By Peter Sánchez, Catholic Star Herald
LINDENWOLD — Innovative. Creative. Energetic. Dynamic.
These are just some of the words used by her colleagues to describe Lynn Domenico, the principal at St. Lawrence School here. After the events of the past few weeks, though, there are now a few other words to describe her:
One of the best elementary school principals in America.
The National Association of Elementary School Principals gave this distinction to the principal who started video-conferencing in St. Lawrence classrooms and a schoolwide NASA research program.
Domenico and 63 other principals from around the nation will accept their awards in Washington, D.C. in the fall. The NAESP recognizes principals who have “set the pace, character, and quality of the education children receive during their early school years.”
“Lynn Domenico is truly a Catholic school principal of the future,” said Sister Anne Glaser, assistant superintendent of schools for the Camden Diocese. “Her energetic and dynamic leadership focuses the energies of her staff and students … in an environment permeated with a love of learning and care for each other.”
Already named a Distinguished Principal by the National Catholic Education Association back in May, this marks yet another notable accomplishment for Domenico, who has been at St. Lawrence for 35 years, spending the last eight as principal.
Domenico “is a wonderful woman. She loves God, loves the kids,” remarked Nancy Boyle, a social studies and religion teacher at St. Lawrence, saying that the principal is always “seeking and searching to make things better. (The teachers) all work hard. She works harder, 110 percent”
Domenico’s philosophy, Boyle says, is stenciled on a foyer wall, created by a parent who was commissioned by the principal: “Enter to learn about Christ; leave to serve him.”
Domenico’s Distance-Learning video-conferencing, started six years ago, allows students at St. Lawrence to interact with school students in places such as Italy, Mexico and Ukraine.
With Mexican students, the St. Lawrence class analyzed migratory patterns of monarch butterflies. With Italian students, they studied the global use of water.
This type of program, says Domenico, “opens up the world to these children. They have a true respect for, are more open to the cultures. (The students) understand that people are just like they are.”
Later this month, Domenico, along with an eighth grade teacher and one of the school’s technology specialists, will present the school’s video-conference program at the SPICE (Selected Programs For Improving Catholic Education) convention, aimed at showcasing new tools to provide learning to students.
For seven years, St. Lawrence has held an annual NASA Night Out, a schoolwide, collaborative effort simulating a space flight and lunar landing, and the interconnectedness of the Earth and the moon. Among other experiments, lower grades examined the role plants and animals play in the life of our planet and grew vegetables. Upper grades designed the spacecraft, simulated a lunar archaeological expedition, and estimated how much air and water was needed for a lunar trip.
Domenico is quick to say that her award isn’t just indicative of her own efforts, but the efforts of the whole St. Lawrence community and the Diocese of Camden.
Msgr. William Graham, pastor of St. Lawrence Parish, “has never said no to me. He really supports me in all my efforts, as do the faculty and staff, and the Catholic Schools Office.”
Noted Msgr. Graham: “Lynn is an extremely accomplished and professional woman. A marvelous thing for her to be recognized. It’s a pretty proud moment for St. Lawrence School.