Thomas Beatty Principal, Catholic Memorial, West Roxbury thomasbeatty@catholicmemorial.org I have personally attended just shy of 80% of every graduation that has ever taken place in the history of Catholic Memorial School. My CM journey began as a student three years before the most memorable season that any Boston sports team has ever put together. Upon graduation, I attended Boston University as an undergraduate where I was captain of the track team. I returned to CM to teach math shortly after graduating from BU and have taught there ever since. During that time I earned my Master of Mathematics degree from WPI, have been department chair of mathematics for the last 13 years and have coached the cross country and track teams. I was raised and still live in West Roxbury and have never had more than a four-mile commute to work. As a result of my appointment as the 13th Principal of Catholic Memorial this year, one of my favorite summer interests has taken a back seat. Whereas I usually would have participated in maybe 27 rounds of golf by this time of the summer, I am lucky to have played 27 holes instead. My passion about education is to strive to make every student of mine feel the excitement about learning that my teachers at CM gave me as a student. Mark Bedrosian Principal, Saint Raphael School, Medford mbedrosian@straphaelparishschool.org Mark Bedrosian is the new principal of St. Raphael School in Medford. He has a B.S. in Public Admin-Criminal Justice from UMass Lowell, a M.Ed from Salem State, and completed the Principal s Licensure Program MESPA/ Northeastern University. Mark, who grew up in Danvers and lives in Gloucester, is passionate about safe schools that enable students and staff to be high achieving in all areas of life. He has been married for 26 years to his wife, Carol, and they have two sons, Josiah (22) and Boaz (18). Mark s interests include music and fishing. Jared Belliveau Principal, Monsignor James J. Haddad Middle School, Needham jbelliveau@saintjoes.com Jared Belliveau is the new principal of Msgr. James J. Haddad Middle School in Needham. Jared, who is from Malden (Sacred Heart Parish) and currently resides in Reading (St. Agnes Parish), is passionate about helping students to increase their faith through knowledge and practice. He graduated with a B.A. degree from the College of the Holy Cross, and achieved his MAT at Emmanuel College and a J.D. at Boston College. Jared and his wife Kiley are the parents of two girls, Jackie and Brynn, and he enjoys running and mowing the lawn. Cara Blanchette Principal, Saint Charles School, Woburn cblanchette@scswoburn.com Cara Blanchette is the principal of Saint Charles School in Woburn. Originally from Rhode Island, Cara is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and the University of Notre Dame and currently resides in Cambridge with her husband, Kenny. She enjoys running, music, exploring Boston s many restaurants, and spending time with her family and friends. A product of Catholic education, Cara is grateful every day for having received schooling that combined academic excellence with faith formation. She looks forward to instilling in her school community the values that she was so fortunate to have been taught. When interviewing at St. Charles School, Cara was immediately drawn to the school s impressive history, and its welcoming body of students, teachers, parents, and board members. She is excited to join this community and dedicate herself to growing St. Charles School into the future. Kristin Blanchette Principal, Trinity Catholic Academy (Lower Campus), Brockton kheath@tcabrockton.org Kristin Blanchette grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and graduated from Saint Mary s College in South Bend, Indiana. She moved to the Boston area to participate in the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps of Boston College while she earned her Master s degree. Kristin has been teaching for the past eight years, six of them at Trinity Catholic Academy. As a new principal, Kristin is eager to find ways to reduce staff turnover, improve the Catholic identity of the school, and encourage families to stay with Catholic education. Kristin and her husband, Jason, live in Dorchester. 1
Michael Bonina Head of School, Elizabeth Seton Academy, Dorchester mbonina@esaboston.com Michael comes from Boston College High School, where he was the Religious Education Department Chair in addition to other managerial roles. He has had the pleasure of working alongside his wife, Kaileen Bonina, at BC High and they have two little girls one of two years and another of 2 months. Michael is passionate about a holistic approach to education and is a proud homeowner in Dorchester. He has graduate degrees in Theology and Catholic School Educational Leadership. Jay Boren Headmaster, Saint Benedict Elementary School, Natick jboren@stbenedictelementary.com Jay Boren took up his post as headmaster of St. Benedict Elementary in South Natick this July. