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Terry Lonergan
Photo by Michael Alexander |
BY ERIKA ANDERSON
Staff Writer
ATLANTA -- Named principal of St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School in
Lilburn, Terry Lonergan said she feels like shes coming home.
Its like going back to your roots, she said. There
just comes a point in your life when you want to be more involved in your
church and in your religion.
A parishioner of St. Andrews Church in Roswell, Lonergan will be
assuming her first principalship this fall after teaching and administering in
public schools. She most recently served as assistant principal at Sope Creek
Elementary School in Marietta. Lonergan said she is excited about leading a
Catholic school, where faith is openly discussed.
In a Catholic school you have that common bond of faith, where we are
all basically coming from the same background, she said. I think
that provides real strength in terms of development of character and
morals.
Lonergan believes that public schools have also made character development a
priority, but that in a Catholic school setting, knowing that God directs
our lives, there is a stronger feeling of safety.
Lonergan, a native of New York, received her bachelors degree from
Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala. She went on to earn a masters degree
in elementary education from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., and an
education specialist degree in educational leadership from the University of
Alabama in Gadsden. Though Lonergan has also had experience in the corporate
world, she said her heart has always been in teaching and that she would often
train other employees.
It didnt seem to matter what I did, I always ended up in a
teaching capacity, she said. Its a role Ive always
enjoyed and been comfortable in.
Lonergan began her teaching career in 1966 instructing first- and
second-graders in New York. Her experience in Georgia began in 1968 teaching
middle school at Osborne Junior High School in Marietta. From 1969-77, she
taught grades three and five at Eastside Elementary School in Marietta. After
creating and managing her own business, she returned to education in 1985,
teaching in several Marietta schools and serving as an assistant principal in
Acworth.
Though she loves teaching, Lonergan is looking forward to leading a school
as a principal.
Im very excited and I feel really blessed to be at this location
and in this position, she said.
As a principal, she feels that she will have the opportunity to serve even
more children.
You really feel that you can make a difference and (being a principal)
gives you the opportunity to touch more lives and have interaction with more
people, she said. I just hope to be able to affect positive changes
for children. Im always looking for whats best for the children.
Thats my main focus.
When asked what she is most looking forward to, Lonergan said that there
were so many things.
Im looking forward to being a lot more in touch with my faith
and the church, she said. And Im looking to hopefully making
a positive difference during whatever time Im there (at St. John
Neumann).
Lonergan said she feels her strengths are in forming relationships
with students and people, in general, and a heavy curriculum background.
Though she hopes to steer the school in a positive direction, she is quick to
point out that she is not going to be rushing in there trying to change
things.
The children at St. John Neumann will not be the only students.
Life is a journey and its all part of growth, she said.
Anything new we take on is just moving (us along) that path towards
growing
There will be things (the students will) teach me and hopefully
theyll learn from me.
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