Emily Benni Named Principal of Our Lady of the Elms School

We are pleased to announce that Emily Benni, M.Ed., will join Our Lady of the Elms School as Principal.

As the Elms looks toward the future, Emily brings more than 18 years of K–12 education experience and more than 8 years of educational leadership experience. Her background in instructional leadership, faculty development, curriculum, school culture, admissions, accreditation, and community engagement will help guide Elms as we continue to strengthen the student experience and advance our mission of developing women leaders.

Emily most recently served as Principal of Hinckley Preparatory Academy, where she led academic programming, faculty and staff development, school operations, enrollment initiatives, student support, and community partnerships.

Interim President, Dr. Caryl Hess '74 shared, "Mrs. Benni is deeply committed to creating a supportive environment where students and faculty can thrive, developing the next generation of women leaders, and building strong partnerships with families. Her positivity and enthusiasm are infectious, and we are excited to welcome Emily to Our Lady of the Elms as we look toward the school’s next chapter."

A particularly meaningful part of Emily’s professional background is the eight years she spent at Magnificat High School, another all-girls Catholic school. During her time there, she served as a teacher, executive functioning instructor, and parent engagement coordinator. This experience gave her a strong understanding of how an all-girls environment can help students develop confidence, strengthen their voices, pursue academic excellence, and grow into capable leaders.

Emily also served as an English teacher and curriculum coordinator at Lake Ridge Academy, further developing her experience in independent school education, college-preparatory academics, curriculum development, and teacher support.

Throughout her career, Emily has focused on strengthening instruction, supporting educators, cultivating positive school cultures, and building meaningful partnerships with students and families. Her experience with differentiated instruction, restorative practices, executive functioning, parent engagement, accreditation, and school improvement will support the Elms as we build upon our traditions while preparing students for the opportunities ahead.

Emily holds a Master of Education in Transformational Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in English. She also holds an Ohio Principal License for Grades 5–12 and is an OTES 2.0-credentialed teacher evaluator.

Mrs. Benni shared, “I am honored to join the Elms and become part of a community with such a rich tradition of academic excellence, faith, and empowering young women. Throughout my career as both an educator and school leader, I have believed that every student deserves to be known, challenged, and inspired to discover her unique gifts. An all-girls education provides an extraordinary opportunity to cultivate confidence, leadership, intellectual curiosity, and compassion in an environment where young women are encouraged to reach their fullest potential. I look forward to partnering with our exceptional faculty, staff, students, and families to build upon The Elms' strong legacy while fostering a culture where every girl feels supported, valued, and prepared to make a meaningful impact in the world.”



We look forward to welcoming Emily and working alongside her as the Elms enters its next chapter. Members of our community will have opportunities to meet her in the coming weeks as we prepare for the 2026–2027 academic year and begin the search for the School President. 

Please join us in warmly welcoming Emily Benni to Our Lady of the Elms School.