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Jay received his B.A. in Philosophy from St. Joseph Seminary College and his M.A. in Liberal Arts from Spring Hill College. Jay is a veteran educator and spent 12 years in the classroom as a theology teacher at his alma mater, McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, Alabama. During his time at McGill-Toolen he also coached football and softball and was assistant athletic director. Jay was drawn to this position leading St. Benedict Elementary by his firm belief that a classical Catholic education forms the whole person and produces students who are distinctively prepared to engage our world and positively transform it. Jay currently resides in Lowell with his wife, Katie, and their two year old daughter, Emma. Dan Bouchard Principal, Saint Mary Star of the Sea School, Beverly bouchard@smsbeverly.com As a Catholic school teacher for the past 16 years and a counselor for three, I have learned a great deal from my students and colleagues about what I view as important for a well-rounded, effective and faith-filled education. I reflect on my days as a counselor working with young people, where Control what you can control! was the motto that we focused on. I strongly believe that people find the most success, personally, professionally, and academically by letting go of what they cannot control and being mindful of what they can. More importantly, in a Catholic environment, we can use the teachings of Jesus to guide us in making choices about how we treat each other and how we choose to affect change in the world. I feel that we must work together to promote these beliefs in our school community. ALL of our students are all of OUR students! I have been in Beverly Catholic schools for eight years and I am thrilled and humbled to be the new principal at SMS and am excited to be a part of the SMS community and Catholic education in Beverly moving forward. I live in Amesbury with my wife, Sarah, our two young daughters Phoebe and Charlotte (Charlie), and our yellow lab, Eleanor. I am a semi-retired runner and I try to play basketball whenever I can. Age is catching up with me! Helenann Civian Principal, Cathedral High School, Boston hcivian@cathedralhighschool.net Helenann Civian, principal at Cathedral High School, brings more than 20 years of educational experience to the Cathedral leadership team. Helenann was most recently principal at Randolph Community Middle School and was previously director of expanded learning time for the Massachusetts 2020 Foundation and an adjunct professor of education at Northeastern University. Helenann earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and both a Master of Education in planning and social policy and a Bachelor of Arts in education and administration from Bridgewater State University. She also earned a Master of Education in administration from American International College and served as a fellow in algebraic thinking, patterns, and functions at Rutgers University. 2
Jamie Collins President, Notre Dame Academy, Hingham jcollins@ndahingham.com Jamie J. Collins is the first permanent lay president of Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, Massachusetts. He is the former principal of San Gabriel Mission High School, an all-girls Catholic high school in San Gabriel, California. Jamie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Humanities, Philosophy, and Theology/Religion from St. John s Seminary College in Camarillo, California. He received his Master of Arts degree in Secondary Education from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. In addition, he holds a Professional Clear Single Subject (English) credential as well as California Administrative Services Credential (Tier I & II). Jamie is a native of Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. Realizing he had a desire to live in the United States, he relocated to California in 1997. When he is not at school, Jamie loves to travel, and visits his native Ireland regularly. Michael Dibbert Principal, Saint John School, Wellesley mdibbert@saintjohnschool.net I am the new Principal of Saint John School in Wellesley. I earned a B.A. in History from the University of North Carolina and an M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Boston College. I taught history and religion at Grace-St. Luke s School in Memphis and English at Boston College High School before holding a variety of administrative positions at The American School in Switzerland (TASIS) for the past five years. I have coached varsity boys basketball for my entire career and have focused much of my professional work on helping students grow into responsible and compassionate global citizens. I live in Attleboro with my wife, Carolyn, and children Cassidy (4), Jamison (2) and Teddy, who was born in mid-august. Kyle Egan - Principal, Saint Agatha School, Milton kegan@stagathaparish.org Kyle Egan is the new principal of Saint Agatha School in Milton. Kyle comes from CATS Academy Boston in Newton, where he held the role of math teacher; athletics and activities director and coach; and director of studies, mathematics and science. Prior to working at CATS Academy, Kyle was a teacher and coach in the Midwest. Kyle has a B.A. from Harvard, a Master of Education in Teaching & Learning from DePaul University, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education in Chicago. Lisa Fasano Principal, Saint Paul School, Hingham lfasano@stpaulschoolhingham.com About 1½ years ago I moved from Hull to Marshfield. Prior to that I was in Braintree. I have a B.S. in Child Study from Colby-Sawyer College, a M.Ed. Elementary Education from Bridgewater State College, and a CAGS Educational Leadership from Cambridge College. As an educator, one who has embraced and overcome the challenges and celebrated in the numerous rewards of the profession, I view it as my responsibility and moral obligation to create an atmosphere of success for each child under my guidance. I take my role as educational leader seriously. If children, adolescents and emerging young adults are to thrive in an educational setting, it is dependent on the educational leader to establish a culture of success by providing a vibrant environment where boys and girls can learn, venture out of their comfort zone and excel in a safe environment strengthened by a skilled, compassionate faculty and administration. Two years ago, the students at St. Mary of the Hills School in Milton put me up to running the Run to Home Base for wounded warriors. All they had to do was raise the $1,000, which of course they exceeded, and I had to run the five miles. So after 20+ years I took out the running shoes and have had the bug ever since. On August 16 I ran the Falmouth Road Race for the charity Beat NB, and I ll run a 10-mile in September and my first half-marathon at Disney World in January. 3
