Dominican Educators
Teacher, principal among those honored by NCEA

The National Catholic Educational Association annual convention was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 6–8. Sister Joan Sorge, OP, was one of nine principals to receive the NCEA Distinguished Principal/Robert J. Kealey Award, and Sister Marion O'Connor, OP, was one of six teachers to receive the Catholic Secondary Education Award.

Sister Joan, a Springfield Dominican, is principal of St. Agnes School in Springfield, Illinois. She has served as a principal in the Diocese of Springfield for 23 years, seven years at Holy Family School in Decatur, 11 years at Little Flower Catholic School in Springfield, and five years so far at St. Agnes.

In an article in the diocesan newspaper, Jean Johnson, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Springfield, had this to say about Sister Joan: “Sister Joan has served as a mentor for many of our new principals and readily assists the diocese whenever called upon. She is a natural at nurturing and empowering others and supporting their efforts… Sister Joan very actively collaborates with the area Catholic elementary schools. Her leadership skills were very beneficial to the success of the NCEA planning process undertaken several years ago in our diocese.”

Sister Marion, an Adrian Dominican, teaches social studies and religion at Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette, Illinois. She has taught at Regina Dominican for 45 years, and has served as Social Studies Department chair since 1987. An online news article on the Regina Dominican High School web site notes that “Sister Marion has helped to produce some of Illinois’s finest judges and speakers on legal matters through her seminar on legal issues and criminal court program.”

Sources:

St. Agnes principal receives national award
Catholic Times, Springfield, Illinois

Marion O'Connor receives NCEA Award
Regina Dominican High School Web Site: News

Outstanding Catholic Educators Honored
NCEA News Release