Welcome

Hello and welcome to Catholic Coffee Shop!

My name is Stacey, or as my students would say, Mrs. J. Over the last decade, I've worked in Catholic education as a middle school language arts teacher, reading specialist, and curriculum writer. These days, I'm beginning the exciting adventure of teaching my three children at home.

My passion is finding authentic ways to inspire young people (and their educators) to embrace their God-given creativity and use it to bring glory to God. 

As a classroom teacher, one of my favorite ways to encourage creativity was to host a simple sharing event I called "Coffee Shop." I would pick a date and let my students select a creative work to share or perform, similar to an open-mic event at a coffee shop. On the day of "Coffee Shop," my students would bring in refreshments to share, and we would sit back and celebrate each student's work.

I still delight in memories of my students sharing their poetry, artwork, speeches, and songs. I loved listening to their stories and learning about what inspired them. Most of all, I loved seeing how these shared creative experiences built community and opened up opportunities for meaningful discussions about God and the way He is at work in our lives.

Over the years, I've shifted from calling "Coffee Shop" to "Creative Café," and I’ve expanded it from being primarily a sharing event to a workshop-style gathering. I’m looking forward to sharing more about it soon.

So, dear educator, I'm excited you are here. I invite you to grab a hot mug of coffee (or tea!) and join me for inspiration and resources designed to cultivate the creativity of your students, whether it be at home or in the classroom!