Mrs. Dawn Dion- Principal
PRINCIPAL BIO
When I started first grade at St. Odilo School, Sister Joan was the Principal. When I graduated 8th grade, Mrs. Carbonara was the Principal. While I was going to college, Mr. Dunleavy was the Principal. And when I came home to St. Odilo School to teach 3rd grade, Mr. Donegan was the Principal. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be the next in the line of these Catholic School Leaders. I guess the saying is true - you can take the girl out of Berwyn, but you can’t take the Berwyn out of the girl.
After graduating from Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester, I went on to Barat College of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest where I majored in Liberal & Performing Arts. After graduating, my mom (Mrs. Hurley - St. Odilo Library volunteer and Altar & Rosary Society member) encouraged me to go back to school and get my teaching certification. I subsequently continued school, and received my Master’s in Instructional Leadership from Loyola University.
Over the course of my teaching career, I have taught in both the Archdiocese and public schools. Ten years ago, at the wedding of a mutual family friend, I mentioned to Mrs. Uphues (St. Odilo School Secretary from the 1980’s to the 2010’s) that I wanted to leave the public schools and return to the Archdiocese. Two months later I became the 3rd grade teacher here at St. Odilo.
St. Odilo is my school. It’s a special place where children become part of a community, and that community becomes family. My colleagues and I have seen generations of the same families walk these halls. Ours is a school that honors the traditions of our faith and our community, while still adapting to meet the needs of our students. I’ve met alumni, both old and young, who come back to St. Odilo because it is home. They also say “St. Odilo is my school.”
To our new families - Welcome! To our returning families - Welcome back! To everyone - Welcome home! St. Odilo is your school, too.
When I started first grade at St. Odilo School, Sister Joan was the Principal. When I graduated 8th grade, Mrs. Carbonara was the Principal. While I was going to college, Mr. Dunleavy was the Principal. And when I came home to St. Odilo School to teach 3rd grade, Mr. Donegan was the Principal. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be the next in the line of these Catholic School Leaders. I guess the saying is true - you can take the girl out of Berwyn, but you can’t take the Berwyn out of the girl.
After graduating from Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester, I went on to Barat College of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest where I majored in Liberal & Performing Arts. After graduating, my mom (Mrs. Hurley - St. Odilo Library volunteer and Altar & Rosary Society member) encouraged me to go back to school and get my teaching certification. I subsequently continued school, and received my Master’s in Instructional Leadership from Loyola University.
Over the course of my teaching career, I have taught in both the Archdiocese and public schools. Ten years ago, at the wedding of a mutual family friend, I mentioned to Mrs. Uphues (St. Odilo School Secretary from the 1980’s to the 2010’s) that I wanted to leave the public schools and return to the Archdiocese. Two months later I became the 3rd grade teacher here at St. Odilo.
St. Odilo is my school. It’s a special place where children become part of a community, and that community becomes family. My colleagues and I have seen generations of the same families walk these halls. Ours is a school that honors the traditions of our faith and our community, while still adapting to meet the needs of our students. I’ve met alumni, both old and young, who come back to St. Odilo because it is home. They also say “St. Odilo is my school.”
To our new families - Welcome! To our returning families - Welcome back! To everyone - Welcome home! St. Odilo is your school, too.
