Head Of Philadelphia-Area Catholic Schools To Step Down

By Dan Wing

PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — The archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Monday that Superintendent Mary Rochford is stepping down at the end of the academic school year to care for family members.

Rochford's career with the Archdiocese began over three-decades ago as a Catholic School teacher and administrator before taking on the title of Superintendent in 2008.
Over that time she's seen a lot of change thanks to professional development.

"Looking at what are classrooms doing in light of engaging students in their learning. Not just simply telling them a lot of things, testing them and then hoping for the best, but what would be ways that would bring the strengths and weaknesses of every child."

Rochford's departure will come at the end of school year that saw a teacher strike last fall, and the restructuring of many Archdiocese Schools. Moves that Rochford says will set the Archdiocese up for a strong future..

"The future will definitely be brighter for having done it."

Archdiocesan schools serve about 68,000 students in Philadelphia and its suburbs.

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