Perhaps it was a precursor of things to come for Bridgeport’s Nicole Folio. But, long before she ever officially got into the educational business, she was already in the educational business.

 

“When I was little, in first grade, I taught my brother David to read before he went to school. I’d have a timer and he’d play school with me for 20 minutes. He was just three or four-years-old at the time, but he was a good student,” said Folio with a laugh. “Maybe that was when I first started to develop a connection with wanting to teach.”

 

Whether it was then she was developing or her love for teaching or whether it clicked in later is a moot point for Folio. The development of that love has led her down a career path where she’s not only impacted thousands of youth in our area and beyond, but she’s now being recognized for it on a statewide basis.

 

Folio, who is the Principal at St. Mary’s in Clarksburg, was recently named to the recipient of the 2015 Bishop’s Cross. The honor is the highest given in West Virginia in the Catholic education system. Folio will officially be honored April 26 during the Bishop’s Dinner in Morgantown.

 

“I was very, very surprised to learn of the award and I was very humbled at the same time,” said Folio. “As pleased as I am with this, it almost seems silly to receive an award for something I love to do.”

 

Folio’s journey into the Catholic education system and even into Harrison County where she’s helped with children from Bridgeport, Clarksburg and throughout North Central West Virginia isn’t necessarily a standard one. She is actually a product of the public school system where she graduated from Liberty High School in 1985. It was while at Liberty that she dabbled a bit in her first “official” teaching in the Catholic faith by earning certification to teach CCD (Confraternity of Christian) to youth.

 

Eventually, Nicole Folio – still Nicole Holipski at the time – ended up at West Virginia University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education in 1990.

 

For two years, Folio taught in Florida before returning to West Virginia and teaching private school. The, she became involved in her first paying Catholic teaching job. In 1994, she taught elementary education at St. Francis in Morgantown.

 

With a young family, Folio moved to Clarksburg in 1997 as a part-time education.

 

“That worked out for us,” said Folio, who is married to Joseph Folio. “My children were little at the time so it allowed me to get my feet wet and settled in.”

 

Five years later, she became settled into the position she currently holds. When the year 2002 began, Nicole Folio was the new principal at St. Mary’s and she said it’s a profession beyond anything she ever could imagine.

 

“I had no idea it would be this rewarding and I just don’t want it to end. This is my 13^th year here and I’ve been involved in education for roughly two decades,” said Folio, who also has a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Salem International University. “I don’t really like to say I work in education because I enjoy this too much for it to be work and I hope that along the way I’ve been able to make an impact.”

 

The fact that she’s receiving the Bishop’s Cross means that she has made a difference. This year marks the 21^st year for the honor, which was started by the late Bishop Bernard Schmitt to recognize individuals for making a significant impact in the world of Catholic education.

 

“Bishop Schmitt thought it was important to recognize those who were dedicated to being involved in Catholic education,” said Folio. “It’s nice to receive this recognition because I just love this. I’m so blessed because I don’t have a job; I have a place where I come to do what some may call work. I’ve told my kids that this is where God wants me to be.”

 

At St. Mary’s, Folio is in charge of roughly 180 students. The school has students that range from pre-3 through sixth grade. And as her brother David can attest, she's more than capable of teaching the youngest at the school.

 

Editor's Note: Photo courtesy of John Wickline, Connect-Clarksburg.