Isabelle Pinard
Managing Editor

Newly appointed Schools of the Sacred Heart president Ann Marie Krejcarek will begin her tenure on July 1, succeeding retiring director of schools Gordon Sharafinski.

“I’m delighted in the choice of Dr. Krejcarek (crate-CZAR-ick) because I think professionally and personally she is an ideal fit for the school and community at this time,” Sharafinski said.

A search advisory committee comprised of deans, faculty and parents from all four schools provided feedback and input on the candidates, but the final decision was made by the Board of Trustees.

“I think it was wonderful how they decided to include us in the process and how they were very transparent because it was not required,” theology teacher Kate McMichael, who was part of the search advisory committee, said.

Krejcarek received her doctorate from Columbia University, and was most recently headmaster at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, Fla.

“She has contributed to our school in so many ways,” Carlos Barroso, Saint Andrew’s media and social communications director, said. “When I think of her, I think of a cheerleader and engineer who can make quick decisions and always has the energy to go on.”

Krejcarek helped St. Andrew’s gain an International Baccalaureate World School designation as well as receive membership in the exclusive Round Square Organization, according to Barroso. The International Baccalaureate World School is a nonprofit education foundation, motivated by its mission to focus on three programs for students aged 3 to 19. The organization works with 3,340 schools in 141 countries.

Round Square is a worldwide association of schools, sharing a common goal of academic excellence and to personal development and responsibility.

“Krejcarek has taught positions from physics teacher to the head of school and was a part of the biggest capital growth for the Saint Andrew’s School,” Barroso said.

“Krejcarek supervised the planning, design and construction of science and athletic facilities and an Olympic-sized pool complex at St. Andrew’s while managing the school’s budget. She completed these buildings over a course of three years with no project exceeding its initial budget by more than 1.5 percent.

“An education should provide enough for success for children to feel safe and enough challenges to help them realize their potential and strive to meet it,” Krejcarek said. “Our children are our future, and as educators we assume a particular responsibility to prepare them for theirs.”