Francine joined the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) Educational Center staff two years ago. Prior to her position, she served as a Board Certified Chaplain at Good Samaritan Nursing and Rehab in Sayville, NY. She owned a publishing company for over 20 years. Francine is thrilled to be part of the vibrant community of Woodhaven, Queens. The women who come to the center every day to learn are truly inspirational, and Francine considers it an absolute honor to be a part of their journeys.
1 When was the Woodhaven SSND Educational Center founded?
Francine E. Poppo: Initially located in Jamaica, Queens, the School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center was founded in 2004 by three women who were part of the community of the School Sisters of Notre Dame: Cathy Feeney, Jean McLoughlin, and Janice Algie. Since 2009, they have been serving the community of Woodhaven. Sister Cathy Feeney remained the Executive Director for almost 20 years until she retired in 2023. Our mission is to empower underserved women of all races and faiths to reach the fullness of their potential within a safe and welcoming environment. The Center provides programs that educate and nurture the whole person. This Catholic sponsored center is rooted in the belief that women are agents of transformation for the family, society, and the world.
2 Tell us about the programs and services offered by the SSND?
Francine E. Poppo: Our services are open to all women over the age of 20. The core of our programs has always included two main areas—GED (where women study all subject areas to earn their high school diploma) and ESOL (where women work hard to improve their English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills). We also recognize the need to bridge the gap between education and job and career readiness; as such, we offer computer literacy and citizenship preparation classes. As our mission includes “empowering women to live to the fullness of their potential,” we offer additional programs that provide opportunities for women to examine and address the health and wellness of their whole bodies. These include healthcare initiatives and seminars; information on diet and nutrition; collaboration with and referrals to community and library programs; and one-on-one assistance with job and college applications, and resumes.
3 How does SSND assist in providing local opportunities, particularly in Queens?
Francine E. Poppo: We believe all our programs and services provide opportunities for women in the region, encompassing the Port Authority airports. In particular, we actively seek ways to bring awareness to opportunities by inviting leaders from the airport industry businesses to speak to our students about opportunities and pathways that are available to them that work within and alongside their own individualized plans and goals for career improvement and advancement.
4 How has the airport community been a benefit to SSND?
Francine E. Poppo: Individuals and corporations within the airport community have been very supportive of the SSND Educational Center’s mission and ministry since its inception. Our efforts to strengthen and grow those relationships include our participation in wonderful organizations such as the JFK Chamber of Commerce, JFK Rotary Club, and Airport Community Foundation. Each year, SSND holds a gala fundraiser honoring two JFK Airport community leaders with a Spirit of Service Award. These organizations’ resources, partnerships, and generous sponsorships afford our Center to grow in new ways to meet the changing needs of our times, especially in the area of technology. We recently purchased 20 new laptops, providing our students with access to online learning, Microsoft 365, resume creation, and practice in workplace technology skills.
5 What is one of your most memorable student stories at SSND?
Francine E. Poppo: There are so many stories that shine as examples of our mission statement in action. I’d like to share two that come to mind. One of our students who is studying for her GED passed the math section with an almost perfect score. After she passed, she continued to visit our Center daily to assist other women with their math studies and also began volunteering as a tutor for an 8th-grade student at the library twice a week. She recently spoke at one of our events. She said that she not only thinks our Center is a wonderful, safe community of women, but that she also believes very strongly that educational opportunities for all people can transform families and communities. Another example of a woman who, while studying for her GED at our Center, earned a full-time position at JFK Airport. When she joined her peers at our Closing Ceremony in June, she handed me an envelope full of cash and said that this donation was her first paycheck. She had been planning to do this since she began at our Center, and she would never forget the many kindnesses she experienced there. She said, “Whenever I walk through the doors of SSND Educational Center, I hear a voice in the walls that shouts to me, ‘You can do it!”.
