By Gia Myers • Posted June 30, 2025

Vanda Menna has been a dedicated foreign language teacher in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s schools for more than 25 years. Now, she looks forward to a new chapter – retirement — with the conclusion of Cardinal O’Hara High School’s 2024-2025 academic year.

Reflecting on her undergraduate years at Saint Joseph’s University, Menna admits that becoming a teacher was “the last thing” on her list of career goals.

“The Lord had a plan for me, and that was His plan, that I teach,” she says, looking back.

 Her passion for language began at age 7, when she, her parents, and two sisters immigrated to the United States in 1968.

Her father, whom she describes as “a hard worker,” was a tailor in Genoa, Italy.

He brought his family to the United States in search of educational and employment opportunities, and to not be limited by “economic class.”

“He wanted a better future for his children,” Menna said.

Though she didn’t know a word of English upon arriving, Menna soon became fluent, and she later became the family translator for her parents after her older sister returned to Italy.

The family settled in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia and attended Mass at St. Donato Roman Catholic Church.

Menna attended the parish school and then West Catholic Girls’ High School (now West Catholic Preparatory High School), where she studied and “fell in love with” the French language.

At Saint Joseph’s University, she continued studying foreign languages, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in French with a minor in Spanish.Utilizing her knowledge of Spanish, she went on to work at Mexicana Airlines for six years in various roles.

She married husband, Isadore, at St. Donato’s Church in 1986 and eventually left Mexicana to become a full-time mother.

Residing in Drexel Hill, the couple raised three sons and a daughter — all of whom went on to become O’Hara graduates.

Menna found she enjoyed sharing her Catholic faith as a religious education teacher at Saint Dorothy Catholic Church in Drexel Hill, a role she held for 20 years.  When her children were grown, Menna looked for what was next in her life.

After “much prayer,” she says she found an opportunity to become a foreign language teacher in 1999 at Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School in Drexel Hill, where she went on to teach Spanish, French, and Italian for 15 years.

She later taught for seven years at Little Flower Catholic High School in Northeast Philadelphia, earned a Master of Education degree from Saint Joseph’s University in 2018, and has spent the last three years teaching Spanish at Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield.

This past May, Menna was honored with a 25 Years of Service award by James Vernon, President of the Association of Catholic Teachers, Local 1776.

Looking back on her teaching career, Menna says she found it to be “very fulfilling,” and she has enjoyed sharing her varied experiences with students.

“Knowing more than one language, it opens so many doors for you,” she said.

Though she says she finds the greatest fulfillment has come from being a Catholic educator.“The Lord revealed to me that He wants (the students) to know that He loves them,” she said, “and for me to be a role model.”

Menna says she continues to put her trust in the Lord, striving to followHis commandments and trying to do His will always.

As she begins her retirement, Menna looks forward to gardening, hiking, biking, traveling, volunteering, spending time with her grandson, and preparing for her daughter’s wedding this September.