Holy Family University’s impact on classrooms across Philadelphia was on full display this year, as seven alumni and one current student are among the 2026 recipients of the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award.
The award is one of the School District of Philadelphia’s most respected honors for educational excellence. It recognizes teachers and instructional leaders who demonstrate innovation in the classroom, strong ties to their school communities, and a lasting impact on students.
Each recipient receives $3,500.
The eight honorees bring Holy Family’s five-year total of Lindback recipients to 35 — a testament to the university’s School of Education and the caliber of teachers it produces.
The teaching honorees are:
- Marita Anderson, John Moffet School
- Nicole Campagna, Anne Frank Elementary School
- Susan Del Rossi, Henry A. Brown School
- Kimberly Hensel, Gloria Casarez Elementary School
- Brittany Luroe, Ethan Allen School
- Evelyn Pomales, Solomon Solis-Cohen School
- Stephanie Ryan, Watson Comly School
Vance Quitman-McNear, Principal at Edwin Forrest School in Mayfair, received the Distinguished Principal Award. Quitman-McNear is currently completing his Letter of Superintendent Eligibility at Holy Family and will begin his Ed.D. there this fall.
For many recipients, the recognition came as a genuine surprise.
“I was surprised upon first hearing it, and then excited and so immensely grateful,” said Campagna, a first-grade teacher who earned her master’s degree from Holy Family through its reading specialist program.
“The reading specialist program at Holy Family helped change my perspective to really look into understanding how my students were learning to read. I am continuously striving to improve my teaching and often use strategies and techniques learned at Holy Family.”
Hensel, who earned her master’s degree from Holy Family, is a Title I reading specialist in Kensington.
“I truly love my job and do it out of a firm belief that, with a strong educational foundation, my students can achieve absolutely anything they desire,” said Hensel. “Knowing that my colleagues recognized my daily dedication as distinguished practice is an incredible honor.”
Ryan, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Holy Family, provides autism support for grades three through five in Somerton and also serves as an adjunct instructor at the university.
“It reaffirmed my commitment to my students and validated the hard work I put into creating a nurturing and effective learning environment,” she said.
Ryan said her graduate studies emphasized not just instructional technique but also “empathy, patience, and cultural responsiveness — qualities essential for working with diverse learners.”
Anderson, who also earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Holy Family, is in her 26th year teaching fourth grade in Olde Kensington.
“I had amazing professors that prepared me for the reality of the classroom,” Anderson said. “My Holy Family education introduced me to diverse instructional strategies and taught me how to establish clear expectations, build rapport with diverse students, and create a safe, supportive classroom culture.”
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