Head of School

Portsmouth, Rhode Island | Position begins July 1, 2027

Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart (the “School”) 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.

Founded in 1953 by the Faithful Companions of Jesus in the Diocese of Providence, Saint Philomena School has evolved into a widely recognized Catholic, independent, Sacred Heart school serving more than 450 students from preschool through Grade
8. Today, the School is a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, joining 25 Catholic schools across the United States and Canada committed to educating young people through the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education.

The School's mission provides a clear and compelling foundation for the educational experience; to foster the courage and confidence of children to discover, develop and use their God-given gifts and talents to transform the world for good. Saint Philomena School seeks to educate the whole person: heart, mind, body, and spirit. Its Catholic, Sacred Heart identity is woven throughout the life of the School and informs how students learn, how adults relate to one another, and how the community understands its responsibility to the wider world.

The next Head will inherit a school with considerable momentum and a strong foundation. The Board of Trustees assumed governance of the School and its non‑profit corporation while orchestrating the School’s simultaneous acquisition of the 26-acre waterfront campus in 2021. At the same time Saint Philomena School formally joined the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. In 2023, the School launched a new strategic vision designed to guide its development toward its 75th anniversary and beyond.

The next Head will have the opportunity to build on this foundation and help define Saint Philomena School's next chapter. The leader will work closely with the Board, faculty, staff, families, alumni, and Sacred Heart Network to strengthen the School's academic program, deepen its mission, support faculty excellence, sustain enrollment and financial health, and ensure that Saint Philomena School remains dedicated to preparing our students for lives rooted in our values of faith, intellect, service, community and wisdom.

For an educator drawn to the formation of children and the ministry of Catholic education in the context of the Sacred Heart education, Saint Philomena School offers the opportunity to lead with faith, purpose, excellence and steadfast personal commitment to the mission.

Head of School - Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart

The next Head of School will assume the position on July 1, 2027. Saint Philomena School has appointed a search committee and engaged Educational Directions, a national executive search firm, to assist with the search.

Please direct inquiries, nominations, and application materials in confidence to:

• Dr. Mathew Heersche —
• Dr. Dawn Nichols —
• Mr. Jay Underwood —

Candidates should express their interest as soon as possible and speak with the consultants before submitting application materials. Electronic submission in a single combined PDF is expected. Each candidate should provide:

All inquiries will be held in confidence.