Principal Chosen for Our Lady of Mercy Prep School in Madison

MADISON, CT - Our Lady of Mercy Preparatory Academy (OLM Prep) has announced the selection by the Board of Ann Knowles as principal effective June 1, 2018.

This decision was made upon the recommendation of the hiring committee of OLM Prep, which included the Superintendent of Schools for Madison and the Superintendent of Schools for West Haven.

After reviewing the credentials of more than 20 qualified applicants and interviewing more than 10 of those applicants, the committee unanimously came to the conclusion thatKnowles has the combination of extensive educational experience and innovative entrepreneurial skills which are necessary to lead the OLM Prep students, faculty and staff towards a bright future.

“Ann has a passion for students, and people, and is a talented leader whose greatest strengths are her interpersonal skills and the connections she fosters,” said John Picard, President and Chairman of OLM Prep. “She has the experience and skills to lead our school as we continue to strengthen the traditions of Our Lady of Mercy School of Madison, Connecticut and provide the 66th year of excellent education in a family-friendly, Catholic-based environment.”

“I am extremely excited and humbled to be named the principal of OLM Prep,” Knowles said. “This exciting opportunity allows me to partner with a dynamic parent and community leadership team to create an innovative student-centered school, empowering our students and teachers in learning environments of excellence, spirituality and togetherness.”

Currently as the COO of Reaching Beyond the Classroom, Knowles leads a partnering team focused on school improvement, providing support and coaching to school districts.

OLM Prep Board member Gregg J. Lallier said, “I was especially impressed with her outstanding leadership as a creator and owner of Reaching Beyond the Classroom, a highly-successful and innovative non-profit. Ann has spent her career in education focused on students and helping them live up to their full potential. We know she will bring that same passion and commitment to OLM Prep, and we trust the OLM Prep community will find her an excellent and approachable leader.”

Knowles is a graduate of Boston College, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Psychology, and Sacred Heart University, holding a Master of Arts in Teaching and a 6th Year Degree in Educational Leadership. In addition, she holds her Intermediate Administrator Certification (092) in Connecticut. Ann Knowles and her husband, Patrick, live in Waterford with two of their four children.

“You can expect to see Ann collaborating with our community on a single-focused goal: how to best serve our students,” said OLM Prep Board member Vlad Coric, M.D. “She will continue to nurture a culture of achievement, something she is so deeply passionate about.” Dr. Coric expects Knowles to “bring our OLM Prep community together to celebrate continued school successes and achievements and drive the vision as we move into our next chapter.”

Knowles will now participate in the process of selecting school personnel and teachers for OLM Prep. In addition, she will begin preliminary planning for the transition of OLM Prep to its homes for the 2018-19 school year and beyond.

“In selecting Ann Knowles, I am convinced that we have chosen the person best qualified to lead OLM Prep’s smooth transition as we continue to build upon the history, traditions and excellence that the Our Lady of Mercy School of Madison has provided to our community for the last 65 years. I hope you’ll join me in congratulating her and welcoming her into the OLM Prep family,” concluded Picard.