By Jen Anderson and Michelle Molz | Special Contributors

Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Moorestown, honored longtime Catholic school educator, Roxanne Adinolfi, with the 12th Sister Michael Vincent Award.

The award, which was presented by principal, Jerome T. McGowan, during a Catholic Schools Week Mass Feb. 1, is named after Dominican Sister Michael Vincent Dailey, who served as principal of Our Lady of Good Counsel School from 1985 to 2000.

The award is given each year to a teacher in recognition of his or her strong support of Catholic education.

Adinolfi, a Moorestown resident and New Jersey State president of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, joined Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in 1988 when her daughter, Christina, enrolled in the school’s kindergarten class. Adinolfi joined the school faculty in 1989 and during her 10-year tenure, she served as a fourth grade teacher and then as the school’s reading and language arts specialist.

“This award means a great deal to me as I worked very closely with Sister Michael for 10 years,” said Adinolfi, in recalling special memories of the beloved former school principal who died in 2005.

“I am honored to accept this award in her name,” Adinolfi said. “Sister Michael must have noticed something in me that would help her achieve her dreams for the school. It is wonderful to know someone in your life (aside from your parents) who sees something special in you and provides an opportunity for you to grow and learn in your work every day. Sister Michael had vision for the school to improve study skills, reading and writing instruction, promoting a literature program for all students and teachers, and she found a way to make it happen.”

In addition to teaching and duties as a reading and language arts specialist, Adinolfi has served the school in other capacities including the principal search committee in 1999, vice chair of the school board and chair of the Strategic Action Plan committee

She has been an outstanding, dedicated, untiring worker for literacy in many capacities.  She was an officer and member of the board of directors of West Jersey Reading Council, an active member of the New Jersey Reading Association board of directors and an educational leader in children’s literacy programs, staff development and parent programs.  She has promoted reading and contributed to the development of excellence in reading throughout the state. 

Adinolfi is also a frequent presenter/keynote speaker for professional conferences, such as Reading Recovery, New Jersey Reading Association/New Jersey Educational Association, New Jersey Association of Federal Programs, New Jersey Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, /Camden Diocese, Parent Teacher Association/Parent Teacher Organization, and numerous school districts and parochial schools in the tri-state area.

Adinolfi has been the recipient of several diocesan and state awards including the Outstanding Catholic Educator (1999), the New Jersey Reading Association’s Mary G. Filosa Reading Teacher of the Year Award (2000), the Governor’s School of Excellence Award (2003) in which she was co-author and recipient, and recognition by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey.

Adinolfi’s commitment to her Our Lady of Good Counsel was noted by her longtime friend, Dr. Linda M. Dix, parish director of religious education.

“She has spent 24 years of active parish involvement sharing her time, talent, and treasure and living her vocation as a teacher,” Dr. Dix said during the Catholic Schools Week Mass. “She has never considered teaching as a job but a way of serving God, of living our faith. She answers daily God’s call to help others.”

Adinolfi continues to be an active member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish as a member of the adult choir and as a cantor.

In Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Jen Anderson is a PTA publicity representative and Michelle Molz is the marketing director.