The Sacred Heart School of Montreal One of Canada's oldest independent Catholic schools for girls

Dear Sacred Heart Community,

In late April of this year, Mrs. Brooks, our second longest serving Head of School, announced she would be retiring at the end of this school year. Following Mrs. Brooks’ announcement, the Board of Directors established a Search Committee and Advisory Committee to conduct the search for a new Head of School. These committees were composed of a panel of stakeholders that included members of the Board, representatives of the Society of the Sacred Heart, a representative of the Alumnae Association, a member of the administration and independent individuals with a rich educational background who do not sit on the Board of Directors. In addition, a questionnaire was circulated to all members of the faculty in order to garner their input and comments.

Following an intensive search process, during which several qualified individuals were interviewed for the position, the Board of Directors is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Shawn O’Donnell to the position of Head of School of The Sacred Heart School of Montreal, effective July 1st, 2009.

Mr. O’Donnell began his career as a teacher, later spent eleven (11) years as Head of École Bilingue Notre Dame de Sion, a private bilingual feeder school to Sacred Heart, and spent the last three (3) years as the Director of the Senior School at Selwyn House. He is well known in educational circles and has left an indelible stamp on each of the schools he has served, as well as their students, faculty, parents and broader communities.

He has a degree in Education from the University of New Brunswick and an MBA from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University, and brings over twenty (20) years of experience in independent schools in the Montreal area. As the former Head of École Bilingue Notre Dame de Sion, an elementary school founded by the Sisters of Sion, he has a solid background for the position, with experience in all areas of interest to SHSM - he has led strategic planning processes, fundraising initiatives and facilities expansion, and he has overseen the implementation of the education reform at both Notre Dame de Sion and Selwyn House.

Mr. O’Donnell’s philosophy is one of firm commitment to student achievement and growth, academic excellence, and building strong relationships amongst all stakeholders. The Board of Directors fully supports Mr. O’Donnell’s approach to leadership, and we are confident that he will work tirelessly to fulfill and enrich the SHSM mission while honouring the many traditions that define our great school and educational experience.

A special thank you is extended to the Search and Advisory committees for their dedication and work in moving the search for a new Head of School forward. The Board of Directors endorses the choice of Mr. O’Donnell as Head of School; with his appointment The Sacred Heart School of Montreal joins the ranks of several other Sacred Heart Schools around the world that are led by a male Head of School.

Please join us in welcoming Mr. Shawn O’Donnell. Let us all work together for the future of our daughters and our great school.

The Board of Directors,
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal

Back to Homepage