Principal Duffy Retires From Corpus Christi, Vice Principal Sessarego Takes the Reins

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Principal Suzanne Stewart Duffy has retired from Corpus Christi School in Pacific Palisades, passing the torch to Paola Sessarego, who has been at the school for eight years and vice principal for five.

Duffy spoke to the Palisadian-Post of her personal and professional journey in education. She was 21 years old when she graduated from University of California, Irvine, and started graduate school at Loyola Marymount University.

Nearly 40 years later, Duffy found herself back at Corpus Christi School—“a kindergarten through eighth-grade parochial school serving the Catholic faith community of the Pacific Palisades and its surrounding areas,” according to its website—which she attended as a child.

“It was like coming home,” Duffy said. “I grew up in the Palisades, went to school here … and my main goal would be to model that, and that students would consider a career in education … and carry on the legacy. There are not enough kids who want to go into education and be teachers and administrators. It’s harder and harder to find them.”

When asked what she will miss most about her six years as principal, Duffy emphasized the collaboration between home, school and parish.

“The highlights are really the teachers that I got to work with, the parents that I worked with and collaborated with,” Duffy said. “And then of course, the students there … They are why I stayed in this for so long … We are still educating and creating great kids that could go on and do things, and make a difference and the world a better place. It’s just a really special community, and that part I will miss a lot.”

Of her retirement, Duffy said she plans on staying in the Palisades.

“We live up with a view of the ocean and the mountains … I don’t think there is any better place to retire,” she said.

Her retirement will be spent with her family. Duffy said when she began as principal, she was 41 years old and three of her children were still in high school. Now, her children are in their 30s and 40s, and she has six grandchildren.

“It’s just time to spend more time with the family,” Duffy said of her retirement to the Post. “But I definitely had to think long and hard about it … It was not an easy decision. The school is left in great hands because Monsignor Liam Kidney is still the pastor, and the new principal was my principal that I hired … She’ll do a great job.”

Sessarego stepped into the role of principal on Monday, July 1.

“As VP and now as principal, I’m looking forward to continuing to build relationships with students, parents and the community,” Sessarego said to the Post. “I am also excited to bring in new programs that will enhance learning and make school a fun experience, not only academically but socially.”