An Alumnae speaks out

Dear Former Classmates at NDA,

It has been years since many of you even heard my name (Janet Marie Pumphrey), if at all, or remember what I look like. I was the quiet one that joined you in our last year as seniors at NDA. I often fondly recall how many of you were so kind to me during that short span of 9 months. Thank you!

For a brief history lesson, my sister Mary Ellen Pumphrey was a senior when you were freshmen and was a senior buddy to a few of you, I am sure. My sister Helen Pumphrey was a sophmore when we were seniors and she was followed in a few short years by another sister, Barbara Pumphrey. All in all, we sent 4 sisters and 2 nieces to NDA. We have 12 more nieces - but unfortunately, due to recent circumstances, they will never cross the threshold of NDA Hingham!

Recent changes at Notre Dame, that many believe are serious moves away from the true teachings and the true spirit of Sister Julie Billiart, NDA's founder, have created great doubt, frustration and serious questioning of the current leadership at Notre Dame. My sister, Mary Ellen Pumphrey Cassani ('72), spent almost all of her adult life (in between raising 3 wonderful sons) teaching, ministering and guiding the young women of Notre Dame Hingham. She was the driving force behind the development of the new science wing. I

n May 2007, she was recognized as the Outstanding Alumnae of the Year. Most recently, in the position as the first lay Principal of Notre Dame, Mary Ellen was hailed as a wonderful contributor to NDA. In the words of Sister Barbara Barry, the former Principal & current President of NDA: Mrs. Cassani’s contributions to her alma mater spanned many years and she served the school well in her many roles – teacher, campus minister, assistant principal and as principal last year. She made a difference in the lives of hundreds of students over the years, inspiring many to science-related careers. However, this past December, Sr. Barbara unceremoniously told Mary Ellen that she was no longer needed or wanted at NDA. Why? Even Mary Ellen herself was never told !

Mary Ellen, after suffering from some serious health issues took a Medical Leave of Absence from NDA for the Fall semester. Fully cured and with all the readiness to return, she was suddenly informed that her job no longer awaited her. Why? She was not told; her questions were met by silence. Mary Ellen was blindsided by this decision and heartbroken. She was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement to protect HER privacy and in order to settle the remainder of her contract. Therefore, she is not allowed to speak on her own behalf - and she hasn't.

Questions remain. In the corporate world of today, actions like these would land corporations in court. Why not here? How can a corporation, no a school, no a CATHOLIC school turn their back on one they have stated was such an inspiration to the school and its students? And, how can one day they hail her as wonderful and give her accolades and then within months invite her NOT to return? Many of Mary Ellen's former classmates have written to the Board of Directors at NDA protesting Sr. Barbara's decision & asking that, at the very least, Mary Ellen be given a full explanation of her termination. These letters have gone unacknowledged & unanswered.

The class of '72 is outraged, the students at NDA are outraged! More than 250 current NDA students signed a petition asking for explanations and expressing their desire to have Mary Ellen back. Several have already indicated they will be leaving at the end of the year and some are juniors leaving for their senior year - all because they are thoroughly confused by the lack of concern for their "favorite" teacher and principal, mothers of daughters currently at the school are outraged, Mary Ellen's family is outraged, and no one at NDA cares to respond to even try to explain the whole situation.

And so I write to you to ask you to visit a new and profound blog: http://wewillnot.blogspot.com/ set up to discuss the situation at Notre Dame. Read the blog and comment please. We need to not only be heard, but answered. Mary Ellen deserves better than this. She gave her life to a school because she believed raising intelligent, strong, faith guided young women would enable this world to move to new missions of hope, charity and love.

Someone (or ones) at NDA decided they would rather be led or lead elsewhere - where is the elsewhere - do they even know - do they have a plan - do they care about the young women at NDA? If this can happen at our beloved NDA, where are we to turn for some embodiment of truth in today's gotcha world of politics and boards and companies?

With great love and need for truth, I remain one of your classmates,

Janet Marie Pumphrey Pendexter