Meet Our Head of School

Welcome to the Sacred Heart - to our wooded oasis in the heart of Tokyo where students have classrooms, labs, a wonderful gymnasium, and spacious play space, tennis courts, a turf field and access to much more through our on-campus Sacred Heart community.My first visit to our campus was in 1986. I was smitten with a joyful and diverse student body and very kind teachers and staff. A seed was planted, and now I have the privilege to lead our school as we redefine high quality learning and teaching, international mindedness, and mental health and well-being. At our school, these drivers of the Council of International Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges are framed in the context of our Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria.Few schools are so deeply rooted in a time-tested mission that continues after 100 years to be ahead of its time. Consistent with our sister schools across 40 countries, our mission is to educate with love. When our alumni return (and they often do!), it is this essence of their experience that draws them back. Our students are extremely well prepared academically, and learn to work hard, have fun, build community, and to give themselves to others. When these Goals are fueled with love, all belong and are smitten with something special that lasts throughout their lives.Personally, I know this because I am a Sacred Heart graduate of our sister school in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. In Tokyo, the ISSH mission is my life's purpose. I moved to Tokyo in 2023 from the Sacred Heart School of Halifax, (Nova Scotia) where I was the Head of School for 10 years. This experience, along with being a teacher and administrator at Sacred Heart schools from New York to Chicago and San Francisco all contribute to the way we are living into our strategic vision for the International School of the Sacred Heart.I have a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from the University of San Francisco. My Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and secondary teaching certification were both earned at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame where I cheered on the Notre Dame football team. I am a sports enthusiast, and while I ran the NYC Marathon in 1991, I now treasure long walks in Tokyo. Golf remains a passion. I'm loyal to the Golden State Warriors and now bleed orange for the SF Giants and our Tokyo Giants.Thank you for your interest in the International School of the Sacred Heart. While you will learn a great deal from our website, perhaps you, too, will be smitten with the joy and loving kindness that pervades our campus.

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