Stephen Hanley Principal, Immaculate Conception School, Revere shanley@icrevere.org My family has been living in Framingham for 24 years. My wife Ana and I have been married for almost 33 years. My wife grew up in a small farming town in the vicinity of Moca, Dominican Republic. I grew up in Jamaica Plain near Roxbury. When I grew up there it was classified as a war on poverty zone under the Civil Rights legislation. As a young married couple, we could not afford to live there so we moved to Framingham. We have six children from the ages of 15 to 31; five sons and one daughter. We have one granddaughter, Ana Maria. Our daughter Veronica just got married May 31 to Sergio Enciso at St. Tarcisius in Framingham. I graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes, Boston Technical High, attend Suffolk University and received my Economics Degree from UMass at Boston. I love education when it is rooted in spirituality, discovery, and cognitive play. This educational process brings meaning to a person s life. I am also passionate about teaching the principles of economics at they relate to the encyclicals of the Catholic Church. Suzanne Hickey Principal, Saint Joseph School, Medford shickey@stjosephschoolmedford.com Suzanne Hickey has a longstanding focused devotion to teaching, coaching, and administration leadership all in the elementary school environment since graduating from college in 1999. She began as a student teacher at the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School and then became a paraprofessional at the Graham and Parks Elementary School both in Cambridge. In 2001 Suzanne moved on to the Gerard A. Guilmette Elementary School as an elementary teacher and then assumed the role as the math coach. As an administrator she was the assistant principal at the Bowditch School and played an instrumental role in the school s efficiency and effectiveness. Suzanne graduated from Salem State University, with a double major in education and business administration and a minor in math. While at Salem State, she played collegiate tennis and participated in various volunteer opportunities. After graduating from Salem State, Suzanne entered Lesley University and received her Master of Education in 2001 while beginning her teaching career. Most recently she graduated from Salem State University Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership. Suzanne grew up in Cambridge and continues to live in Cambridge. She has five siblings that live in the local area. She is passionate about establishing and maintaining a positive school environment that promotes an effective school and home synergy of effort. Jean Leahy Principal, Saint Theresa School, West Roxbury elicat63@aol.com Jean Leahy will join St. Theresa School as principal in September. Jean started her career teaching in the Boston Public Schools and during her tenure held many teaching and administrative positions. For the last five years she served as principal of a private special education school. Jean has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Master of Education in Teaching from the University of Massachusetts and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Special Education from Regis College. Jean believes strongly in quality education for all learners that includes instruction that is developmentally appropriate and multisensory within the context of a nurturing and caring environment. Jean lives with her family in Westwood where she is a member of St. Denis Parish. She has two daughters and one granddaughter. Jean loves to read and travel. Her favorite spot is St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dr. Michael Lescault Headmaster, Saint Paul Choir School, Cambridge mlescault@choirschool.net Born in Boston and raised in the city s West Roxbury section, Michael was educated at Saint Theresa School and Catholic Memorial before continuing his education at Providence College where he earned his B.A., two M.A.s, and a Ph.D. He then began a long career in Catholic education that has included service at Pope John XXIII Central High School in Everett, Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton, and, most recently, Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody. He is the author of In Season and Out of Season and A Life of Service. He resides in Walpole with his wife, Regina. Their daughter, Meghan, is a senior at Providence College. 4
