Veteran educator Patricia Molloy has been appointed principal of Immaculate Heart Academy by the Archdiocese of Newark.
She is the school’s first lay principal in its 48-year history. From 1960 to 1989, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace and lay faculty staffed the school. Then in 1990, the Apostles of the Sacred Heart, a new community of sisters, took over.
She currently serves as the lead negotiator for the Regional Principals Association of the Archdiocese of Newark and in the past has served on the Archdiocesan School Board and Don Bosco Prep Board of Trustees.
Molloy has been with the school for 34 years, first coming to IHA, the largest private girls’ school in the state, as an English teacher in 1973.
In 1980 she was appointed dean of students, has been an assistant principal and vice principal and was appointed acting principal for a year in 1989 between the two religious leaderships.
The community of sisters has run the school for the past 18 years, but this year they were assigned to other dioceses, opening the way for Molloy to take the reins.
She says that holding such high-ranking positions in the school for so many years has given her plenty of opportunities to learn the ropes.
“I’m familiar with the school,” she said. “I know the families, the alumni, community members, which is a real advantage.”
Although Molloy is excited about the future of the school and has enjoyed being part of its leadership the past few decades, she does miss the close interaction with students and the excitement that comes with teaching.
“I really loved teaching,” she says. “Some of my best memories of IHA were from when I was teaching. The feedback you get from kids can be really affirming and encouraging to you as an educator”
As an all-girls school, Molloy believes that IHA allows girls to mature in ways what wouldn’t be possible in a co-ed high school.
“I have seen first-hand some of the benefits of single-sex education; how young women can learn and grow without some of the big difficult, stresses they might face in a co-ed environment.”
That unique environment also allows for friendships to develop which may not have otherwise. “Girls tend to be more willing to relate to their teachers,” Molloy says. “You get to develop some great friendships working in a school like this. I have women who I taught back in the ’70s who are my friends now, and whose daughters have come to the school.”
Molloy says she does not want to make any sweeping changes in the school, only continue its “very vital and vibrant growth.”
“Over the past 10 years we have expanded the school physically,” she says with excitement. “We’ve become a laptop school. We’ve won numerous awards, academically, athletically, and in all different areas. I really would like to build on that tradition. The school’s almost 50 years old and in the past 20 years we have really established ourselves as an excellent college prep school with good programs, and good athletics.”
Besides welcoming a new principal, there will be several other big changes for IHA in the fall: a new broadcast studio is opening, as well as a new chapel.
Molloy admits that having a lay person in charge will be different for the school, but says that because of her tenure she can provide “continuity of leadership.”
“I think continuity is very stabilizing. It helps the school to grow because you’re not continually trying to reinvent yourself.”
Classes are set to begin Thursday, Sept. 4 and there will be an opportunity for parents to meet the new principal Sept. 9 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in the auditorium.
Megan Burrow's e-mail address is burrow@northjersey.com.
