At Rockhurst, it is common for students to receive their diplomas from parents who are teachers or staff. It’s not as often parents join the faculty or staff after their son (or sons) has graduated. But that’s just what happened with Mary Catherine Newman and Andra Bessenbacher. Their arrival after their child has moved on gives them a new and unique experience.
Newman is a new counselor, but it’s actually not her first time working at Rockhurst. From 2001 to 2007, she was a college counselor, until she had a son and a daughter. Her son, Evan, went on to attend Rockhurst, graduating in May as part of the Class of 2025. After he graduated, Newman returned as a guidance counselor.
“It’s kind of crazy how it’s come full circle,” Newman said.
“Last time I was here, Mr. [Steve] Redmond, one of the admission directors, he was one of my former students, so that’s hilarious to come back at the same time with him.”
While she has worked at Rockhurst before, Newman says that having a son come through here has made this job a whole new and different experience.
“I think just witnessing Evan’s high school experience, the challenges and … opportunities for growth… Seeing what his friends experienced, challenges that they’ve gone through…” Newman said, “I think it most definitely feeds my energies and efforts and just perspective on things, too.”
Newman thinks that Rockhurst is special, and she’s grateful for the opportunity to be counseling again.
“The community aspect is really big for me here at Rockhurst… I mean, some of my dearest friends are people that I met the first time that I worked here.”
Newman was especially grateful for the Rockhurst community earlier this year. Her mom passed away right before the school year started. Newman says the kindness from members of the school helped her a lot.
“The support of the community–just like en masse and thoughtful gestures and prayers and stuff,” Newman said. “It just was a nice affirmation of the heart of this place.”
Bessenbacher is serving as a freshman theology teacher and an assistant swim coach. She has had three kids graduate from Rockhurst: Patrick in 2016, Michael in 2020, and Brian in 2023. She taught at Prince of Peace Catholic School in Olathe for 20 years, but saw the position was open at Rockhurst and took it. Knowing how the experience was for her sons, it was a no-brainer.
“The education that they got here and the fellowship and the friendship and the brotherhood that they formed with all of their friends through sports and activities was something that was really special,” Bessenbacher said, “so I felt like experiencing that would be a good idea.”
Bessenbacher says her sons helped her a lot with adjusting to both teaching and coaching.
“They have given me some advice just on how to handle certain situations, and what they liked about the teachers at Rockhurst and coaches at Rockhurst and what they didn’t like,” Bessenbacher said, “and so I kind of tried to take some of that into context when I’m working.”
While teaching has been her main job here at Rockhurst, she’s also an assistant swim coach. It was something she had been thinking about before, but now that she’s here, it’s become a reality.
“I grew up swimming, and I swam in high school … and [head coach Paul] Winkeler and I have always talked about how fun it would be to coach together,” Bessenbacher said. “A position came up the last year, and he asked me and so I said ‘Yes, there’s something new, something fun.'”
While this year has been good for Bessenbacher so far, it’s also been an adjustment.
“It’s been great, but I’m exhausted,” she said.
While the transition has posed its challenges for both Bessenbacher and Newman, respectively, each says the experience has been gratifying.
“I think the opportunity to work in a … school that is faith-based and … that gets to be part of our engagement with students and with colleagues and what we do in our day-to-day is really special,” Newman said.
“I think just getting to know the staff and the boys more has been the best part,” Bessenbacher said.
