For Linda Pirolli, the 50 years she has spent in Catholic education has been about more than just a job.
“I have dedicated my life to Catholic education because it is a vocation,” the longtime educator said. “My motivation to have continued in Catholic education is the families and staff that I serve.”
While Pirolli is celebrating five decades in Catholic education, this fall will mark 30 years leading her current school community of Saint Vincent de Paul Regional School, Mays Landing.
As such, she was honored May 4 with a surprise celebration, as students, faculty, staff and friends filled the school’s multipurpose room. The students enthusiastically sang their own version of Jon Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” with lyrics telling Pirolli’s story. There was also a video tribute featuring many of those who have been impacted by her mission of fostering a faith-filled and family-centered community.
“Leading is a privilege and a calling …. [and] I love the school I serve,” she said. “I am happy each day to be with my students, faculty and staff. We are a family at Saint Vincent de Paul.”
Life in Education
Pirolli graduated from Saint James School, Ventnor, and Holy Spirit High School, Absecon – and earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Rowan University. She started her career in the classroom by teaching at Saint Phillip the Apostle School, Brigantine. After 16 years teaching second-, third- and eighth-grade students, she returned to Saint James while she pursued her master’s degree in educational leadership from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
“I was blessed to have so many colleagues and principals that were role models for me,” she recalled.
When she was looking for a school leadership position, she came across a job opening at Saint Vincent de Paul Regional School – and the rest was history.
With a mission of fostering a school community that is faith-filled, family-centered and diverse, Pirolli notes that teachers work to instill a spirit of service in their students while preparing them for their future educational pursuits.
“Our academics are rigorous,” she said, “and we teach the students to serve others.”
Role Model of Faith, Leadership
Toni Falcone teaches kindergarten at Saint Vincent de Paul, but her first visit to the school came when her oldest daughter, Catherine, was starting kindergarten there in 1998. Some 28 years later, Falcone is the parent of four alumni – Catherine, now 33; Christina, 29; Caitlin, 26; and Francis, 17.
She is proud to remain a part of the school community, and honored to be part of the faculty.
“I am still proudly standing beside Miss Linda Pirolli, who is a woman of faith, kindness, integrity and compassion,” she said. “I am grateful and blessed to have had this wonderful woman in my life for so long.”
Falcone also has had the opportunity to observe Pirolli’s leadership style over the years. “Miss Pirolli is a no-nonsense principal who has always stood by her school community. Along with this, she still speaks fondly about her career in Catholic education.”
Falcone also reflected on how Pirolli lives her faith through her work each day. “She is a woman who holds her faith in the highest regard, as it easily flows with her dedication and commitment to her profession. She was born to be not only an educator, but a Catholic school principal who leaves a path that many of us are proud and grateful to walk along with pride.”
Legacy of Success
In a recent interview, Pirolli reflected on her career in Catholic education, and as principal at the Mays Landing school.
As a principal, she noted the ongoing challenges associated with raising funds to support the school, as well as managing enrollment levels and the difficult decisions around raising tuition at times. She also noted the balance between “upholding the Catholic identity” of the school while also serving families at varying levels of faith engagement.
“I believe we need to meet families on whatever level they are on,” she said.
Pirolli said that some of the highlights of her career have been seeing students learn and grow, and where they go after they move on from Saint Vincent de Paul.
“Every day, I get to see the progress of our students,” she said. “I see how well our graduates do when they go off to various high schools. Alumni come back and tell me how well-prepared they are for high school.”
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