Mary Elizabeth Grimes Shares How Marian Middle School Is Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Through Education

“Middle school is a pivotal time in which girls find their voice, learn what a leader is, learn how to advocate for themselves and others, and learn the value of hard work. Because we’re so closely attuned to our students, we’re able to immediately see if a student is struggling, or conversely, excelling beyond her peers.” -Mary Elizabeth Grimes.

Marian Middle School successfully provides the balance of a challenging curriculum, mental health wellness, and academic support to its students. By the numbers, last year 100% of Marian’s alumnae in high school graduated, and 93% went on to post-secondary programs – both rates vastly exceed their national peers. Click here to read more about how they do it.

Dr. Carla Haith Selected As New Mother Caroline Academy Head of School

The MCA Board of Directors is happy to announce Dr. Carla Haith has been selected as the newest Mother Caroline Academy Head of School, effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Haith stands out as a highly seasoned educational leader within the Greater Boston region. With an impressive track record spanning over two decades, she brings a wealth of experience from both the public and independent school sectors. She has held teaching roles at Mattahunt Elementary School in Boston and The Chestnut Hill School. Currently, she holds a leadership role as the Head of Lower School at Dedham Country Day School (DCD), where she oversees 15 direct reports serving 156 Lower School students.

Dr. Haith has a profound passion for educating young girls and is highly motivated by the mission of Mother Caroline, having grown up across the street from the school. Read the full news release here.

Mel Bride to Become the New Executive Director of The San Miguel School of Providence

The Board of Directors of the San Miguel School recently promoted the current Director of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships, Mel Bride, to the top role at the school effective July 1. Current Executive Director, John Wolf, who has led the school for seven years, will remain on staff in a part-time role focused primarily on development and donor stewardship.

“We are very excited to have a school and community leader of Mel’s caliber stepping up into this role in our mission. She is an amazing coach and communicator with a deep commitment to the advancement of the young men entrusted to our care and we are grateful to have her ‘taking the helm’ in 2024.” said Wolf. Bride, a lifelong educator, joined San Miguel in 2019 and led the school through its successful $6M Star Campaign. “We are incredibly lucky to have Mel taking on the Executive Director role at this point in the school’s history. In her five years, Mel has proven herself to be an effective fundraiser, fantastic relationship builder, and student-centered educator committed to nurturing a positive school culture. The board unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed her candidacy.” said Kim Butler, San Miguel’s Board Chair. “And retaining John is a dream come true. His commitment to this mission has been unwavering through some very challenging times.”

Mel graduated from Colby College and earned her Master’s degree from Middlebury College. No stranger to Rhode Island, having lived in Barrington, Mel worked at Save The Bay and The Gordon School. Mel has served in numerous leadership capacities at independent schools in the northeast including Tabor Academy and Dublin School. Mel lives in New Bedford with her husband and serves on the boards of several youth-serving organizations there.

The San Miguel School, a Lasallian middle school for boys, has served young men from underserved communities in Providence for over thirty years and is fortunate to have over four hundred graduates.