ALUMNI PROFILE
There’s no substitute for “Sme”
It’s not always easy to be a substitute teacher. But don’t tell that to Sister Mary Ellen Paulson, OP.
By Nicole sweeney etter
 Sister Paulson, Grad ’69, can walk into Milwaukee’s most challenging schools and captivate students with her infectious laughter and passion for poetry. Her gift for connecting with students earned her the Milwaukee Public Schools Excellence in Education Award.
Since 1948, Sister Paulson has taught every grade and served as a principal and superintendent. For the past 20 years, she’s hopped from classroom to classroom as a sub. Her phone rings around 5 a.m., and then she’s dispatched to her daily assignment. It could be phy ed or chemistry, kindergartners or high schoolers.
“I just like kids,” she says. “I like little kids, senior citizens and anywhere in between. I’m a teacher through and through.”
They call her “Sme,” short for Substitute Mary Ellen. And they’ve found it’s difficult to faze the effervescent nun.
“You’re ugly,” a student once said. “You’re not the first to tell me that,” she replied.
“You’re crazy,” another said. “Shhh, don’t tell!” was her reply.
Her jobs might be temporary, but her impact is not. “Sme, they say you are an angel. Are you an angel?” a 16-year-old boy once asked.
“Well, the definition of angel is messenger,” she said. “In that way, I am, and you are, too.”
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