Kathleen (Kate) Levesque Interim Principal, Ursuline Academy, Dedham principal@ursulineacademy.net Kate Levesque recently joined Ursuline Academy as Interim Principal for the 2015-16 academic year. An alumna of Ursuline, Kate was first appointed to the Board in 2000, and was the Academy s first President from 2004-2007. Most recently, she served as vice-chair of Ursuline s board. Kate s professional efforts in the non-profit and corporate worlds include work in the areas of technology, finance, education, and communications. She has served as a trustee for the Moses Brown School for the past six years, and has been an active volunteer in her parish of St. Mary, Wrentham. Kate and her husband Shaun are parents of three sons, and in her spare time, she can be found in the kitchen, in the garden, on her bike, or happily knitting. James (Jay) MacDonald President, Cristo Rey Boston High School, Dorchester jmacdonald@cristoreyboston.org Jay MacDonald began his tenure as president at Cristo Rey Boston High School on July 1 after a three-week transition and orientation period with the outgoing President, Jeff Thielman. Jay is a native Bostonian, having grown up in South Boston as a member of St. Augustine Parish, where he was taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at St. Augustine Grammar School. He went on to Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury and developed there a life-long affiliation with the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. He attended Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, graduating with a B.A. in English and minors in Education and Religious Education. He completed his graduate studies at Boston College with an M.Ed in School Administration. Jay has taught and/or administered at the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels of Catholic education. His professional career has taken him to New York, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts, where he previously served in his hometown as President of his alma mater, Catholic Memorial, from 1999 2008. He has served as a director on numerous boards of schools and at Iona College as a trustee. Jay has also served the poor and needy as the executive director of the St. Vincent DePaul Society in Southwest Florida. It was there that he realized that the charitable arm of the Catholic Church does such wonderful and important work to help those in need, but felt called back to his passion, Catholic education, which truly transforms lives forever. Jay is presently living in Hanover, having returned to Boston after a 7-year hiatus. He said that it was always good to come home for visits, and even better to stay for more than a week. This is his second homecoming, and it s great to be back in the Hub of the Universe. James Ridley Interim Principal, Saint Mary Jr/Sr. High School, Lynn james.ridley@stmaryslynn.com James is the new interim principal at St. Mary Jr/Sr High School in Lynn. Prior to this position, James most recently acted as the interim principal at Breed Middle School and Marshall Middle School, both in Lynn. He has had an illustrious career in education, holding leadership positions at Breed Middle School and Lynn Vocational Technical Institute before his retirement in August 2010. James acquired his B.S in Education at Salem State and a Master of Education at Cambridge College. Tom Walsh Principal, Saint John School, Beverly twalsh@sjsbeverly.org I was born and raised in Somerville. I was educated at Matignon High School, and earned a B.A. in History from Merrimack College and an M.Ed in Elementary Education from Salem State University. Currently, I am completing a CAGS Program for Educational Leadership at Salem State University. I started teaching at Saint John s, as an aide in their first grade, in February 1997. I moved up to sixth grade that fall, then became assistant to the principal, then teaching assistant principal before becoming principal this year. I have lived in Beverly since 1985, with my wife, Kathy, and my son, Conor, and I have coached nearly every youth sport there is in town. As an educator, I believe that teaching specific subject matter is secondary to educating the whole child. My goal is to help my students become happy, caring, responsible human beings who try to develop all of their God-given gifts to the best of their ability. 5
Lisa Warshafsky Principal, Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy (Lower Mills), Dorchester lwarshafsky@pjp2ca.org Lisa is a proud mom of a wonderful nine-year old daughter, Arianna. Lisa has been working in urban education for over 10 years and has a passion for working with students and families. Prior to her school-based experience, Lisa worked with juveniles committed to the Department of Youth Services in a locked facility. She has been at Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy, Lower Mills Campus, for the past six years, as a guidance counselor for the first four years and as director of guidance for SJP2CA for the remainder. Lisa has also held the position of the extended day coordinator for the Lower Mills Campus and the academy summer program director over the past five years. Her responsibilities include staff supervision and design of curriculum and programming for students. In addition to holding a Master of Social Work degree from Boston College, Lisa is the recipient of the 2011 Yawkey Award for Teaching Excellence and has been working with the Wheelock College ASPIRE Institute over the past two years as a Fellow in the Boston Family Engagement Partnership (BFEP). The work she has been involved in through BFEP with Catholic, district and charter schools has afforded her an empowering and inspiring experience. The work with BFEP combined with that of the Boston Compact Leadership Initiative, focusing specifically on race and equity in school settings, has motivated her to move toward data-driven, administrative level work. She is eager to begin this journey working with the cross-sector educational population through the landscape of Greater Boston. Lisa has spent the past year as a Lynch Leadership Academy Principal Fellow at OLPH Mission Grammar School in Roxbury working closely with Ali Dutson and the leadership team. Lisa now is the principal of Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy, Lower Mill Campus, and is excited about their school renovation and the start of the school year! Also Introducing... Rev. Stefano Colombo - Executive Director, St. Clement School, Medford scolombo@saintclementschool.org 6