STAMFORD—The Diocese has announced the principal and school leadership team for The Catholic Academy of Stamford, the newly formed school, which will open its doors in Fall 2017. The four schools that will become the new Catholic Academy of Stamford are Holy Spirit School, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, St. Cecilia School, and Trinity Catholic Middle School.
Ms. Pat Brady, currently principal of St. Thomas Aquinas School in Fairfield has been named Head of School. The announcement was made by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano and Dr. Steven Cheeseman, Superintendent of Catholic Schools.
Natalia Cruz has been named Campus Principal for PreK-Grade 5, and Abbey Camillery has been appointed our Grade 6-8 Campus Principal.
“While Mrs. Cruz and Ms. Camillery came to our Diocese this past year as Principals, each of them has worked under the principal mentorship of Pat Brady,” said Dr. Cheeseman.
“Please join me in welcoming Ms. Brady, Ms. Camillery and Mrs. Cruz to The Catholic Academy of Stamford and praying for their success and the success of teachers and students. All three administrators are creative, innovative, and visionary leaders that are committed to ensuring a strong future for Catholic education in Stamford,” said Dr. Cheeseman.
Reporting to a Board of Directors for our new school, Brady will serve as the chief academic, education and executive office of the Corporation and report to the School Board of Directors to ensure that all orders, resolutions and policies of the Board are carried into effect, said Dr. Cheeseman.
“Pat has served as a member of the Stamford Catholic Education Strategic Planning Committee for the past year and because of that experience, understands the challenges at hand as well as the vision moving forward,” he added.
Pat Brady holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and two Master of Arts Degrees in History and Elementary School Administration. She has devoted her entire professional career to Catholic education; as a teacher for 14 years and a principal for the last 22 years. Ms. Brady currently serves as Principal of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, a pre- kindergarten through eighth grade elementary school in Fairfield, CT, with an enrollment of 400 students and 42 faculty and staff. Under Brady’s administration, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School earned the 2010 National Blue Ribbon of Excellence Award.
Her exemplary leadership has been recognized nationally; having received the Distinguished Principal Award for the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 2007, the National Catholic Education Association’s Dr. Robert J. Kealey Distinguished Principal Award in 2008, as well as being named a National Distinguished Principal by the United States Department of Education in 2008.
She currently resides in the Huntington area of Shelton and is a parishioner of St. Lawrence Church. Brady plans to relocate to the Stamford area.
Abbey Camillery was appointed Principal of Trinity Catholic Middle School in August 2016. Ms. Camillery holds two Master of Arts Degrees, in Adolescent Education and Educating Students with Disabilities. Abbey came to our Diocese with over ten years of experience teaching Catholic middle school and high school aged students, most recently as Junior High Coordinator for a Grade 7-12 Catholic School. In her short time at Trinity Catholic Middle School, Abbey has been instrumental in creating an Innovation Lab and introducing STEM programs to the curriculum. Ms. Camillery resides in Stamford during the week and spends most weekends in Rocky Point, NY where she is a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua Church.
Natalia Cruz was appointed Principal of Our Lady Star of the Sea School in July 2016. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Childhood Education and is currently working towards a dual Masters in Building and District School Leader. Mrs. Cruz came to our Diocese with twelve years of experience teaching in Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York. Mrs. Cruz has been instrumental in building a strong sense of community, especially among the Latino population as she is fluent in Spanish. Mrs. Cruz resides in Bronx, NY with her husband and three children and is a parishioner of St. John Chrysostom Church.
In addition to announcing the new administration, Dr. Cheeseman also announced that the new school name is The Catholic Academy of Stamford.
“Our new name is a derivative of Stamford Catholic Academy which received the highest number of votes in our parent survey. We modified the name so as not to be confused with Stamford Academy, which is a public school in the area. We’re grateful to all who voted and helped us name the school.”
Dr. Cheeseman said parents and community members are invited to meet the new administration and Board of Directors, on Sunday March 19 at 2:00 pm at Trinity Catholic High School.
Under the plan the Holy Spirit School and Our Lady Star of the Seas students will come to St. Cecilia School and Trinity Catholic Middle School beginning in September 2017. Students in PreK-Grade 5 will study on the St. Cecilia campus, and Grades 6-8 will attend classes on the Trinity Middle School campus.
Phase 2 of the plan will begin in the 2018-19 school year with the 6th-8th Grades moving to the new location within the Trinity High School building. The lower grades will remain at the St. Cecilia campus while construction and renovations begin on the Trinity Middle School building with an estimated completion date of September 2020.
For more information visit the website www.catholicschoolsstamford.org
