S. Valerian Schuster (1912-2003) High School Science/Special Education Advocate
Sister Valerian (Angela) was born on March 2, 1912, to Louis and Mary (Shala) in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. She entered the community in 1931 Other than one year at Pierz, Minnesota, and three years at Holy Angels in St. Cloud. She spent most of her career teaching in Wisconsin. She received her B.A. in biology and minor in chemistry in 1941 from the College of St. Benedict. In 1965, she received her M.S. from Marquette University in zoology.
She was a charter member of St. Bede's Priory when it was founded in 1948. She was a renowned science teacher, instilling in her students an avid enthusiasm for nature and opening their minds and hearts to the natural environment. Sometimes guinea pigs, rats or snakes would get loose which caused some panic in strange places. Her students participated in a TV series in the 60s carried out by a TV station in Eau Claire, where students participated in presenting on the circulatory system. She was an advocate for justice and joined environmental groups and participated in demonstrations against the destruction of the earth and natural resources. Her lab was full of terrariums and herbariums. Even though she taught science, she taught algebra, history, typing, and English and was known for her field day out in the Regis forest.
She was a classroom teacher until 1978 when she and Sister Muriel Carr began a Religious Education program for special education students. They were both honored in 1988 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) for their work in this area. She developed 60-minute lessons with simplified scripture with craft projects or notebook exercises. She would often quote stories of profound and wise things her special students said in their simplicity, as they prepared for the sacraments.
