Kelly Schueler on Theology, Kairos and the People Who Matter Most | News | John Paul II High School | Texas

Meet the People of JPII

Theology Department chair Kelly Schueler is in his 13th year at John Paul II High School. His career has been marked by the many students he has encountered in and out of his classroom, his involvement in the tremendous growth of the Kairos retreat program, and an ever-expanding network of colleagues and friends. And, at the center of his life are his family and his personal faith journey.

Kelly Schueler seems to have been uniquely created to be a high school theology teacher. There is something special about the way he facilitates the learning that takes place. Faith and spirituality start to become more complex in high school as students mature and face the truth of life’s uncertainties. Far from superior, he meets students at their level of communication and understanding, making him relatable and approachable.  He addresses complicated and often deeply personal subject matter without ever taking life, or himself, too seriously. 

In fact, upon meeting him, one might even wonder if Mr. Schueler is ever serious at all. If you ask him what makes him most proud about his time at JPII, he will joke that it’s the fact that he still has a job. And, when asked if he could be interviewed for this story, he suggested that  “actually important” people be highlighted instead.

While there is a self-deprecating humor in the way Kelly talks, underneath his easy smile and welcoming demeanor lies a gifted educator with genuine love for his students, colleagues, family, and, most critically, his Catholic faith.

Coming Home to North Texas 

Kelly grew up in Coppell but moved to San Antonio after college graduation. He worked in ministry for a couple of years and then began his first teaching position at Antonin College Preparatory High School. After two years, he knew he had found his identity as a theology teacher but missed North Texas. A subsequent job search led him to an opening at John Paul II. 

“My favorite part of JPII, at first, was that they offered me a job,” he says with a laugh. “After four years in San Antonio, I wanted to come back home to DFW.” While location initially drew him here, his job and this school have become so much more than he could ever have anticipated.

A Passion for Teaching, His Students, and His Fellow Teachers

Over the years, JPII has provided Kelly with the privilege of teaching theology to hundreds of students. He loves his work. “Being a high school theology teacher is a very glamorous job,” he jokes. He then continues with sincerity. “Primarily, I love teaching and getting to know my students. High schoolers are anything but boring.” 

A genuine affection for young people is evident in the way Kelly speaks. He enjoys their personalities, questions, and humor, and he wants to know them as individuals. He forms connections through sharing his own Catholic faith and has been privileged to accompany countless students on parts of their own faith journeys. He has witnessed some incredible growth and has helped students become leaders willing to share their personal stories.

And his biggest advice to his students? “Teachers are not the enemy.” Teaching is far more than a job, it is his vocation. He encourages students to take advantage of the resources right in front of them, particularly the people. He is referring to the talented and committed educators at JPII. He speaks with sincere appreciation for his colleagues, who pour themselves into their students, support one another through the challenges of the school year, and are the foundation of the vibrant life of the school.

Twenty Kairos Retreats and They Never Get Old

Few experiences have been as meaningful to Kelly at JPII as Kairos.

He attended the school’s very first Kairos Retreat as a chaperone and has attended every retreat weekend since then. Beginning with Kairos No. 7 in 2019, he took on the leadership of the program and now serves as its coordinator.

There are two Kairos retreats each academic year. He looks forward to every single one of them. “I love going on Kairos and seeing the Holy Spirit move and inspire students,” he says. “Having been on all 20 Kairos retreats, it never gets old.”

Perhaps what makes Kairos so special to Kelly is more than the meaningful experience for the kids. He, too, is spending time in prayer, worship, and community. Again and again, he has watched students open their hearts, grow in their faith, and discover something new about themselves and their relationship with God. And, in the process, his own faith has been transformed.

A Faith Shaped by a Life with both Love and Loss

Kelly is willing to be vulnerable in the sharing of his own life story. While it can be easy to talk about God’s presence during moments of joy and success, he wants his students to seek God during the difficult times. The incredibly difficult challenges in his own life are significant parts of his own story. 

While he was in college, his older brother died from a drug overdose. By the time Kelly and his wife Becky married when they were 22, neither had a living grandparent. A few years ago, Kelly also lost his father following a stroke. He reflects with a quiet wisdom, without minimizing the pain of his losses.

“Something I have learned from all that loss and grief is to be thankful and appreciative,” he says. “Obviously, I wanted more years with my dad and brother, but rather than be resentful, I am thankful I had those great years and memories with them.”

It can be difficult to find God amidst pain and sadness. What has been his experience? His answer is poignant. “In my grief, I realized that Christ suffers with us. None of us want to endure the suffering and hardship life has in store for us, but we know that Christ is on the cross bearing our suffering.” For Kelly, this is a source of comfort, and a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we are never alone.

He also wants his students to understand that even when they themselves make mistakes or cause pain, God's unconditional love remains readily available. Kelly’s favorite Scripture passage, Luke 23:39-43, tells the story of the “Good Thief” beside Jesus. It reminds him that God's mercy is always bigger than our failures. “It gives me hope, knowing that redemption is always possible. Being someone who is a sinner, I need to be reminded that Christ continues to forgive. We are never too far away from Him.”

The People Who Matter Most

For almost 13 years, Kelly has given so much of himself to JPII. He has taught, encouraged, challenged, listened, prayed, laughed, and walked with students through some of the most formative years of their lives. But when each day is over, he goes home to the family he loves.

Kelly and Becky have been married for 16 years. Their story started when they met in college and studied abroad together in Europe for 5 months. When Kelly talks about Becky, he becomes more tender. “Somehow I convinced a girl I met in college to marry me,” he says. “This woman has been the absolute best part of my life. After a long day and I’m worn out, all I want to do is get home to be with her.” 

Becky teaches Pre-K 4 at St. Martin de Porres Catholic School in Prosper. Together, their lives changed forever when their son, Patrick, was born. He describes becoming a parent as his greatest joy. Patrick is an eighth grader at St. Martin, and Kelly can hardly wait to see him walk the halls of JPII next year. 

And maybe that is what makes Kelly such a meaningful part of the JPII community. He understands that life is ultimately about relationships, about knowing and being known, loving and being loved, and recognizing God's presence in all of it.

Whether he is standing in a theology classroom, sitting with students on a Kairos retreat, laughing with a colleague, or walking through the door at home to Becky and Patrick, Kelly continues to strive for a life encompassing what he teaches:

Faith matters. People matter. And love is what stays with us.