Dear Saint Philomena School Community,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am writing to share important news regarding the leadership of Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart.

After thoughtful discernment, Brian Cordeiro has accepted a call to serve as the next Executive Director of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the United States and Canada in September 2027. We are immensely proud that he has been chosen for this significant role, which will support and strengthen Sacred Heart education across North America.

Brian has led Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart with vision, faith, and an unwavering commitment to our mission. Under his leadership, our school has strengthened its academic program, deepened its Catholic and Sacred Heart identity, and fostered a vibrant community where students are known and valued as individuals, nurtured in their faith, and inspired to use their gifts in service of others. Through his strategic leadership and steadfast dedication, Saint Philomena School has been exceptionally well positioned for continued success, and we are deeply grateful for his many contributions.

Brian will continue to serve as Head of School throughout the 2026-2027 academic year, ensuring continuity of leadership while partnering closely with the Board of Trustees to support a thoughtful and seamless transition to his successor.

While leadership transitions naturally bring change, they also create meaningful opportunities. Brian's appointment reflects not only his exceptional gifts as a leader but also the strength, reputation, and vitality of Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart. His leadership has established a strong foundation upon which the next Head of School can build.

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.

To guide this important transition, the Board has established a five-member Head of School Search Committee, chaired by Trustee Emeritus and former Board Chair John Bohan and comprised of Trustees representing a broad range of experience and perspectives. Working on behalf of the Board, the Committee has already begun its planning and preparation, recognizing that a successful search is grounded in a thoughtful, well-defined process.

The Board of Trustees has engaged Educational Directions, a nationally recognized executive search firm with extensive experience recruiting Heads of School for independent Catholic schools, including many within the Sacred Heart Network. Working in partnership with the Board, the Committee will oversee the search process, establish the governance framework, engage stakeholders across our community, evaluate candidates, and ultimately recommend a finalist to the Board of Trustees for appointment.

Our goal is to conduct a search that is thoughtful, transparent, inclusive, and firmly rooted in the mission and values of Saint Philomena School and Sacred Heart education. We will share opportunities for community engagement and updates on the search process throughout the coming months, as it is important that our entire community embraces our next Head of School.

Although the process is in its early stages, a search of this nature typically follows a well-established timeline. We anticipate beginning initial recruitment and candidate screening this fall, identifying a group of finalists, conducting finalist interviews, and selecting our next Head of School in early 2027. This timeline will provide several months for a comprehensive and collaborative transition before the new Head assumes leadership in September 2027. Throughout the 2026–2027 school year, Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart will continue its important work without interruption. Brian and the entire leadership team remain fully committed to advancing the school's mission and building upon the many successes achieved over the past eleven years.

The Board is committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition that upholds our mission, preserves the momentum we have built, and positions Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart for continued success. Parents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends can be confident that the school remains exceptionally well positioned, with outstanding leadership, a dedicated faculty and staff, and a clear vision for the future.

I invite our entire Saint Philomena School community to join the Board of Trustees in congratulating Brian on this well-deserved opportunity and thanking him for his continued leadership and steadfast commitment to our school throughout the coming year. While he will not assume his new responsibilities until September 2027, we wanted to share this news well in advance to provide our community with ample time to prepare for this transition, celebrate Brian's extraordinary leadership and contributions, and thoughtfully undertake the search for Saint Philomena School's next Head of School.

Brian’s letter to the community is linked below. For additional context on the transition, please refer to the Leadership Transition information. Further, a dedicated page will be added to the school website in the coming week, providing another resource to keep our community informed and engaged throughout this transition.

Thank you for your continued support of Saint Philomena School of the Sacred Heart and our shared mission. With faith in God's providence and confidence in the strength of our community, we look forward to this next chapter with optimism, gratitude, and great excitement.