Story by Ken Downey | Correspondent

After a long career in education, Maureen Tuohy begins a new venture as principal of Our Lady of Sorrows School, Hamilton.

Tuohy has been part of the school’s family since 2002 as a second-grade teacher in religion, math, science, social studies and spelling, a seventh-grade religion teacher and eighth-grade science teacher. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2007.

Tuohy, who holds a master of arts degree in teaching from The College of New Jersey, Ewing, said she is a product of Catholic education.

 “I have been in Catholic education since kindergarten. Elementary, middle school, high school, college, and then I taught in Catholic schools; it’s who I am.”

Tuohy is a member of St. David the King Parish, Princeton Junction, where she serves on the social concerns committee. She also chairs the annual parish Thanksgiving food drive.

Noting that Our Lady of Sorrows School has 220 students currently enrolled and about 25 faculty members, Tuohy believes she can do a lot of good in her new role.

“We have such a great core group, and I would love to improve the enrollment here as well as build up the faculty,” she said. “These are my basic goals now, but long term, I would like to add some more programs at the school.”

While it’s her plan to add more programs to the school’s offering, she spoke of the new preschool that is now available for younger children ages three and four. She also noted the various service projects the students are involved in during the school year.

“We have always been a service-oriented school,” Tuohy said. “A lot of the things we do are things throughout the community. … We go to nursing homes or to soup kitchens. We do a lot of service. It’s one of the things that we will continue to do.”

She also touted the steps being made in technology. “We currently have an ‘online backpack’ to go paperless with the students and the parents. We use a school messenger system so we’re not sending home reminders. We are slowly but surely getting there.”

Tuohy is also listening to feedback. A survey taken by parents at the end of last year found many felt there was a lack of communication between them and the school. This is one of the first things Tuohy made a priority to address, especially as a parent herself. Tuohy has been married for 27 years and has two children in their twenties.

Of her new appointment at Our Lady of Sorrows School, she said, “Catholic education is so important. I am such a strong believer in it that I have stayed with it my entire life.”