Principal at St. Dennis Principal in Lockport earns Outstanding Principal of the Year award

Lewis University’s Institute for the Advancement of Catholic and Lasallian Education presented the Roger L. Kaffer Outstanding Principal Award to Lisa Smith, Principal of St. Dennis Catholic School in Lockport, during a May 27 celebration held at the school.

"Lisa Smith has served the St. Dennis community for 14 years and has lived out their Mission,” Guillermo J. Estrada school board president stated in his nomination of Smith. "Every day she leads by example as she lives the St. Dennis Mission to be 'God-centered, respectful, and responsible.'"

Smith received her bachelor’s degree from Benedictine University in Lisle, and her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Francis in Joliet.

She served as a classroom teacher in Batavia and St. Mary’s School in Plainfield before being named principal at St. Dennis in Lockport.

“Lisa Smith, devoted, innovative, and compassionate Catholic Leader that encapsulates the values of the Bishop Roger L. Kaffer Outstanding Principal Award,” Jennifer Buss, co-director of the Institute for the Advancement of Catholic and Lasallian Education, said as she presented the award.

Kaffer was the rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary for five years, and principal of Providence High School for 15 years.

The Joliet native served as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Joliet from 1985 until his retirement in 2002. He remained bishop emeritus until his death in 2009.

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