FALL RIVER—Two veteran Catholic educators have been named to leadership positions in the Diocese of Fall River Catholic Schools Office.

Denise M. Peixoto, currently principal of St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro, and Sandra Drummey, now principal of Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton, have been appointed Assistant Superintendents of Catholic Schools for the diocese, effective July 1, 2016.

The appointments were announced Thursday, April 7, by Fall River Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Griffin.

Peixoto and Drummey will succeed Dr. Donna Boyle and Louise Kane, the current Assistant Superintendents of Schools, who will both retire at the end of the June.

The responsibilities of the assistant superintendents include providing leadership and support for the 22 Catholic schools in the Fall River Diocese in a wide range of areas involving Catholic identity, academic achievement, student affairs, marketing, finances and enrollment.

“In today’s environment, traditional roles of school leaders in academic and spiritual matters are now extended to include leadership in promoting, sustaining and financially strengthening Catholic schools of excellence,” said Griffin. ”Our new assistant superintendents bring much expertise and will work closely with our principals and heads of schools in all of these dimensions.”

Peixoto, Denise

Peixoto has served the past 20 years as principal of St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro. She is chair of the Mathematics Committee of the diocese and has been a member of the Diocesan Curriculum Committee Religion Committee and Professional Development Committee. In addition, she has served several times as Visiting Committee Chair on behalf of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). She earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley College in Boston.

Drummey, Sandra

Drummey has been principal of Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton for the past three years. Before coming to Taunton, she spent 11 years as a special education teacher, vice-principal and director of Special Education at St. Catherine of Sienna School in Norwood, Mass. Drummey is a member of the Diocesan Religion Standards Committee and is active in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) initiatives for the diocese. She is certified in Special Education and holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Boston College.

In comments on their appointments, Peixoto and Drummey both expressed enthusiasm about their new positions.

“I am looking forward to this new endeavor, hoping that my collaboration with and support for the wonderful principals and heads of school across the Fall River Diocese will help to strengthen and sustain Catholic education here,” Peixoto explained. “I am excited to have the opportunity to use the experience I’ve gained as a Catholic school principal in any way that will benefit our schools’ administrators, teachers, students and families.”

Noting that she “loves Catholic education,” Drummey said she feels “truly blessed to be given the opportunity to work with Dr. Griffin, Denise Peixoto, everyone at the Catholic Education Center and within the Diocese of Fall River. It is my hope and prayer that Denise and I will continue the wonderful work of our present assistant superintendents, Donna Boyle and Louise Kane.”

The search process for the new assistant superintendents involved administrators and directors in the Diocesan Catholic Schools Office and input from candidates’ parish pastors, school pastors and other school professionals.

At the conclusion of the process, Griffin said he conferred with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., on the choices of the Diocesan of Catholic Schools Office for the positions and that the Bishop offered his support for their appointments.

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