Sr Mary John Kearney, O.P. ’62

Board of Trustees

Career Profile: Sister Mary John Kearney, OP, a Dominican Sister of Caldwell, is an educator who has served the Church and her Community in the ministry of teaching at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels.

Sister’s professional ministry has been as a teacher and school administrator. She taught at St. Mary’s Elementary School, Rutherford, Lacordaire Lower School, Upper Montclair, and Caldwell University. Sister served as principal of Lacordaire Lower School, St. Cassian’s School – both in Upper Montclair and St. Philomena School (Aquinas Academy) in Livingston, NJ. During her years as a faculty member at Caldwell University, she served as chair of the Education Department, director of Field Services, coordinator of the School Nurse Program, and supervisor of student teachers. After thirty years Sister Mary John retired and with the rank of associate professor and received the honor of Professor Emerita.

Education: Sister holds a B.A. in social studies and elementary education from Caldwell University, an M.A. in elementary education and guidance from the Catholic University of America, and an M.A. in curriculum and instruction from Teachers College, Columbia University. She studied at Montclair State University in administration and supervision; and her educational credentials include NJ Certifications: Chief Administrator, Principal/ Supervisor, Elementary School Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher, and Teacher of Social Studies K-12.

Community Involvement:  Sister Mary John has served as a member of several boards of education at the national, state and local levels. These include: the Newark Archdiocesan Principals Association Executive Committee-serving as president; the NCEA Elementary Department Executive Board – serving as secretary, vice president, president and past president; the NCEA/NACCCB executive board; the NCEA board of directors –serving as vice chair; the NJ Association of Colleges/Universities-serving as secretary; the Paterson Diocesan Board-serving as president and past president; the Lacordaire Board of Trustees-serving as secretary and the NJ Board of Professional Standards. Currently she serves as a board member of Lacordaire Academy.

She is currently a member of the Mission Effectiveness Team of the Sisters of Saint Dominic and a member of the Lacordaire board of trustees. Sister serves as the chair of the Commission on Global Issues, a Justice and Peace initiative of the Sisters of Saint Dominic.