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October 4, 2022By Mary Lim
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) School welcomed Nicole Picket as their new principal in the 2022-2023 school year.
Picket joins the SEAS family with 20 years in the field of education under her belt. She started her teaching career in public high schools in California and Arizona before becoming an educator in the Diocese of Tucson’s Catholic schools. She brings with her an abundance of experience in curriculum, staff, and program development. In addition to teaching in the classroom, Picket has also served as a master and mentor teacher to other teachers, and as a department chairwoman.
In 2017, Picket and her family moved to Washington State, where she served as Vice Principal at Sacred Heart School. This year, she was able to move her family back to Tucson with the opportunity to serve as Principal at SEAS. She says, “I’m grateful to be back in Arizona and to work with the staff and families at SEAS to further develop a community of faith and academic excellence.”
Having taught in both the public school and the private Catholic school systems, Picket has a unique appreciation and passion for Catholic education. “First and foremost, I believe that Catholic education offers what public schools cannot, which is an experience deeply rooted in our faith,” she says, “From academics, to socialization, to building a community – everything at our Catholic schools centers around our belief in God and his purpose for our lives.”
DID YOU KNOW?
SEAS School was a dream of Monsignor Thomas Milane, the founding pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. The school is the most recent Catholic parish school on Tucson’s Northwest side, and the first Catholic school to be built in the Diocese of Tucson in 47 years. SEAS school was built in four phases over 6 1/2 years, initially opening with PreK in January 2002 and culminating with the addition of the Junior High in August 2008. (SEAS Website)
Founding Principal Suzanne Shadonix shared Monsignor Milane’s dream of the school that became SEAS, and together they built the community and program that exists today. After Shadonix's retirement, Picket is now the second principal to fill her shoes.
The parents of SEAS School are very involved in the day-to-day, and like her predecessors, Picket recognizes how important the role of the parents is. She is grateful to join a school where the community of parents is already well established and very active. According to the SEAS School website, they “value parents as the primary educators of their children. In partnership with parents, we [SEAS staff] strive to prepare children to be successful citizens of the world and to carry forth the traditions and beliefs of the Catholic Church.”
Picket’s goals in running the school mirror this emphasis on parent involvement. She states, “Working in partnership with parents, we have an incredible opportunity and responsibility to help guide our students along their journey.”
SEAS School boasts an excellent roundup of extracurriculars to complement their STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, and Math) curriculum. Students are given numerous options to help them grow into well-rounded members of society, but most importantly, they are reminded daily of who they are in Christ. “We encourage and nurture students to develop a lifelong love of learning and to realize their highest personal and academic potential, all while allowing their faith to be the primary guidepost.” (SEAS Website)Picket joins the SEAS team knowing that Christ is the reason for all of their work, and it is her intention to allow God to guide her as she leads the teachers, staff, and parents, and as they all work together to raise students who know God, too.
“This school belongs to God, these children are His, and in everything I do, my hope is to honor Him and draw us all closer to Him.” - Nicole Picket
Picket further states that “through prayer and participation in the Sacraments, I am strengthened not only in my faith, but in my role as principal.”
When she is not working, Picket enjoys cooking, hiking, walking, gardening, and playing with her two rescue dogs.
Please join us in praying for Nicole Picket as she embarks on this new season of her vocation as the principal of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School!