‘St Aloysius will remain first and foremost a Jesuit college’: first lay rector

When Maria Montebello took on the role of the first lay person, and the first woman, to serve as rector of St Aloysius College, she was not entirely new to it, as there were several links with her past.

“I am proud that I am not only the first lay rector – after 118 years of Jesuit rectors – but also the parent of an ex-student. My daughter, Gloria, attended sixth form and it amazed me how she referred to it not just as school but as ‘my second home’,” she says, explaining that this was only one of a series of links.

Before stepping officially into the role this month – when she became the 20th rector of the college – Montebello was the head of school within St Ignatius College and had collaborated with St Aloysius to set up events. The link came through Ignatius of Loyola, the Spanish Catholic priest and theologian who founded the Society of Jesus in 1534.

Montebello, who oversaw the introduction of co-education in a state school, was also on the consultative committee set up eight years ago to guide the shift to co-education within the St Aloysius College primary school.

Now she feels that applying for the role was a calling – towards a leadership that is both professional and spiritual.

“I am committed to ensuring that St Aloysius College will remain first and foremost a Jesuit college,” she says in her signature calm and firm tone.

Montebello says she was born an educator.

“When I was a little girl, I would teach my dolls,” she recalls.

She began as a teacher in a Żurrieq primary school, later moving to teach secondary school in Kirkop. She pursued her studies in administration and was appointed assistant head at St Benedict College, Għaxaq primary school, then head of school at St Benedict College, Safi primary school, before being appointed head of St Ignatius College, Prof. Edward de Bono Ħandaq Middle School.

Over time, Montebello felt an internal calling to move more towards her Catholic faith and steer her career in that direction.

“Catholic values have always been part of my leadership style − values of tolerance, sustainability, social justice and care. After serving in public education, I wished to experience Church and spiritual leadership. This role is both a professional and spiritual calling in a Jesuit context,” she says.

So, she applied for the role – after consulting with her family – and her appointment was officially announced in May.

Montebello does not take this responsibility lightly. Like her predecessor − priest and poet Ġużè Delia, who wrote about his rectorship in his autobiography – she feels the weight of the role.

Big things start with a vision – with a dream. Students give you the opportunity to dream

She plans to build on the work of those who came before her and work with staff and students to focus on three priorities.

'A human leader'

First, to strengthen Ignatian formation through experiences, reflection and action, while maintaining the co-ed reform with its values of equality, opportunity and accessibility. She also wants to continue fostering student participation through the council and committees, with emphasis on social justice, sustainability and responsibility.

“Big things start with a vision – with a dream. Students give you the opportunity to dream. Innovation is part of it and the children help us get there. They give us energy to think about what seems impossible and they give us motivation and courage,” she says.

Montebello says she seeks to be a human leader, interacting closely with students and staff.

As a woman, and with her experience, she feels she can bring the characteristics of female leadership – determination, resilience, collaboration and care.

She believes these qualities will help her create a participatory leadership style where all feel included and where the story of the college continues to be based on values of equality and inclusion.

For her, the move to co-education was a natural step.

This year, the secondary school welcomed its first female students, catching up with the primary and sixth form, which were already co-ed.

While there were logistical challenges such as bathrooms, sports facilities and the need for professional training, she acknowledges that there were concerns about discipline. But she feels this can be addressed through the teaching of the right values, which will guide students on the right path.

This also applies to teaching students to use social media responsibly.

“Technology has to be used as a tool to reach our goals. We need to educate students to use it responsibly, developing critical and creative thinking so that technology becomes a tool that supports their responsibility and not something that works against them.”

This, she believes, is a shared responsibility between the school and parents, whom she urges to “accompany their children through their learning journey”.

“I urge parents to see education as central to their lives and not peripheral,” she says.

Montebello stresses that the Jesuits have always believed in the role that lay people have in the community, and this is how she plans to serve in her role: as a lay person, leading a community with the Jesuit values in what she feels is fast becoming “my second home”.