Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Networking: 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Program: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Brookhaven Country Club
3333 Golfing Green Dr
Farmers Branch, Texas
View photos from our 2026 luncheons on our Facebook page.
View Program (PDF)
A Conversation on Women as Educators
Featuring Dr. Caroline O’Brien, Ph.D., President, Notre Dame of Dallas Schools and
Lydia Torrez, Advancement Consultant, St. Cecilia Catholic Church and School
Dr. O’Brien and Ms. Torrez will draw from their lived experiences and leadership journeys to inspire a spirit of education, advocacy, and transformational change, and seek to empower luncheon attendees to be a force for good in their communities.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Caroline O’Brien, Ph.D.
President, Notre Dame of Dallas Schools
Dr. Caroline O’Brien was named the first President of Notre Dame of Dallas Schools in May 2021. Notre Dame of Dallas Schools now serves just over 150 students and more than 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
A fifth generation Dallasite, Caroline has served numerous professional and volunteer roles that have prepared her to take on this new challenge. Her career in education spans over thirty years, including Executive Director of Catch Up & Read, a non-profit reading program in Dallas area schools. Caroline has a master’s degree in Elementary Education and a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction. She is passionate about education opening doors for children, no matter their ability level.
Caroline recently became an SSND Associate. She lives in Dallas where she and her husband of 32 years raised their four daughters. Their family now includes 2 sons-in-law and a new grandson, David.
Lydia Torrez
Advancement Consultant, St. Cecilia Catholic Church and School
Born and raised a Texan, Lydia Torrez is originally from San Antonio and now calls Dallas home. For over 45 years, she has dedicated her life to the betterment of children through the ministry of education with the Dallas Independent School District and the Dallas Diocesan Catholic Schools.
Lydia received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Dallas Baptist University in elementary education with a certification in K-8 and a master’s degree in educational leadership. Her vast and impressive career has included middle school math teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of development and president. Lydia retired from educational leadership in June 2025.
Lydia’s accolades prove she is a force for good in the Dallas community and include Cub Master of the Year for St. Cecilia Parish, Alumni of the Year for St. Cecilia Catholic School, Educator of the Year for the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Educator of the Year for Dallas Pro-Life, Person of the Year for the Notre Dame Club of Dallas and the recipient of the Voyager Award from Bishop Dunne Catholic School for her contribution to education.
Widowed in 2024, Lydia continues to share her talents and gifts with the St. Cecilia Community that she loves by serving as an advancement consultant for the parish and the school. Her greatest joy is her family – sons, daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren -along with extended family and a circle of loving and supportive friends. She is navigating this new path with an open heart, a desire to learn new things and a prayerful spirit to do good for all.
For more information, contact:
Debbie Rohrich-Tyler | 314-633-7032 | drohrichtyler@ssndcp.org