St Rose of Lima School community members learned through a letter on April 28 that Colleen Therese Smith has been named as the school’s new principal. She will officially start July 1.

Mary Maloney, the current principal of the school, said she believes Sister Colleen “will be an excellent principal for many reasons.”

Mrs Maloney is set to step into the role of president of Immaculate High School in Danbury. She joined the St Rose School faculty in 2000 as a middle school language arts teacher for grades 5-8, and became the school’s principal in 2003.

“The staff, I think, are pleased that a decision has been made so quickly,” Mrs Maloney said. “They are looking forward to meeting her.”

The letter announcing the appointment of Sr Colleen was sent by the Diocese of Bridgeport Superintendent of Schools Mary Walsh, and read in part, “Today I am happy to announce that Bishop Frank J. Caggiano and I are appointing [Sr Colleen] as the next principal of St Rose of Lima School.”

According to the letter, Sr Colleen is a native of St Louis, Mo. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in English from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, her master of arts degree in theological studies from Providence College, her master of science degree in educational administration and supervision from Manhattan College, and she is a certified teacher and administrator.

She currently serves as the vocations director of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hamden.

The letter continues, “Prior to being asked to assume her vocation ministry, Sr Colleen served as a high school principal at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden and as an elementary principal at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic School in Greenwich Village, N.Y. She also served as a teacher of elementary, middle, and high school students.”

According to the announcement, Sr Colleen will be visiting St Rose in late May and early June. 

“I feel both humbled and privileged to be called to serve the community at St Rose of Lima,” Sr Colleen said in an e-mail on Monday, May 5. “I am an ‘educator’ at heart, and I am looking forward to meeting the students, their families, and the faculty and staff of St Rose. I have heard such wonderful things about this community, and I am thrilled to have this opportunity to be a part of St Rose.”

Mrs Maloney said she will assist Sr Colleen with her transition.

“The new principal, Sr Colleen, is very fortunate to be able to work with St Rose School’s dedicated staff, supportive parents, great students, and Monsignor Robert Weiss [pastor of St Rose of Lima Church],” said Mrs Maloney.