Theresa Cabrera, Ed.S.
Principal
Welcome to OLMA! I am honored to be the principal of Our Lady of Mercy Academy. I have over 22 years experience in the Archdiocese of Newark and have served as both a teacher and an administrator. I completed my principal’s certification program through Seton Hall University where I also received my Education Specialist degree. I am truly a lifelong learner and am currently a doctoral candidate at Seton Hall University pursuing my doctorate in Educational Leadership.
I believe in servant leadership and am committed to providing a caring environment for the entire school community. The success of my faculty, staff, and students is my ultimate goal and responsibility. To achieve this, I must build a culture of trust and respect in the wider school community, encourage collaboration between parents, parish, and school, and provide the faculty opportunities to be teacher-leaders who are valued, respected, and part of the decision-making process. Teachers, in turn, will feel supported and inspired to practice effective pedagogy that promotes a love of learning, builds academic success, and encourages every student to show initiative, think critically, and challenge themselves to be the best they can be.
At Our Lady of Mercy Academy, we are committed to empowering our students with a well-rounded, faith-based education that not only prepares them for academic success but also nurtures their bodies, hearts, and minds. As an institution rooted in Catholic tradition, we cherish and promote Gospel values such as compassion, kindness, integrity, and humility. We encourage our students to embrace these principles, developing a strong moral compass that guides their actions and interactions with others.
We believe that learning should be a lifelong journey. We aim to instill in our students an intrinsic passion for knowledge, fostering an insatiable curiosity that extends beyond the confines of the classroom. By providing engaging and meaningful educational experiences, we empower our students to become self-directed learners who embrace intellectual exploration throughout their lives.
We are committed to academic excellence, striving to equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary for success in an ever-evolving world. Our dedicated and passionate faculty members are devoted to creating a challenging yet supportive learning environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and intellectual growth.
Our mission is to create compassionate, knowledgeable, and kind individuals who embody the true spirit of Catholic Gospel values while embracing a lifelong love of learning. Together, we strive to make a positive difference in the world through our unwavering dedication to academic excellence, moral formation, and service to others.