5/28/2009 - Rose McTague, Head of School and Chief Executive Officer at Mother Cabrini High School is one of twenty-one graduates of independent colleges and universities throughout New York honored as 2009 Alumni Hall of Distinction Award Winners.  The 2009 Council on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) Alumni Hall focuses on inspirational school educators and school leaders who bring attention to the pivotal role that private colleges and universities play in educating students at all levels and administering essential school programs. The College will honor her achievement at a Champagne reception on Saturday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. during the College’s annual reunion weekend.

Ms. McTague graduated from the College of Mount Saint Vincent with a B.A. in English in 1968.  She has 39 years of teaching and administrative experience to her credit, and brings progressive diversified experience to her current position as Head of School, Chief Executive Officer of Mother Cabrini High School, which was cited twice by the United States Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

Her most recent position before joining Mother Cabrini was as assistant principal of the English Department and Business Enterprise Small Learning Community for DeWitt Clinton High School, also noted for its excellence during her long tenure there. It earned the distinction of being named by Redbook magazine in 1996 as one of the Five Most Improved High Schools; U.S. News and World Report in 1999 chose it as one of the Best High Schools in the Country; and in 2003, it was considered a Breakthrough High School by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Ms. McTague is the child of Irish immigrants and a first-generation college graduate.  She has indicated that her career in teaching and educational administration has made her even more aware of the economic and academic deprivation that her students from multinational backgrounds face.  She has said, “Poverty need not stop a person from getting an education and using that education to serve others.”

For information about the reception or reunion please contact the College’s Alumni Director at 718-405-3334. 

The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) created the Alumni Hall in 2000 to recognize New York’s Independent Sector graduates who have made extraordinary contributions to society through their careers and community involvement.

CICU represents the chief executives of New York's 100+ independent (private, not-for-profit) colleges and universities on issues of public policy. Member colleges compose the largest private sector of higher education.  Each year, more than 17,500 students earn education degrees at 86 Independent Sector campus locations.