'Good to be back'

By Toni Jane Pallatto - St. Theresa School (Little Flower)

MIAMI � A veteran school administrator has taken the reins this year at Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School in southwestern Miami-Dade County.

Sister Maureen Cochrane, of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, has 43 years of experience in education and is already familiar with South Florida.

�The culture of Miami is so beautiful,� said Sister Maureen. �This is not new to me. I was principal at St. Theresa School in Coral Gables from 1995 to 2003. It is good to be back.�
She succeeds another Carmelite, Sister Marisa Ducote, who served as principal at Carroll High since 2008.

The Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart, based in Alhambra, Calif., have been serving in the apostolate of education in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for 60 years. The scope of their teaching ranges from early childhood to elementary, middle school, high school, youth and adult education, and also includes a �senior university� for aged residents of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.

Sister Maureen has been a teacher at many different grade levels, as well as a principal and Carmelite schools supervisor. Apart from Florida and California, her assignments have taken her to Arizona and Colorado, as well as vocational work in Alaska. She most recently served as president of Flos Carmeli Formation Centers, guiding the education, retreat apostolates and formation ministries of the Carmelite Sisters.

Born in South El Monte, Calif., Sister Maureen is the first daughter of Donald and Margaret Cochrane. She has an older brother and younger sister. Her father was raised Christian, attending whatever church or Sunday school was available. Her mother was raised Presbyterian, but received piano lessons from sisters at a local convent.

A Catholic neighbor invited the Cochrane children to religious education classes, and Sister Maureen�s journey toward religious life began. Before Christmas of her third-grade year, Sister Maureen, her brother and sister were baptized and enrolled in the local Catholic school.

No matter where her father�s work in construction took them in the United States, she said, she and her siblings always attended Catholic schools staffed by religious.

She entered Bishop Amat High School in California and began volunteering at Santa Teresita Hospital, as she was interested in pursuing a career as a pediatric nurse � or so she thought. It was there that she first met the Carmelite Sisters, who were nursing the aged residents.


She went on to receive her master�s degree in religious studies from Notre Dame Institute in Virginia, with additional classes in child development and administration.

�I am delighted to be here to continue the good works of the Carmelite Sisters,� said Sister Maureen. �The culture of Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School is beautiful. We have a family atmosphere here and our students know they are truly loved. And we have many exciting ideas and plans here to build enrollment and advance our curriculum. We are a work in progress, and all things can be done through our Lord Jesus Christ.�

Also new to the school this year, serving as assistant vice principal of development, is another Carmelite, Sister Mary Elizabeth Barbosa.

�I have been a Carmelite sister for almost 50 years, and in education for 40 of those years,� she said. �I have been a language arts teacher, a religion teacher, a principal and a supervisor of education for the Carmelite community for 10 years. It is truly a treat to be here and to be back in the classroom as well.�

Sister Mary Elizabeth graduated from St. Anthony�s High School in Long Beach, Calif., and then attended Mount St. Mary�s College in Los Angeles, where she earned her bachelor�s degree in education.

�Our Carmelite philosophy of education is very similar to that of St. John Bosco and the Salesian Sisters,� Sister Mary Elizabeth said. �We focus on the pillars of faith, reason, kindness and love, working hard to let our children know the love of God is what drives all of us. We know if we teach our children what is expected, they will most certainly live up to our expectations.�

As supervisor of education for the Carmelite community from 1995 to 2005, Sister Mary Elizabeth administered 11 schools, including three day-care centers.

�I had the responsibility to train our teachers and principals, and mentor them as they grew in their positions, helping them to not only set goals and objectives, but to exceed them. That is what we will do here at Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School,� Sister Mary Elizabeth said. �We are rolling up our sleeves and giving it all that we have for our beautiful children. And, we know we are not alone. We are surrounded by wonderful parents, teachers, administration and staff, as well as loving volunteers. We will not disappoint our children.