By Catholic Philly Staff Report • Posted July 28, 2023

In a July 26 letter to Catholic school families, Dr. Brooke C. Tesche, Superintendent of Secondary Schools and Schools of Special Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, shared positive updates regarding special education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

“As part of our concentrated efforts to help differently abled learners realize their potential, Archbishop Pérez has approved the creation of two new positions to serve young people attending our High Schools and Schools of Special Education,” she said in the letter.

The new roles, President of the Schools of Special Education and Special Education Supervisor for Secondary Schools, aim to build upon the “excellent educational experience our students receive and the resources being provided for them to become Missionary Disciples.”

According to the announcement, a search is currently underway to identify the Special Education Supervisor for Secondary Schools.

In the letter, Dr. Tesche announced Mrs. Mary A. Adams has been named President of the Schools of Special Education effective September 1, 2023.

Adams will directly assist the archdiocese’s four schools of special education with a focus on several areas including Spirituality and Mission; Program and Board Development; Fundraising; and Marketing and Recruitment Strategies.

She will also support academic programs and enhancements, oversee facilities improvements, and provide for a safe, rigorous, and relevant quality education for all students.

Adams brings nearly 30 years of experience in special education with her. For the past 26 years, she served as Principal at John Paul II Center for Special Learning in the Diocese of Allentown. Prior to that role, Mrs. Adams was a special education teacher at John Paul II and in the Wilson School District in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education and a Master of Education Degree in Elementary Education from Millersville University.

In addition to the new roles, Dr. Tesche also announced the appointment of Ms. Rebecca Greenich as principal of St. Katherine School of Special Education (SKS) effective August 1, 2023.

She is a dedicated educator with 17 years of experience. The majority of that time has been in service to the SKS community.

Most recently, she was responsible for Vocational Education at the SKS Radnor campus. Prior to that time, she taught at Presbyterian Nursey School and SKS’s Wynnewood campus.

Greenich holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Specific Learning Disabilities from Franciscan University in Steubenville.

She has also completed Masters Level Coursework in Human Exceptionalities at La Salle University.