Cathedral Preparatory School issued the following announcement on Jan. 13.
On behalf of the Most Reverend, Lawrence T. Persico and the Erie Catholic Preparatory School Board of Directors, we are delighted to announce that Mr. Kevin Smith has been selected as our new President, beginning July 1, 2022. An extensive, national search was conducted by Carney-Sandoe & Associates, and applicants from across the country were considered. Mr. Smith’s successful experience as an administrator, which includes over three decades as a professional educator, set him apart from other candidates. Throughout the interview process, it was clear he was a right fit for the ECPS family.
Smith currently serves Monte Cassino School as its Head of School and Chief Executive Officer. During his 37 years as a professional educator, Kevin has worked in several outstanding private schools. At Monte Cassino, Kevin has led a thriving campus that is home to 780 students and 150 faculty and staff. Under his leadership, the school has become one of the best Catholic schools in our nation. Guided by an ambitious Strategic Plan, Monte Cassino has advanced its mission and enrollment and launched innovative programs to attract underserved students and continues to advance an already excellent academic program.
In addition to leading the school, Kevin is active in school accreditation, leading many site visits and serving on the Accreditation Review Committee for the Independent Schools of the Central States. He also serves on the Advisory Council for the School of Education and Health Sciences at the University of Dayton, his alma mater. Kevin is a Magna cum Laude graduate from the University of Dayton in 1985 and earned his M.Ed. from Bowling Green State University in exercise sciences. While at UD, Kevin served on the Academic Affairs Committee, the Athletic Advisory Committee, the Health Education/Physical Education Club, and was a founding member and officer in the professional education fraternity, Epsilon Delta Upsilon.
Kevin is married to Maria Pace Smith, who works in IT. They have two children, TJ, and Maggie. Away from work, you might find Kevin on his mountain bike, skiing, golfing, reading, or playing with his kids.
“This intensive national search for our next President united our school community as we identified the qualities and attributes desired in our next leader, through a thorough and inclusive process. It also offered us the opportunity to reflect on our collective history as we prepare for a transformational change as a united school community in the Fall of 2022,” Sara Kallner ’93, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, said. “This process led us to reconsider past decisions. Our combined high school will be named Cathedral Preparatory School (Cathedral Prep). Our grade school will continue to be named Mother Teresa Academy. However, our corporate name, currently Erie Catholic Preparatory School, will be changed to Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System to properly honor our 230 year-strong combined high school history, and recognize that our organization consists of both a high school and a grade school. Additionally, we will incorporate orange, blue and black together as our new colors when we consolidate on one campus next fall as the new co-educational Cathedral Preparatory School. Kevin Smith demonstrated to our community that he is the best candidate, as he possesses the experience, qualifications, vision, and history of success to lead our school community to its fullest potential as the leader in the region for an exceptional educational experience. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am thrilled to welcome Kevin to our schools, and look forward to seeing the positive and inspirational impact he has on our community.”
The Board appreciates the over 700 faculty, staff, parents, students, alumni, benefactors, and board members who provided insight and feedback through interviews and group meetings. A special thank you to the search committee, chaired by Tina Cicchetti Donikowski ’77, for devoting countless hours to vetting the candidates. The board also recognizes David C. Slomski ’72 for his leadership and commitment to Cathedral Prep, Villa Maria Academy and Mother Teresa Academy while serving as Interim President, which he will continue to do through June 30, 2022. We were blessed to have his continued guidance through the search process, and we are forever grateful.
We would like to welcome Mr. Smith as our new President. As we move into this new era, we are thankful for God’s abundant blessings, our mission, the faculty, and staff who faithfully carry out this mission, and everyone involved within our exceptional community.”
Original source can be found here.
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