Notre Dame Academy Opens New 1906 IDEAL Innovation Space

Staff Report

Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, has officially opened its new 1906 IDEAL Innovation Space, a modern learning area designed to support hands‑on STEM education and strengthen the school’s mission of forming confident, compassionate young women.

President Lauren Hitron said the space represents much more than a renovation.

“More than a new space, this represents who we are and who we are called to form,” she said. “At Notre Dame Academy, we educate young women to be confident leaders, thoughtful innovators and compassionate servants.”

The name IDEAL stands for Inquiry, Discovery, Education and Learning. The new space includes flexible learning areas and advanced technology that encourage creativity, teamwork and real‑world problem solving.

For decades, Notre Dame Academy has been known for strong programs in science, technology, engineering and math. School leaders say the new IDEAL space will give students more opportunities to explore design thinking, applied technology and innovative learning.

Lisa Timmerding, principal, emphasized that the school’s focus on innovation is closely tied to its Catholic identity.

“Our commitment to academic excellence is inseparable from our mission,” she said. “In this space, innovation is guided by values, discovery is rooted in ethics and leadership is grounded in service.”

During the dedication ceremony, Father Conor Kunath, chaplain, blessed the Innovation Space, asking God to make it a place of collaboration, creativity and courage for all students and teachers who use it.

The number 1906 in the space’s name honors the year the school was founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame, who were known for forward‑thinking ideas about education. School leaders say the new space continues that tradition by combining the school’s history with modern learning.

The Innovation Space was funded through generous donors and strong community support. Leaders also thanked Principal Timmerding and assistant principal Stacey Turner for helping guide the programming and curriculum behind the project.

At the end of the ceremony, the Board of Directors honored Jane Kennedy Kleier ’83, who served as interim president during the planning and creation of the new space. She received a special plaque that will hang in the Innovation Classroom. The board shared that Mrs. Kleier’s work reflects the mission of Notre Dame Academy and her strong commitment to servant leadership.