St. Philomena School
After 12 years of dedicated leadership, Head of School Brian Cordeiro will conclude his tenure at Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart on June 30th 2027, to become Executive Director of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, supporting Saint Philomena School and 24 other Sacred Heart Schools across the United States and Canada. As we look toward the future, Saint Philomena School is thoughtfully seeking its next Head of School — an inspiring leader who will build on our success, embrace our Sacred Heart mission, and guide our community with courage & confidence into its next exciting chapter.
Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart seeks an inspiring, mission-driven leader to serve as its next Head of School. This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead a distinctive Catholic, independent, Sacred Heart school with a strong sense of mission, a talented faculty and staff, deeply committed families, and an educational philosophy centered on the formation of the whole child.
The School offers the next Head of School the opportunity to lead a thriving community deeply committed to the formation of children and genuinely invested in their growth and flourishing. The next Head will help steward a school where educational purpose, and the Catholic and Sacred Heart mission are deeply intertwined, strengthening these enduring qualities for the students and families it serves today and for generations to come.
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▶October 2026: Thank You For Your Participation
The Search Committee extends its heartfelt thanks to the many members of our community who shared their voices, perspectives, and hopes for the future through our Community Survey and recent campus visit with our search partners, Educational Directions.
The thoughtful engagement and enthusiastic support of so many mission-driven members of our school community reaffirmed the strength of our enduring values, the vibrancy of our Sacred Heart mission, and our shared confidence in the bright future ahead.
We invite all members of our community to continue holding this important process in prayer as the Search Committee works over the coming months to identify and engage inspiring candidates who feel called to lead Saint Philomena School into its next chapter, building upon our many strengths and moving our school forward with courage and confidence.
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Leadership transitions naturally raise questions. These Frequently Asked Questions & Answers are intended to provide clarity and outline the search process as we begin this important year together. The Board of Trustees is committed to conducting a thoughtful, thorough, and transparent search, and we will continue to share timely updates with the school community as the process progresses.
Additional communication can be emailed to the search committee at: search@saintphilomena.org
The selection and supervision of the Head of School is one of the Board of Trustees' most important responsibilities and is a core governance duty entrusted to the Board. For that reason, the Search Committee is composed of Trustees who have been charged with carrying out this responsibility on behalf of the entire Saint Philomena School community.
The Head of School Search Committee is composed of Trustees who are entrusted with safeguarding the mission, governance, and long-term success of Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart. Consistent with best practices in independent school governance and the traditions of Sacred Heart education, the Board of Trustees has appointed a committee whose members collectively bring extensive experience in executive leadership, Catholic and Sacred Heart education, governance, human resources, and organizational strategy.
The Search Committee serving the Board of Trustees is composed of:
Mrs. Rhonda Landers - Chair of the Board of Trustees
Mr. John Bohan - Trustee Emeritus, Chair of the Search Committee
Sr. Anne Dyer, RSCJ - Trustee and Provincial Delegate, Society of the Sacred Heart
Mrs. Andrea Marone - Trustee and Chair of Institutional Advancement
Mrs. Stephanie Devaney, J.D. - Trustee
For additional information about each member's background and experience, please read the Leadership Transition FAQs
The Board of Trustees has engaged Educational Directions, a nationally respected executive search firm that has specialized in leadership searches for independent and faith-based schools since 1986. With more than three decades of experience and over 600 successful leadership searches, Educational Directions has helped schools across the country, including peer Sacred Heart Schools, identify, recruit, and successfully transition exceptional Heads of School, Presidents, and other senior educational leaders.
What if I know someone who may be interested?
Interested candidates should contact Dawn Nichols, Jay Underwood and/or Mathew Heersche from Educational Directions at:
● dawn.nichols@edudx.com
● jay.underwood@edudx.com
● mathew.heersche@edudx.com
Our consultants will maintain confidentiality throughout the process.
“Looking ahead, the Board is confident this transition presents an opportunity to welcome a leader who will bring new perspectives, complementary strengths and additional talents to further advance our mission. Saint Philomena is a thriving school with a clear sense of purpose, an outstanding administration, a talented faculty and staff, a deeply engaged and supportive community, strong governance, a solid financial position, and an excellent reputation. These strengths position us to attract an exceptional Head of School who will lead the next chapter of our school's journey while honoring the values and traditions that make Saint Philomena such a special community.”
- Rhonda Landers, Board of Trustees Chair