Catholic school teachers
are class acts

By Diane Villano-Prokop
Times Staff Writer

With more than 100 years of teaching experience between them, four teachers in Northeast Philadelphia parish schools were honored during the 15th annual Teacher’s Jubilee Mass at St. Charles Seminary.
Cardinal Justin Rigali, the archbishop of Philadelphia, awarded certificates to teachers Nancy Recine, Judith Devlin, Linda Suchowierski and Suzan Taylor, recognizing each for 25 years of service.
All but one of the 55 teachers honored during the ceremonies were celebrating their silver jubilee. The other was lauded for 50 years of teaching in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The women’s career longevity is a tribute not only to their own dedication but to their students and their schools, as well.
Taylor, who teaches eighth grade at St. Martha’s, agreed that Catholic school teachers, especially at the parish school level, don’t do it for the money.
"We don’t get paid a lot. What I make now is probably less than the starting salary of a school in the suburbs, but I love what I do," she said. "I love the support of a pastor and a principal who share the same philosophy."
Taylor also believes that the future of the Catholic church is linked to the success of teachings in the Catholic schools. "If we don’t teach them about Catholic habits and beliefs, we and the Catholic church will be in trouble. Our students are better prepared to face the challenges of the world with learning about responsibility and consequence," Taylor said.
Fourth-grade teacher Devlin referred to her 25 years at Resurrection of Our Lord School as a higher calling.
"I was working for the Department of Education as a contract worker and saw an advertisement in the church bulletin," she recalled. "I thought if it was meant to be, it would all work out . . . and here I am."
Suchowierski, who has taught at St. Jerome’s for 16 of her 25 years with the archdiocese, believes that teaching in a Catholic school offers the best of both worlds.
"There’s no better place where you can do what you enjoy, and inspire the children to learn while developing their character with morals and values so they can be whatever they want to be," the seventh-grade teacher said.
All four teachers also can relate to their students, having attended Catholic schools for all or part of their own education.
Recine, a third-grade teacher who has taught in the archdiocese for 26 years — 24 of them at St. Tim’s — attended St. Albert the Great School in Huntingdon Valley, Archbishop Ryan High School and Holy Family College.
"The reasons parents send their children to Catholic school are the same reasons my parents sent me. Whether they’re a single-parent family or an intact family, they are willing to make major sacrifices to send their children to Catholic school," Recine said. "The parents are incredibly supportive when it comes to their child’s education."
For Devlin, what she described as a caring, family atmosphere at Resurrection — an atmosphere fostered by the children, their parents and the faculty — plays a big part in her feelings of comfort and confirms her belief that the school is where she belongs.
"I certainly would like to continue to do the job," she said, "and I definitely feel it’s what I should be doing."
While these teachers might not reap huge financial rewards for their efforts, the opportunity to have a positive impact on students is something these instructors can’t put a price on.
"The best is when they come back . . . maybe I’ve had a terrible day or don’t feel well, and then as I get into my car I hear, ‘Yo, Mrs. Recine!’ I turn around and they’re in their high school uniform. That to me is the greatest reward. Suddenly your whole day is great," she said.
Devlin takes joy from ongoing relationships with some of her students. For example, she has been honored to be a confirmation sponsor for some youngsters, and over the years she has been invited to Holy Communion parties, graduation parties, and even the weddings of students now grown.
"When they say, ‘I became a teacher because of you,’ that means a lot," Devlin said.
One of Suchowierski’s former students at St. Jerome, Tom Deinno, an aspiring teacher, works with her at the moment to fulfill his student-teaching requirements.
Suchowierski recalled how she wanted to get the attention of her pupils as Deinno prepared to introduce himself to the class, so she cleared her throat.
"They settled down," she said with a smile, "and he turned to me and said, ‘You’ve still got it after all these years.’" ••
Reporter Diane Villano-Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dvillano@phillynews.com