AM Class of 1966 Alum Receives Teaching Honor

Congratulations to Diana Oechsli, a member of the Angela Merici Class of 1966, who was honored by Mercy Academy as the recipient of their Educator of the Year Award.  Mercy presents this award each year at their commencement to an individual who has been a leader in Catholic education in Jefferson County.

The Mercy Educator of the Year Award was established in 1985 by Principal Mary F. Boyce.  Mercy presents this award each year at commencement to an individual who has been a leader in Catholic education in Jefferson County, an innovative person, a scholar in her own right and one who cares deeply for young people.

Diana Oechsli has been teaching at Holy Family School since 1968, and was the Interim Principal from 2000-2002.  She started and moderated the Student Council in 1981, and instituted and implemented the Building Community project in 1980 ( this program includes conflict resolution, peer mediation, class meetings, communication skills, and community building for the entire faculty and student body and continues to be in effect.)  She recently received the Peace Educator Award (2007) given by the Peace Education of Louisville, and was recognized by the Archdiocese of Louisville for 40 years of service.  She is a Trained Mediator and Gatekeeper and a Certified Trainer of Trainers for Peer Mediation with the Peace Education of Louisville (Director Eileen Blanton).  She has presented at numerous conferences for the Archdiocese of Louisville including Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Training of Trainers for Peer Mediation and Win-Lose or Win-Win: Conflict Resolution.

According to the current principal at Holy Family, Gayle Bauch, “Diana won the Peace and Justice Award from the Peace and Justice Center in 1993 for her dedication to involving students in social justice issues and education.  In 2006, she won the CEF Teacher Recognition Award for outstanding educator in the Archdiocese of Louisville.  Diana was instrumental with three other teachers in writing the curriculum for Stewardship in the Archdiocese of Louisville.  The book has been published nationally.  She served on the Family Life Curriculum Committee, the Education Committee for Drug/Alcohol programs with the Archdiocese of Louisville and the Holy Family School Board.  She is a gifted and inspirational educator serving as a teacher mentor to K-TIP new teachers.”

Congratulations Diana, what an honor!!