Karen Dietrich, SSJ, Ph.D
Executive Director
Sister Karen Dietrich brings over 32 years of educator and leadership experience to the Catholic Partnership Schools. Sister started her career as a high-school level science teacher in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and most recently she served as principal of Mount St. Joseph Academy in suburban Philadelphia.
During her 15-year tenure at the Mount, Sister Karen completed 2 successful capital campaigns and led the school to gain recognition as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and retained the school’s Middle States Association Accreditation.
Sister Karen brings to this new venture a unique and powerful combination of scholarly credentials and an abiding commitment to her ministry. She earned a doctorate in instructional design from Capella University and graduate and undergraduate degrees with honors in biology – Master of Science from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Science from Chestnut Hill College. Her doctoral dissertation, Professional Experiences that Impact Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices, reflects her passion for the subject and more than 20 years experience working with teachers new to the profession.
Prior to coming to the Partnership, Sister Karen reached some of the most challenged, yet deserving youth of the area as a mentor and tutor at LaSalle Academy in Philadelphia. Another integral part of her journey toward a ministry in urban education was her proposal to open a Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in the city.
A noted author and presenter at academic conferences, Sister Karen is the recipient of numerous national awards and honors in her field. In the years in which she received them, Sister Karen was one of a select number to be awarded the National Science Foundation’s Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching; the Tandy Technology Teacher Scholar Award; and the National Catholic Education Association Special Departmental Award, to name just a few.
The National Association of Biology Teachers named her an Outstanding Biology Teacher in the State of New Jersey. Also for her work in New Jersey, Sister Karen received the Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching as well as the $15,000 New Jersey Governor’s Teacher Award Grant for writing instructional materials for science. Her scholarly interests include professional development, instructional design and use of instruction time, learning styles and teaching for retention, and the integration of technology in education.
Sister Karen is also an artist, musician, and woodworker.
Pamela Rainey Lawler
Director of Development & Communications
Pam Lawler brings extensive experience in the corporate, non-profit, and small business arenas to her work at Catholic Partnership Schools. In her new role, she is responsible for managing the complete donor engagement process and for developing and overseeing the positioning of the CPS case for support among various constituencies.
Prior to joining the Partnership, she was vice president of outreach & development for MicroSociety, an educational services organization headquartered in Philadelphia.
Ms. Lawler spent more than a decade in her early career as a writer and editor for corporations and consulting firms before moving into the non-profit sector as founder and executive director of a leading Philadelphia non-profit dedicated to eliminating hunger. In addition to founding Philabundance, Ms. Lawler has also worked in resource development and communications for the Public Interest Law Center, Big Sisters, and Drexel University.
She continues to serve on the board of directors of Philabundance as well as on the boards of the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory, a youth development boat building organization, and Art-Reach, a group that connects underserved audiences with cultural experiences.
John G. Corcoran
Director of Finance
John Corcoran brings 17 years of non-profit financial management to the Catholic Partnership Schools. His non-profit experience has been concentrated in the healthcare field – specifically with mental health facilities and surgical hospitals. Prior to joining the Catholic Partnership Schools, Mr. Corcoran spent 6 years managing the finances of a global church organization that had international missions and a $50 million endowment. Before entering non-profit management, he spent 16 years in corporate banking. He is a graduate of La Salle University with a B.S. in Finance and Marketing.
Lori Chaffers, M.S.W.
Coordinator of Community Engagement and School-based Development
Lori Chaffers received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Eastern University in 2003. She later obtained a graduate degree in social work from Temple University where she focused on community organizing and policy with a concentration on children, youth, and families.
Most recently, Ms. Chaffers served as the director of development for St. Anthony of Padua Church and School in Camden, NJ. While at St. Anthony’s, Ms. Chaffers created and implemented a donor management system, conducted the school’s annual fund, and helped facilitate the creation and implementation of a strategic plan for the parish. Ms. Springer will work to build partnerships with parents and families, community organizations, universities, and local businesses that enhance the educational experience of each student. Her work will allow the Catholic Partnership Schools to build a strong, sustainable presence in their communities.
June Ertl
Executive Assistant
June Ertl joined the Catholic Partnership Schools in July 2010 as an executive assistant where she provides administrative and staff support to the organization. Prior to CPS, Ms. Ertl was the executive assistant to the CEO at the Southeastern Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1997, she was employed by The Pew Charitable Trusts as an associate responsible for the coordination, development, and implementation of grants and contracts for Trusts-operated projects as well as overseeing the program administration operation. Annually, she participates in field research in Belize on the manatee populations using satellite tagging technology. Ms. Ertl received her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Rowan University and her graduate degree in public administration from Widener University. She currently serves as a board director of Gift to Cure in Sacramento, California.
