Head of School - Lowell Catholic (PreK-12) in the Boston Metro

Contact Patrick Slattery at pjslattery for the full position profile

July 1, 2027 Start Date

Lowell Catholic is a Preschool through Grade 12 Catholic school located in Lowell, Massachusetts, serving approximately 700 students and families from across the Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire.

Lowell Catholic enters its next chapter from a position of mission strength and institutional opportunity. Rooted in the Catholic and Xaverian traditions, Lowell Catholic combines strong academics, a deep commitment to faith formation, and a welcoming environment that reflects the diversity and vitality of the broader Lowell community. The school’s location in one of New England’s most historically rich and culturally diverse cities provides unique opportunities to serve families seeking a values-based education within an accessible and community-oriented environment.

Lowell’s continued revitalization, proximity to Boston, and growing network of educational, healthcare, and business partners position the school well for future collaboration and growth.

Following nearly 25 years of dedicated leadership from its retiring Head of School, Lowell Catholic enters this transition with a strong sense of mission, institutional stability, and community commitment. Stakeholders consistently describe Lowell Catholic as a school with a compelling story to tell, one grounded in opportunity, service, faith, and the transformational impact of education in an urban and multicultural community.

The school’s mission resonates strongly with alumni, donors, and philanthropic partners who recognize the importance of sustaining vibrant Catholic education in communities like Lowell.

The next leader of Lowell Catholic will have the opportunity to:

• Inherit a dedicated faculty and staff, a committed Board of Trustees, strong ties to the Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools network, and a school community deeply invested in the mission of Catholic education
• Bolster enrollment by articulating a compelling story, one grounded in opportunity, service, faith, and the transformational impact of education in an urban and multicultural community
• Strengthen institutional advancement and philanthropic support, including partnerships with Boston-area foundations, donors and community organizations
• Lead long-term planning for campus improvements, facilities stewardship, and athletic infrastructure that enhance the student experience and strengthen enrollment and community pride
• Build upon Lowell Catholic's strong foundation, recent self-study, and NEASC re-accreditation to guide the school's next stage of growth and institutional maturity in partnership with the Board of Trustees
• Further articulate the school’s value proposition to current and prospective families.

At the same time, the school faces many of the realities common to Catholic independent schools nationally. Enrollment has remained generally stable over the past decade, fluctuating between approximately 680 and 720 students, but sustaining and ideally growing enrollment will require continued strategic focus and creativity. The next Head of School must be an energetic ambassador for Lowell Catholic, working closely with the Director of Enrollment and administrative teams to communicate the school’s strengths to a broader audience while recognizing the financial constraints many families face.

Expanding financial aid resources and increasing donor and foundation support will be essential to ensuring accessibility and long-term sustainability. The school has also grown from a single-building campus to a multi-building PreK-12 community over the past decade. As with many growing institutions, this evolution presents opportunities to further strengthen collaboration, communication, and a shared sense of identity across divisions and departments, fostering an increasingly unified, one Lowell Catholic culture.

The school also seeks a leader who recognizes the importance of attracting, developing, and retaining talented faculty and staff in an increasingly competitive educational labor market. Similarly, working with the academic administrative team to strengthen Lowell Catholic’s academic…