Honoring Sister Kathleen M. Touey on being awarded the National Catholic Educational Association Distinguished Principal Award.

WHEREAS, Sister Kathleen Touey, Principal of St. Matthew’s Elementary School, the largest school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, was named one of 12 winners, out of a pool of 6,800 principals, to receive the coveted National Catholic Education Association Robert J. Kealy Distinguished Principal Award; and

WHEREAS, This award, jointly sponsored by the United States Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals is a program to honor the outstanding administrators who assure that America’s children acquire a sound foundation for lifelong learning and achievement; and

WHEREAS, In her 19 years as a principal, the last 7 at St. Matthew’s, Sister Kate has been described as, cheerleader, innovator, risk-taker, go-getter, educator and friend as the three schools she administered in her principal career, all students and staff know they are valued and loved; and

WHEREAS, In her school of 1,139 students, Sister Kate established a firm anti-bullying, zero tolerance disciplinary program, raised funds and secured grants to provide a state of the art technology center for teachers to incorporate computer learning and education in their curriculum as well as in order to meet the needs of struggling students, she created resource rooms and tutoring programs that produced improved test scored as well as building self confidence and esteem; and

WHEREAS, Sister Kate’s enthusiasm and zest for life and her faith is contagious at St. Matthew’s as her outreach efforts have raised more than $15,000 yearly for poor people around the nation, as well as the students write letters and collect donations for items to be sent to American Soldiers stationed in Iraq, participate in food bank and clothing drives, entertain and visit nursing home residents; and

WHEREAS, Born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia as the 11th of 12 children to Vincent and Anna Touey, Sister Kate attended the Most Blessed Sacrament School and then West Catholic High School where she was a powerhouse on the basketball courts and named to the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, she holds a B.A. in Sociology from Immaculata University and a M.S. in Education from Marywood University, she entered the order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1968; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby congratulate Sister Kathleen M. Touey on her achievement and honor of this Distinguished Principal Award and wish her continued success in sculpting our children’s future.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Sister Kathleen M. Touey with the sincere thanks and best wishes from this legislative body.

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