Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

George Matysek Jr. congratulates Connie Flagg at her 2014 retirement party at Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. (Courtesy George Matysek Jr.)

Thank you to a one-of-a-kind teacher


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Catholic Review Filed Under: Commentary, Feature, Schools, The Narthex

When Our Lady of Mount Carmel School held a fundraiser late last year, one of the incentives for donating was the chance to receive a personalized video message from current or former teachers if you made a donation during a specific time slot.

When I saw that one of those time slots belonged to Connie Flagg, I didn’t hesitate. I made my donation immediately – not only to support my alma mater, but because I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to hear from one of my most influential high school teachers. I was fortunate to donate in time, and sure enough, Mrs. Flagg sent me a video message. In it, she thanked me for supporting the school and wished my family a merry Christmas. Her warm, genuine smile lit up the screen, a beautiful reminder of the bright spirit she carried throughout her life and career.

George Matysek Jr. visits with Connie Flagg, a teacher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex, in the late 2000s. (Courtesy George Matysek Jr.)

Mrs. Flagg died June 11. She was a remarkable educator, having taught for more than 30 years at both Most Precious Blood School in Baltimore and Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. But beyond her tenure, it was her deep care for her students that set her apart. She had a gift – not just for teaching, but for connecting with people and making them feel seen and valued.

I stayed in touch with Mrs. Flagg long after graduation and had the privilege of serving alongside her on the Mount Carmel school board for two years. By then, she insisted I call her “Connie,” but I could never quite bring myself to do it. To me, she would always be “Mrs. Flagg.”

Back in high school, and even years later, she used to joke that one day I’d take over her role as a history teacher at the school. That didn’t happen – at least not yet – but the idea always stayed with me. Maybe one day, it will.

When Mrs. Flagg retired in 2014, I wrote her a note as part of a collection presented to her by former students and colleagues. I’d like to share that message below, as a small tribute to a woman who shaped so many lives.

Thank you for everything, Mrs. Flagg. I feel blessed to have that video message to remember you, a final gift from a teacher who never stopped giving.

May 15, 2014

Dear Mrs. Flagg,

A few years ago, a Catholic educator asked Pope Benedict XVI what it means to be a good teacher. In his response, the pope said being a good educator involves “having joy in one’s heart and communicating it to everyone so as to make life good and beautiful.”

If anyone has lived up to that high ideal, it’s you.

In everything you did at Mount Carmel, you radiated a contagious joy. Whether it was teaching a history lesson, encouraging a struggling student or offering advice, your uplifting and affirming presence has inspired many.

Many of my fondest memories of Mount Carmel involve you.

Do you remember teaching our American Government class about how laws were crafted? You made us take on the roles of members of Congress, encouraging us to follow the U.S. Constitution to come up with a new law of our choosing. My fellow legislators and I passed a bill to mandate recycling, but we couldn’t muster the votes to override President Tim Pasko’s veto.

Or what about teaching our English class in the last semester of our senior year? The entire focus was on Edward Rutherfurd’s “Sarum.” Even in the face of a lot of grumbling from some students about being required to read a portion of such a lengthy work, you taught the class with gusto. My eyes were opened to the joys of historical fiction after that class, and I went on to read many similar works in the years since then.

Who could forget our senior trip to New York? You were with us throughout the entire experience. I’ll always remember standing next to you on the ferryboat as we admired the New York skyline or how you tolerantly donned a foam Statue of Liberty crown for pictures that made their way into the yearbook.

There are so many other memories – showing us a movie in History class about Australian servicemen during World War I that made the harsh realities of war come alive; asking our Psychology class to write essays about how we would deal with different crises with our children should we be blessed to become parents; talking about matters of faith when students faced their own teenage challenges.

Having you as a teacher made me a better thinker and a better person.

Thank you for your many years of service. Thank you for your commitment to Catholic education. Thank you for making life “good and beautiful.”

Love,

George Matysek, ‘90

P.S. – It looks like I won’t be succeeding you as a teacher at Mount Carmel.  At least not yet.  Maybe someday? Enjoy your well-deserved retirement!

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