Sacred Heart Academy is happy to announce that Mrs. Kelly M. Lanza has accepted the position of Principal, effective July 1, 2021. Her proven leadership experience, strong connection to and trust in her Catholic faith, and her extensive background as a teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal at Catholic high schools will make it possible for Lanza to hit the ground running at Sacred Heart Academy.
Lanza comes to Sacred Heart from Saint Martin de Porres Catholic School and West Catholic Preparatory High School but also spent many years in leadership at Cardinal O’Hara High School, all located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lanza’s twenty-two-year career has been almost entirely in Archdiocesan schools. She taught junior high and high school English and served as an Assistant Principal for Student Affairs and Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs before leading both West Catholic Preparatory High School and Saint Martin de Porres Catholic School as Principal.
“Given the depth of Mrs. Lanza’s experience in the classroom, and in so many varying administrative leadership roles, I have great faith that she will be a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative leader for our faculty, staff, and students at the Academy,” said President Dr. Karen McNay. “She sees the importance of data-driven instructional practices as well as the need for social and emotional programming to address the needs of our community. Mrs. Lanza has partnered with key stakeholders for strategic planning for school improvement goals and metrics in areas like academic performance, retention, diversity, and inclusion, and staff professional development, and overseen the implementation of a successful virtual learning environment over the last year. Most importantly, Mrs. Lanza leans on and embraces her Catholic faith to inform her decisions and actions. She possesses the qualities and experience to lead Sacred Heart into the future.”
Lanza’s passion is leading and serving as a Catholic educator.
"Never before has Catholic education been so critical in our world. Sacred Heart Academy's core values, coupled with the tradition of preparing young women to lead the world of tomorrow, are what captured my heart,” Lanza said. “I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, families, and young women to continue Sacred Heart Academy's mission to develop diverse, successful, globally-minded young ladies united in Christ's vision that 'with God all things are possible'."
Lanza holds a Bachelor of Science degree in English and Education from Saint Joseph’s University and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership K-12 from Cabrini University. She is an accomplished musician and has performed throughout the Philadelphia region as a singer and pianist. Lanza brings with her to Louisville her two children: Louis (12) and Ella (8), and her husband Lou, an accomplished jazz vocalist.
Thank you to our search committee who worked diligently with search firm Carney, Sandoe & Associates:
- Cheryl Havens – Chair, Director of Human Resources
- Amy Olson – Director of Mission Effectiveness
- Debbie Jones Hudson ‘99 – SHA Alumnae, Faculty
- Dr. Michael Bratcher – Sacred Heart Model School Principal
- Tricia Forde – Sacred Heart Model School IB Coordinator
- Lauren Hitron ‘99 – Director of the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute
- Ben Fultz – SHS Board of Trustees Member, Current Parent
- Callie Wall ‘05 – President of the SHA Alumnae Board
- Craig Heuser – SHA Faculty
- Rachel Corbett ‘08 – SHA Alumnae
- Crystal Kelly ‘04 – SHA Alumnae
We look forward to welcoming Mrs. Lanza to campus and are very confident she will be an outstanding leader at Sacred Heart Academy.