our effort into learning the faith.

Fr. Charles said his parents were well qualified to pass on the faith as school administrators.

“We received it at home so I’m sure that’s the environment they are creating at their schools – emphasizing the importance of the faith by their example, by their leadership, and the love and care for their students that we experienced at home as kids.”

Returning to BCCHS

Fr. Charles, who graduated from Bishop Carroll Catholic High School in 2013, said he was grateful to be back to his alma mater. “It’s kind of surreal to return,” he said, “but I’m excited to work with the kids and build those relationships. I’m excited to teach as well.”

He said he has good memories of Fr. Ben Sawyer teaching him while he was a student at BCCHS and “being a spark for my own discernment of the priesthood.”

It said it is a bit overwhelming, including the need to be “on” for 45 minutes every day in class. “But its something I’ve really enjoyed so far.”