Head Of School At Mount St. Dominic In Caldwell To Retire

CALDWELLS, NJ — The longtime head of school at Mount St. Dominic Academy (MSDA) in Caldwell will be retiring from her position in June.

The Catholic college prep school for young women recently announced the upcoming departure of sister Fran Sullivan, who has served for more than 23 years at the Mount.

Her last day will be June 30, administrators said.

MSDA Board of Trustees Chair Madeline Cox-Arleo said a search committee has been identified and an academic search firm will be engaged to hire an interim head of school. A permanent search will follow.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve the Mount community in both a teaching and head of school capacity,” Sullivan said. “I have a deep love and respect for the Mount, our mission, our 129-year legacy, and the opportunities we present to those who walk these halls.”

Sullivan said she will cherish 42 years of memories, lifelong friendships and experiences, and that the school will always hold “a very special place” in her heart.

Read her full message to the community here.

“Sister Fran has dedicated most of her life to the Mount, and our broader community,” said sister Luella Ramm, prioress of the Sisters of St. Dominic in Caldwell.

“We are so appreciative of her calm, steady leadership and her accomplishments as the Mount has grown over the past 23 years,” Ramm said.

School administrators offered the following background about Sullivan’s contributions to the community:

“Sullivan originally joined the Mount as a teacher in 1983 when the school had a significantly smaller footprint. During her tenure as Head of School beginning in 1998, the school built a separate athletic center, established the Doris M. Byrne Performing Arts Center, expanded the Library Media Center, renovated the science labs, and designated both a Fine Arts and Innovation Center. The academic programs have expanded to include a large selection of AP classes and unique opportunities such as Robotics, and the Mount is the only all-girls school in the area to offer the L.E.O. Program focused on entrepreneurship.”

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