By Lori Anne Oliwa | Correspondent

Elizabeth Barrella, recently retired principal of Holy Innocents School, Neptune, noted that the best part of being a Catholic educator is the opportunity to bring Christ into the lives of children.

“My career has been extremely rewarding and enriching. It’s never been about the money; it’s always been about the mission,” she stated.

Ending a 49-year career that first found roots in teaching and included 26 years as a principal, Barrella explained how difficult the decision to retire was. “It’s so hard to leave, and I would do it all over again,” she said.

This long-time Catholic educator started her career as a teacher in the Diocese of Paterson at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Passaic. She taught second and third-graders, in addition to seventh and eighth-grade science for five years. She then joined the teaching staff at St. Phillip the Apostle, Clifton, and taught social studies and science for four years, before taking a brief maternity leave.

Barrella returned to work by accepting a position as assistant to the principal at Mount St. Dominic Academy Elementary Division, Caldwell, in the Archdiocese of Newark. She remained there for six years, before taking her love of teaching to St. Leo School, Elmwood Park. Barrella taught social studies and language arts at the middle school for eight years and was very comfortable with the students. “I really found my strength in the middle school and related well to the students,” she stated.

Describing herself as a “fierce” advocate for Catholic education, Barrella spoke proudly of her own Catholic education at St. Nicolas Elementary School and Pope Pius XII High School, both in Passaic, and continuing at Seton Hall University, with graduation from Mount St. Mary College, Newburg, N.Y. “We are a family of Catholic school people,” she said, adding that her son graduated from Bergen Catholic, Oradell, and then entered Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Barrella has served a total of 26 years as a principal – ten years at Most Holy Name, Garfield; seven years at St. John and St. Anne Interparochial School, Jersey City; five years at St. Paul, Princeton; and four years at Holy Innocents, Neptune.

 Commenting on what has made her time in Catholic education so rewarding, Barrella emphasized that everything has been about the students. “It’s always the children,” she said quickly.

Barrella complimented the students at Holy Innocents School and noted that they are “a marvelously unique group of children with the right values and no discipline problems.”

Reflecting on the accomplishments she is most proud of, Barrella specified the advancement of technology and the fact that every teacher has a retracting smart board in the classroom. She also cited the strength of the PTA; teacher training; professional learning communities; attention to social issues in the classroom, and most importantly, an emphasis on composition. 

“That was my baby. Writing is important, so students had to write something every month,” Barrella added.

For now, Barrella is thoroughly enjoying the first summer vacation she has had in 26 years. Asked what she will do during retirement, she replied with a saying devised by an old friend which addresses the secret to a happy life. “The secret to happiness is to do something physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual every day. So that is what I will be doing,” Barrella concluded.

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