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Photo of Lisa Deyak
Ms. Deborah Edwards

In her third year at Saint Thomas Academy, Lisa Deyak teaches 9th and 10th grade English. Originally from Spring Green, WI, Deyak began coaching gymnastics and swimming at the age of 15. While continuing to coach, she began pursuing an architecture degree at the University of Minnesota.

“The parents of the kids I coached always encouraged me to be a teacher, as they said I was a good coach. So, I changed my major to English, and went on to get my master’s degree in education,” Deyak said. “I really enjoy teaching because I like getting to know the kids and working with their energy.”

Mrs. Deyak had been teaching and raising her family in the Albert Lea area with her husband, a physical therapist with the Mayo Clinic Health System at the time, when her son Joseph attended a summer athletic camp at Saint Thomas Academy.

“My son came home and said he wanted to go to Saint Thomas Academy. We were too far away to make that happen, but we kept it in mind,” she said. A few years later, the Deyaks moved to the Twin Cities, giving Joseph the opportunity to attend Saint Thomas Academy. He graduated this past June.

Mrs. Deyak had been teaching in St. Paul, when an English faculty position opened at the Academy. With 24 years of teaching experience and a master’s degree, she was a great fit for the position and has been a wonderful addition to the staff.

Knowing and understanding boys is something that fits with her teaching style. Mrs. Deyak is keen to keeping movement in the room, pairing boys up to work together and using a little competition from time to time to keep the boys engaged. “I love watching how the boys interact with each other. They really enjoy the all-male environment because they can be themselves.”

She says teaching at a private school is much different from a public school. “There are more opportunities and class sizes are much more manageable,” Deyak shared. “When I was teaching in a public-school setting, my classes were regularly 34 to 38 kids. Here, I have much more time to give attention to each student and have meaningful conversations with them.” Deyak has also noticed that Saint Thomas Academy students, parents and staff all expect excellence. “Students put in the effort and understand and appreciate the value of education.”

Mrs. Deyak and her family live in West St. Paul. In addition to Joseph, she and her husband have a daughter who is a sophomore in college. Her husband now works for Twin Cities Orthopedics. When she’s not working, she enjoys being outside, gardening, walking and just being active. The family enjoys traveling together – especially road trips during the summers.