She’s the first lady of
schools in the Archdiocese

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Mary Rochford enjoys a challenge.
In fact, of all the students she taught during her career, the Parkwood resident who recently was named superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia loved teaching seventh-graders best.
Enough said?
As the first woman to hold the post of superintendent, she’ll be charged with overseeing 182 elementary schools, 20 high schools and five schools of special education throughout the archdiocese in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
"I’m excited about the position. I know there’s a lot of responsibility. That’s all right," Rochford said.
Rochford, 55, earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Chestnut Hill College and a master of education in administration degree from Boston College.
That degree focused on Catholic school leadership, according to Rochford.
She entered the convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1970 but left the order in 1993 to help care for her niece.
"I’m out for fifteen years. You don’t lose the look," Rochford said, a broad smile stretching across her unmade face.
Now that many orders of sisters no longer wear veils, you could easily mistake the tall woman with a firm handshake, short hair and modestly dressed with a pin on her lapel for a nun.
Rochford also includes on her resume memberships to the National Catholic Education Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and Phi Delta Kappa, an international association for professional educators.
She taught in Philadelphia and Camden schools and served in administrative roles in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Cardinal Dougherty High School graduate taught in her share of Northeast Philadelphia schools as well, including St. Timothy’s in Mayfair from 1972 to ’75 and at St. Bernard’s in Holmesburg from 1983 to ’86. She also served as vice principal at Resurrection of Our Lord in Rhawnhurst and one year as principal at St. Jerome’s in Holme Circle.
"I left (St. Jerome’s) in 1999 to come here as regional director," Rochford said.
In that role, she visited schools in Bucks County and Philadelphia North, which would include Northeast Philadelphia parish schools. She also served as personnel director and then assistant superintendent for elementary schools with the Office of Catholic Education, a position she had held since 2003.
Rochford considers her biggest challenge to be change.
"We, at the Office of Catholic Education, have worked the past seven years intensely, working on infusing academics with higher engagement. We need to be less focused on student lecturing. They need to show they can use their learning," she said.
She’d also like to create a school that fits that need and not be bound by schedules that were created based on an industrial model.
"We intend to educate the children so that they can have successful avenues once they leave. They’re our focus. Don’t limit them. Make them life-, college- and work-ready," she said.
Archdiocesan teachers, administrators and students can expect Rochford to be a hands-on administrator and not tucked away in her office at 222 N. 17th St. in Center City.
"I need to be in the schools, to see the initiatives we’re encouraging and see where are the challenges," she said. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com