The principal of Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville, Lynn Sabol, recently announced her retirement. A Nativity grad herself, Sabol has been the principal at the school for 15 years and has taught a total of 45 years in the Diocese of Allentown.
Sabol’s roots at Nativity run deep. Her mom, Elizabeth Lechleitner, was in the school's first graduating class of 1956. Her seven siblings all graduated from the small Catholic school and so did her two children. Plus, it's where she met her husband, Dave, whom she has been married to for 40 years.
"Nativity is special because of its unique family atmosphere. We are a small school and everyone takes care of one another," said Sabol. "There are so many things I will miss. The day-to-day connection with staff and students, the daily interaction with students greeting me every day, and the friends that I have at school who are an important part of my life."
Sabol is a fixture at Nativity, and just as she will miss everyone, she will also be missed.
"Lynn means so much to the school. She has been the constant leader and the person who has been moving us forward and moving us through, in the good times and the bad times,” said Jennifer Daubert, who is Assistant to the Principal, Development Director, Director of Marketing and Enrollment and the head girls’ volleyball coach.
Daubert has a special place in her heart for the school’s principal. "Lynn was my teacher when I was in school,” she said. Thirty years later, Sabol has been Daubert’s coworker, her boss, and her mentor.
“Lynn is a great person,” said Daubert. “She's strong-willed. She's independent. She's a leader – a fierce leader who holds her values very strongly. She's someone who cares deeply about Nativity High School and, most importantly, she cares deeply about her faculty, her staff, and about the students at the high school.”
Administrative Assistant Diane Yaneck agrees. “Lynn puts her heart and soul into the school,” said Yaneck, who has known Sabol for 15 years. “She bleeds green and gold.”
Yaneck is grateful to Lynn, who hired her for her current position, which she deeply values: “She took a chance on me even though I did not have the great qualifications that others had, but I knew the operations and the love present at Nativity."
Yaneck is one of the many staff members who will miss the witty principal. “Lynn has made an impact on the community because, being the head of the school, she is always there for all of the events and for whatever else is going on at the school,” she said.
“Lynn is the foundation of Nativity. She embodies the mission statement of the school every day,” echoed Ruth Weidman, teacher and athletic director.
Weidman has known Lynn for several years. She said the devoted principal pours herself into the school every single day. "Lynn’s impact is undaunting. When she took over the principalship of Nativity, it was for one purpose: to give students and their families the opportunity to experience a Catholic education and become part of a school community that values the contributions of all of its students and families."
As the school year marches on and Sabol’s retirement nears, the grandmother of two is filled with feelings of excitement and nostalgia. “I also feel sad knowing that I will miss everything about Nativity. However, I am looking forward to less stress and having more time to do some other things, especially with my family.”
Sabol has countless memories at the school, but she’s most proud of the resilience of the faculty and staff during hard times. “After going understudy in 2012, Nativity bounced back and became the only school, up to that point, that had gone understudy and survived. We have tremendous support from our Governance Board, parents, students, staff, alumni, benefactors, parishes, and community.”
The energetic principal plans to participate in the school after retirement by teaching part-time one or two math classes. And to her future successor, she has a few words of advice and encouragement: “Always be truthful and try to keep your staff in the loop. You can’t always share all of the information, but being as transparent as possible certainly helps. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You cannot do the job alone.”
With gratitude for the incredible leadership of Lynn Sabol, Nativity is now searching for its next principal and is confident that the new leader will continue to uphold its tradition of Education with a Different Spirit.
By Katya Fitzpatrick
