Additional information
by Amy J. Cattapan (Author)
Winner of a 2025 Excellence in Publishing Award from the Association of Catholic Publishers: Inspirational (Second Place).
Every educator needs a friend to turn to when they are facing a rowdy classroom, challenging parent interactions, tense staff meetings, or even just the everyday demands of teaching. Seasoned teacher Amy Cattapan recommends you form a posse of saintly mentors who are always there to offer inspiring examples and powerful intercession.
In A Saint Squad for Teachers, Cattapan introduces you to a team of forty-five diverse and relatable saints ready to lift you up and intercede for you during every twist and turn of the school year. By drawing from the stories and wisdom of these heavenly educators and holy mentors, you'll not only flourish as a teacher but also tackle the highs and lows of your calling with renewed vigor and unshakeable hope.
This posse includes these much-needed intercessors:
- Thea Bowman for infusing more joy in your classroom
- Catherine of Siena for nurturing trust and respect with your students
- Charles Lwanga for protecting you and your students from evil
- Nicholas Black Elk for embracing the gift of multicultural classrooms
- Thomas Aquinas for uplifting your underachievers
- Frances Cabrini for providing strength when resources are stretched thin
Questions for reflection or discussion are included at the end of this chapter. Beyond personal enrichment, A Saint Squad for Teachers can also be used as a mini-retreat, team-building book club, professional development, or gifts for staff. This book also makes an ideal thank-you for cherished teachers and dedicated catechists, acknowledging their profound impact on shaping lives.
Author Biography
Amy J. Cattapan is a middle-school English teacher and Catholic speaker, retreat leader, and author who has written or contributed to several books, including Sweet Jesus, Is It June Yet?, Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade, and the award-winning novels Angelhood and Seven Riddles to Nowhere. She hosts Cath-Lit Live!, a podcast where she interviews Catholic authors about new books.
Cattapan has appeared on The Katie McGrady Show and The Busted Halo Show on SiriusXM, EWTN's Bookmark and At Home with Jim and Joy, Catholic Faith Network Live, and the Son Rise Morning Show. Her writing has appeared in Highlights for Children, Hopscotch for Girls, Pockets, and Catechist. She also served as the host for Shalom World TV's BOOK.ed.
Cattapan earned a bachelor's degree in English secondary education from Marquette University, a master's degree in instruction for secondary education language arts from Northeastern Illinois University, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Loyola University Chicago. She has spoken at a variety of conferences, including NCEA, the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, and C3, and frequently leads teacher retreats and professional development sessions at Catholic schools across the country.
www.ajcattapan.com
Facebook: acattapan
Twitter: @AJcattapan
Instagram: @a.j.cattapan
Pinterest: @ajcattapan
YouTube: A.J. Cattapan
