Sister Deborah taking Sister of Mercy leadership position

Published: July 9, 2011

Sister Deborah Troillett, RSM

Sister Deborah Troillett, RSM

Sister Deborah Troillett, RSM, a Mount St. Mary Academy graduate who has worked at the all-girls high school in Little Rock for the past 22 years, announced June 29 that she is leaving Aug. 1 to join the Sisters of Mercy leadership team based in Maryland.

Sister Deborah, who is currently the school president, was elected as councilor of the five-member Institute Leadership Team for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She will relocate to Silver Spring, Md.

The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, which is comprised of six communities with more than 3,800 sisters who serve in North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Guam and the Philippines, serves people suffering from poverty, sickness and lack of education, with special concern for women and children.

Sister Deborah has served as a teacher and administrator at Mount St. Mary Academy for the past 22 years. She graduated from Mount St. Mary in 1973 and was accepted into the religious community of Sisters of Mercy in 1974. She has traveled world-wide and served on numerous committees and boards. In her last 14 years as president, she has worked with the Mount St. Mary Academy Board of Directors to complete the $8 million Lasting Efforts Capital Campaign and establish the Mount St. Mary Foundation.

"I think the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas have seen the enormous impact that Sister Deborah has had in Little Rock at Mount St. Mary Academy, with the extraordinary growth of the school, the addition of the Karen Flake Math and Science Building, the renovation of the McAuley Center and the latest renovation and expansion of the '54 and '77 wings, and they have a bigger plan in mind for her," board president Angela Duran said. "As the Mount St. Mary Capital Campaign comes to a close, and with the Mount St. Mary Foundation now in place to help support the school, the timing seems natural to call her to a leadership position in the greater Mercy community, sharing her talents on a national and international level."

Principal Diane Wolfe said, "Our school was built upon Catherine McAuley's trust in God and the Mercy values she lived day-to-day. Sister Deborah showed us how to live those values and gave us traditions to carry them on. She has touched many lives. This news is so difficult for us to accept as a school community because of the loss we feel. Yet, because we love and care for her, we also rejoice for her and God's new plan for her. And we will draw from our experiences with Sister Deborah and look to our Mercy foundation to keep us moving in a faith-centered direction."

In an e-mail to Mount St. Mary parents, alumnae and staff, Sister Deborah said, "I am filled with emotion at the thoughts of leaving and of the overwhelming privilege it has been to serve as president and principal for the last 20 years at Mount St. Mary Academy... While this calling comes with much excitement and anticipation, it comes with sadness to be leaving my home, my family and Little Rock community."

The board of directors is currently working on a new phase for the school's strategic plan and will be looking for a new president to lead the school.