Sr. Cecilia Celebrates 20 Years at NDA

By Maria O'Brien
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 10/24/02)

Notre Dame Academy (NDA) in Middleburg is set apart by its unique sense of community and a commitment to service, two aspects Sisters of Notre Dame Sister Cecilia Liberatore, head of school, works to foster in students and teachers alike. Sister Cecilia, who is celebrating 20 years of service to NDA, said the two decades she has spent at the school have been blessed and fruitful.

"I am grateful to have had these wonderful 20 years here," said Sister Cecilia. "This is a community of people who are committed to God’s goodness, and I am so blessed to be part of it. It has been a very fast 20 years."

Sister Cecilia, the oldest of three children of the late Ray and Cecilia Liberatore of Nilies, Ohio, made her first profession in 1964 at her order’s motherhouse in Chardon, Ohio, and made her final vows there in 1969. She received her bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame College in Ohio in 1967, a master of arts in religious education from the Angelicum in Rome in 1979, a master of arts in history from Kenn State University in 1994 and a master of science in educational administration in 1990 from the University of Dayton, Ohio.

Louis Frisenda, assistant head of school for academics at NDA, said Sister Cecilia is a dynamic leader who adapts education theory for practical use in the classroom. "Sister Cecilia’s primary concern for the whole picture helps to establish strong bonds of loyalty and respect among her faculty and staff. She is a master teacher who brings compassion, honesty and genuine love for Catholic education to all she does," he said.

Sister Cecilia joined the staff of Notre Dame Academy as a dorm counselor and teacher in 1981, at which time Notre Dame Academy was a girls’ boarding school owned and operated by the Sisters of Notre Dame. Sister Cecilia, who became principal in 1985 and head of school in 1996, has shepherded the academy through its transition to a co-ed day school owned and overseen by an independent board of directors. During this time, the school’s enrollment has grown from 110 students to 285. The curriculum and athletic programs have expanded, and the school was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1986.

Current projects are underway at the school to renovate a former dorm floor of the school to provide more instructional space. The school also plans to provide more faculty residences and to that end is working to renovate older, smaller buildings on the 90-acre property.

"The cost of living in the area is very high," Sister Cecilia explained. "We are committed to help our teachers in this regard." The tight-knit community enjoys the presence of the teachers and their families; five single faculty members and one with a family already live on the property. They are also quite fond of Sister Cecilia, according to senior Spence Jones. "Sister Cecilia provides a lot of guidance and fulfills the school’s mission by being active in school activities and programs," he said.

Michael Hughes, chair of the fine arts department, said Sister Cecilia is one of the smartest women he has ever met. "I have worked for very strong and intelligent women all my life, and when I first met Sister I was struck by her intelligence. Her range of knowledge covers so much more than education management."

Sister Cecilia said that her fondest memories during her time at NDA cannot be confined to a particular moment; rather, her students’ achievements and happiness have brought her the greatest joy.

"Teenagers face so many challenges in their lives. To see them happy here, taking advantage of what the school has to offer, warms my heart," she said. "We expect them to be academic and athletic, but when I see them happy, that means the world to me for their sake."

In honor of her anniversary, Sister Cecilia will take her first sabbatical in 20 years. However, it won’t be a vacation by anyone’s estimation. Sister Cecilia will spend four months living and working with the Sisters of Notre Dame in India, beginning at Christmastime. She will be minister to people in Patna, Bombay and Bangalor.

Sister Cecilia is committed to community service, both personally and in the school community. Students are required to perform community service in order to graduate, and teachers lead them by example in this regard.

"I have become more and more a representative of the school to our local community. I participate in community service through a shelter for abused women in Loudon County, I’m part of both business and civic organizations and I’m on a local private board of an organization for subsidized and affordable housing," said Sister Cecelia, who also works with a new youth council in Middleburg. "My role of head of school provides me with the opportunity to witness to the broader community. Sharing God’s goodness is my life commitment as sister of Notre Dame."

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