Graber takes over as Principal at St. Thomas
Building improvements over summer enhance school
Trending
Julie Graber, a life-long educator and administrator, was appointed Principal at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Webster City on July 1, succeeding Theresa Schlieman, who served seven years before retiring at the end of the 2025/26 school year. Graber relates how Schliesman played a role in the transition.
"She called, saying "this is a great school, and I'd like to put it into your hands," Graber remembered, still clearly moved by the sentiment.
Before joining St. Thomas, Graber was Principal at St. Francis Catholic School, Marshalltown. Prior to that, she was PK-12 Principal at Glidden-Ralston Public schools, and a classroom teacher in Algona and Humboldt. She's also worked at both Central Rivers and Prairie Lakes Area Education Agencies, which she says gave her a "big picture" view of education in Iowa.
As a Catholic school, teaching Catholic Christianity is a top priority, but its objectives; "Faith, Academics, Service" displayed on an exterior wall, speak to a balance in the curriculum. St. Thomas prides itself on rigorous academics, but graduates students who also know they have been entrusted with a soul that demands a lifetime of care. Of course, there are religion classes, and a special school Mass is celebrated weekly, on Wednesdays.
Students need not be Catholic to attend. "Today, we have more non-Catholic students than Catholics, in our student body," says Graber. For Catholic students, religion classes and Mass attendance is mandatory, but there's no such requirement for non-Catholics.
A portion of St. Thomas students and their families are taking advantage of Iowa's new (2023) educational vouchers program. Asked about how it works, Graber says, "it allows families to make a choice for their student." In practice, the state deposits money in an account, which the school can then access. "No money ever flows to students or their family," notes Graber.
Besides the vouchers, St. Thomas operates its own tuition assistance program. Each year, scholarships are funded by the St. Thomas Aquinas Foundation, founded by donations from
parishioners in 1974. The school grants scholarships on a sliding scale, solely on the basis of a family's financial ability to pay. A family wondering if they can afford tuition for their student is encouraged to discuss the matter with Graber. With a knowing smile, she says, "money will never be a reason not to send your kids to this school."
Beyond cost, however, Graber expresses an enduring value of St. Thomas Aquinas when she says, "we want kids here because it's the right place for them."
A current issue in education – when, and where technology is appropriate in classrooms, is one Graber knows well. She was the Technology Coordinator in Humboldt from 2000-2005, an in-house technology consultant at Central Rivers Area Education Agency, Cedar Falls, 2005-2013. Asked what level of technology is appropriate at St. Thomas Aquinas, she confidently replied, "we use technology where it's appropriate. It's really just a tool."
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School has been blessed with many generous benefactors in its 75-year run. The 25th annual St. Thomas Ball was held Saturday May 2, 2026. An evening of fine dining, games, live entertainment, and both live and silent auctions, it's a chance to dress-up and celebrate. Grand prizes of $10,000 and $2,000 were awarded. This year's ball raised a record $253,000 for the school.
Two very special benefactors of both St. Thomas Aquinas Church and School weren't able to attend this year's ball. Long-time parishioners and school boosters, Virginia and Francis Krieger, who farmed north of Blairsburg, made arrangements in their will to donate proceeds from the sale of their home to the school. Those funds helped complete the extensive renovations carried out this past summer.
That work included rebuilding the north end of the school with new floors, new ceilings, a new HVAC system, a new storage room, and new classroom. This follows renovations in 2021, which saw a handicapped-accessible, more secure entrance, and new school offices built at the school's south end.
New students are using those new facilities.
"K-6 enrollment has increased between 10-16% over last year's figures, depending on the grade," Graber said.
Observant visitors to Julie Graber's tiny office might notice a small sign. It reads, "it takes a big heart to shape little minds." Those are words Graber tries to live by every day.