Welcome Elms Interim President & Principal, Dr. Caryl Hess '74
Dear Elms Community –
On behalf of the Our Lady of the Elms Board of Trustees, I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Caryl Hess '74 as Interim School President and Principal, effective July 1.
Dr. Hess, a 1974 Elms graduate and longtime donor to the school, has served on the Our Lady of the Elms Board of Trustees for three years. She retired from Cleveland Clinic as the Executive Director of Cleveland Clinic Academy. Prior to the Clinic, she served as Assistant to the President at Case Western Reserve University and ran an educational leadership consulting firm. Dr. Hess is licensed in the State of Ohio as an academic leader at a non-profit school and, early in her career, taught mathematics at Walsh Jesuit High School. Her interim appointment has been enthusiastically approved by our School Sponsor, Dominican Veritas Ministries, and the Superintendent of Schools for the Cleveland Catholic Diocese.
When asked about her new role, she shared, "Education is a passport to a career, a Dominican education is a passport to the world, and a commitment to the pursuit of truth and justice. I am honored to serve my Elms community."
Dr. Hess has been working closely with school faculty and administration throughout the month of June. Deborah Farquhar Jones retired on June 30, and we thank her for not only her 10 years of service as School President but for her dedication to a smooth leadership transition these past few weeks.
The President Search Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Hess and me, will represent a cross-section of our community, including faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and board members. We are partnering with executive search firm Finding Leaders to assist us in this process and are committed to keeping you informed along the way.
If you are interested in serving on the President Search Committee, please email board@theelms.org or contact me directly.
Thank you for your devotion to the Elms – as a parent, friend, donor or alumnae, your generosity, engagement and opinions are valued. Dr. Hess and I hope to meet many of you at events this fall to celebrate the new school year.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Sarah Crupi '95
Our Lady of the Elms School
Board of Trustees, Chair