Distinguished Alumni

Distinguished alumni are individuals who attended Moravian Academy (or Moravian Preparatory or Moravian Seminary for Girls) and are more than fifteen years removed from their graduation. They have contributed significant resources to Moravian Academy, thereby positively and significantly impacting past and current students, teachers, and programs and/or have been identified as leaders in their profession and have made significant contributions to their communities. Distinguished Alumni are selected by the Alumni Association Executive Board.

Carole Devey Schachter '76

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

"I always wanted to be a teacher, like my dad. What I didn’t know when I was young was what kind of teacher I wanted to be." Carole’s relationship with Moravian Academy began in 1971 when her family moved to Bethlehem so her father, David Devey, could lead the downtown campus of the newly formed Moravian Academy. Moravian Preparatory School and Moravian Seminary for Girls had just merged. Two years later, he began his 17-year tenure as Headmaster, and the family moved to the Green Pond campus—a move that fundamentally transformed her life.

Living on campus allowed Carole to immerse herself in the boarding program, sparking a lifelong passion for diverse cultures. While already studying German, she added Spanish to her schedule and, in 1974, departed for a transformative year as a Rotary Exchange student in Ayacucho, Argentina. Following her time there, she finished her year abroad in Brazil, which inspired her to add Portuguese to her linguistic studies.

"I found my calling reading in Spanish with students at Donegan Elementary School. I told the teacher, Mrs. Gaugler, that I’d be back. Four years later, she welcomed me with open arms as a new teacher."

Carole dedicated 35 years to the Bethlehem Area School District, largely serving English Learners. Her conviction that a language barrier is never a reflection of intelligence made her a fierce advocate for multilingualism, always encouraging parents to maintain their primary language at home.

Her commitment to growth led her to earn a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and a second Master of Education in Educational Leadership. Even during her studies, she remained deeply connected to the Academy, serving as a substitute teacher and later returning to Benigna House to serve as a dorm mother at Couch Dormitory while teaching at Donegan during the day.

Leadership & Legacy

In her final five years of full-time work as the Supervisor of English Learner Services, Carole oversaw the ESOL staff and nearly a thousand students across 22 schools. Following Hurricane Maria, she was instrumental in providing housing, food, and compassion to hundreds of families arriving from Puerto Rico.

In retirement, Carole continues to be a "Mama Bear" for her students, including Shantey from Nicaragua, and Damian, a former student who shares her home when not on campus at Moravian University. She currently serves on the International Student Care Committee (ISCC) and the Moravian Academy Board of Trustees, honoring her family’s enduring connection to the community.

Whether serving as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Edgeboro Moravian Church or volunteering in the Academy’s Spanish Immersion Program, Carole embodies the Moravian values of curiosity, community, and excellence.

Carole treasures her time with her two grown children and her four rescued golden retrievers. It is a privilege to serve the school she has cherished for over fifty years.

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Distinguished Alumni

Carole Devey Schachter '76

Leadership & Legacy