The Rio Grande Valley - Charles Anne Solomon, OP

Every day is different in the routine of Sr. Charles Anne Solomon, who sometimes travels 100

miles a day in her job as Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of

Brownsville. Serving a constituency of 4000 students and their families, Sr. Charles Anne works

with 13 Catholic schools where over 15% of the students receive tuition assistance.

90% of the students are from Brownsville, McAllen and surrounding areas, while 10% of the

students are from the border town of Matamoros and Reynosa, Mexico, where poverty rates are among the highest and

salaries among the lowest in the United States. Diocesan principals and teachers work

to move children into English language programs as quickly as possible.

Combating the effects of the economic climate and high drop-out rates in area schools is a mission

Sr. Charles Anne takes to heart. There are two Catholic high schools in the diocese - St. Joseph

Academy of Brownsville (celebrating their 100th anniversary this year) and Oratory of St. Phillip

Neri (a dual-language school). 96% of graduates of both schools go on to college.

Sr. Charles Anne also volunteers in her home parish, St. Pius X of Weslaco, helping those in

grief support programs and is a member of the church choir. She is a diligent and determined voice for the students and a blessing to all