Mrs. Raciti Biography
Mrs. Terri Raciti
“I can nourish myself on nothing but truth.’ (St. Therese of Lisieux)
This was truly the inspiration behind starting this academy. Being a teacher for 28 years in various positions has been nothing short of a learning process. I have been blessed to instruct children from infants to young adults in many subjects-academic, artistic and religious. I can definitely say that my degrees and certifications have always been well utilized. I can also say that they have only been a small contribution to my success and love for teaching.
What has really shaped who I am is my love for the individual. God has made us all in his image, as our mission states, “We are beautifully and wonderfully made by God, born with unique talents and abilities.” Education has a duty to assist one in the revelation of those.
In the beginning, teaching music, art, drama, and dance, was a fruitful way to accomplish that, but as I grew in my own knowledge, I realized that much was missing. It wasn’t until I began to teach the Catholic Faith in my early 20’s that the revelation began...education must lead one to not only discover themselves but discover truth. Teaching academics, I saw that the “one size fits all model” fell short in the development of the child as a whole. I realized that input/output learning was leaving many empty spaces and they needed to be filled. I revisited the Liberal Arts, in which I had stumbled upon in my teens and pursued for some time in college before becoming a teacher. Looking at it through a lens of Faith, the benefits were crystal clear. The interconnection of the liberal arts creates a web of desire for knowledge, ultimately leading to wisdom. It is through these seven subjects that the child can truly learn how to think, not what to think. Anyone can memorize trivial information and regurgitate it for a time. Some can do it better than others, but where is the benefit for growth? I recognized that a classical education would instill more in children. They would learn they should constantly seek the truth, being formed in only what was true and beautiful, while delighting in the fact that they were created for a beautiful purpose by a God who loves them!
Since opening in 2013, I can say with gratitude to our Lord, that I am still learning and growing. I thank him for my unique talents and I humbly use them to relate in a spiritual and personal way to every student and their families. I love that the children feel the joy that I feel each day, knowing that they are not alone. I love that they have the opportunity to see the world again in a new way, with awe and wonder. I love that they learn to ponder and are able to discern right and wrong. I love that they love silence. I love that they learn to be virtuous by putting others first. I love that they desire to know and serve God. I love that they will reach their full potential because they are unhindered. I love that I have seen the success of our graduates, including three of my own children, become grounded, successful, charitable adults who are adding something beautiful to this world. I love that I have a loving staff to assist me.
I love that God chose me for this mission and I thank Him for the strength and courage to continue for years to come.
Vero Alitur!
Saint Therese - Pray for Us! ...
