Catholic Transcript Online

HAMDEN – Sister Sheila O’Neill will be president of Sacred Heart Academy, and Sister Maureen Flynn will be the school’s principal starting July 1.

Current Principal Sister Colleen Smith will become the vocation director for the United States Province of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the order that operates Sacred Heart Academy.

The administrative change is being made as a result of suggestions by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges; Independent School Management, an agency dedicated to the advancement of school management; as well as discussion among the faculty, staff and advisory board members.

Sister Sheila, a 1971 graduate of Sacred Heart, will be responsible for overall management of the institution and for financial, development and board-related functions. Sister Maureen, who graduated 10 years behind Sister Sheila, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school.

Sister Sheila taught math at a Sacred Heart Private School in the Bronx., N.Y., and Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis, Mo., before serving as principal of Cor Jesu for 16 years. During those years, Sister Sheila expanded enrollment, reorganized the Mission Advancement Office and oversaw a $5-million expansion project. She is currently in her third year as head of mission advancement for the United States Province of her order.

Sister Sheila holds a master’s degree in theology from Fordham University and a master’s degree in secondary school administration,as well as a doctorate in educational leadership from St. Louis University.

Sister Maureen taught at Blessed Sacrament School in Hamden; Our Lady of Loreto in Pittsburgh, Pa.; and for 16 years at Cor Jesu, where she also was the  dean of students and then was assistant principal. She is finishing her third year as principal of Our Lady of Pompeii School in New York City.

Sister Maureen earned master’s degrees in secondary math from Webster University in St. Louis and in administration from Fordham University.

Sister Maureen Martin, provincial, said that “both sisters embody the mission of the school and will guide Sacred Heart with faith, foresight and the leadership needed to meet the goals” of the school.