Sr. Mary Beth Read, osu
Principal
Background:
Sr. Mary Beth Read osu, an Ursuline of the Eastern Province of the Roman Union, has been principal of the Academy of Mount St. Ursula since 1992.
A graduate of Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, she received her B.A. in English from the Catholic University of America in 1971 and her M.S. in Religious Education from Fordham University in 1976. Sister Mary Beth holds permanent New York State Certification in Secondary School Education in English and in Secondary School Administration and Supervision.
She began her ministry working in the school and parish of St. Jerome's in the Bronx for eight years, teaching and serving on the parish administrative staff as liturgy and youth coordinator. During that time, Sister completed the Archdiocesan Spanish Language program, including summer study in Puerto Rico. She also served briefly as an interim assistant director in a religious education program with the Ursulines in Malone, NY.
Since 1979 Sr. Mary Beth has served at the Academy of Mount St. Ursula in many different roles: as religion teacher and department chair, as assistant principal for six years, as a Latin teacher and youth minister, especially dedicated to developing the service program. One break in her time at Mount St. Ursula was a year of renewal in Rome, where she had the privilege of living, studying and praying with Ursuline sisters of a dozen different countries, increasing her consciousness of the breadth of the Ursuline mission. Together the sisters made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land; and for her professional experience at the completion of the program, Sr. Mary Beth chose to visit several Ursuline schools and missions in Peru and Brazil.
In her tenure as principal, Sr. Mary Beth has collaborated with faculty, parents, students, alumnae, trustees and the Ursuline Sisters, striving to follow the Ursuline foundress St. Angela's call to adapt--in this case, to the changing demographics and challenging needs of adolescent young women of the New York City area. From supporting constant improvements in instructional technology to working with consultants to update the school's governance structure, from guiding the school through two successful Middle States Association processes to enjoying the joyous celebrations of the 150th Anniversary, Sr. Mary Beth, with dedicated faculty and motivated students, has been committed to the mission of educating the underserved young women of the area.
Sister has also served on the Board of Trustees of Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, the Ursuline Provincial Council, several Middle States visiting committees and an "Operation Smile" medical mission to the Philippines as a youth coordinator. In 2007 Sister Mary Beth joins the national Board of Trustees of the Ursuline Educational Services.
Sr. Mary Beth has received a 2004 Women's History Month Citation of Merit from Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion and in the name of the school, an Archdiocesan recognition award for the 150th Anniversary of the Academy of Mount St. Ursula.