Ernie Kraft, Holy Family School

Ernie Kraft has been dedicated to the mission of educating Catholic school students in Phoenixville for over 40 years. In 1971 he began teaching at the former St. Mary’s school where he continued until St. Mary’s regionalized and he moved up the hill to the school now known as Holy Family. His entire career has been spent serving his community. Most importantly, today as we provide tours to prospective parents, many are thrilled to see their favorite teacher still active in the classroom. Ernie’s fourth grade classroom today is as vibrant and energetic as it was 42 years ago.

Ernie’s day starts every morning an hour before school begins as he opens his door to provide any extra assistance that a student needs. He is willing to help anyone who arrives on his doorstep without charge, but if you bring a cup of coffee, he won’t turn it down! Ernie provides tutoring help 180 days a year and allows students to come as often as they like.

In addition to his academic responsibilities, Ernie has volunteered for many assignments over the years. He has been the softball coach, basketball coach, Computer Coordinator (as far back as 1983 when computers were the unknown), new teacher mentor, student teacher mentor, and altar server trainer. Currently he continues to serve as school Eucharistic Minister, acting Principal when the principal is out of the building, Math Coordinator, First In Math Coordinator, and Terra Nova Coordinator. In the beginning of his career he supplemented his income as the janitor, so he is the one the school staff turns to when the odd problems occur. He can diagnose and jump-start a decades-old boiler, chase a squirrel out of a bathroom, and mount an overhead projector better than our janitor. Ernie will even pull his family in to help out when needed!

The comments from Ernie’s early performance reviews are still true today. He “comes to school each day with renewed enthusiasm for his work”, “instills high moral principles into his students showing his deep appreciation for Catholic education”, “encourages pupil responsibility”, “is aware of individual student weaknesses and provides immediate help during his lessons”, “motivates his students to learn and to want to learn”, and is always “willing to try new techniques.” He ranks first in every parent and student satisfaction survey we distribute.

Ernie has a natural ability to make sure each child feels special in his class. The love and respect his students have for him is obvious in the smiles and laughter seen and heard each day, and the fact that they race from the cafeteria to his room each morning. Our youngest students and their parents anxiously anticipate the day they will enter fourth grade. Former students return to reminisce about his class and the unique nick-names he has given many of them. Many have followed in his footsteps and returned to thank him for his inspiration. His kindness, sense of fairness and humor, ability to make math understandable for all, and willingness to open himself up by telling stories and making connections from his life to his classroom, make him the kind of teacher every student hopes to have in their education. We are proud and grateful to have Ernie Kraft on our faculty here at Holy Family.