Head of School
Holy Child Academy Appoints Next Head of School: Dr. Rebecca A. Kellich, currently Associate Head of School, will lead the institution
Holy Child Academy in Drexel Hill, an independent Catholic school serving children from age 2 through 8th grade, has announced the appointment of Dr. Rebecca A. Kellich as its next Head of School, effective July 1, 2023.
Dr. Kellich, who currently serves as Associate Head of School, will succeed Margaret Fox-Tully, who will conclude a successful seven-year tenure as HCA’s head at the end of this school year.
“The Board of Trustees could not be more excited to have Rebecca as our next leader,” said Tom McGrath, board chair. “She’s impressed us enormously with her intelligence, hard work, creativity, and strong vision for the future. We have the highest confidence that she'll be an outstanding head.”
Dr. Kellich, a resident of Havertown, joined Holy Child Academy in 2017 as its Director of Admissions; in 2018 she was promoted to Director of the Middle School, and in 2020 she was elevated to Associate Head of School. Prior to joining Holy Child, Dr. Kellich worked as a counselor in the School District of Philadelphia. She holds a doctorate in education from Temple University and an undergraduate degree from St. Joseph’s University.
“I am deeply honored to be named the next Head of School at Holy Child Academy, Drexel Hill. One learns very quickly how special the HCA community is and I have been blessed to be a part of it for the last six years. In that time, we made tremendous progress in advancing our programming and innovating the student experience. I am eager to continue this important work in collaboration with the faculty and staff, students, parents, the Board of Trustees, and the alumni and friends of Holy Child.
I am grateful to the Steering Committee for their work in the selection process and to Margaret Fox-Tully for her mentorship. I look forward to continuing to live the mission and vision of Cornelia Connelly and the spirit of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus as we head into the next chapter of Holy Child Academy’s history.”
McGrath said the board conducted an in-depth search for a successor to Fox-Tully, who has overseen increases in enrollment and fundraising during her tenure while keeping the school operating in person during the COVID pandemic. A search committee considered more than a dozen candidates before recommending Dr. Kellich, whose appointment was unanimously approved by the full board.
Founded in 1927, Holy Child Academy's current enrollment is 173 students. Its program is rooted in the educational and spiritual tradition of Cornelia Connelly, foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus; its students come from a wide variety of faith backgrounds.
Academically, the school is highly regarded for its small class sizes, innovative STEAM lab, and Next Step program, which prepares middle school students to excel in elite high schools.
Holy Child Academy is part of the Holy Child Network of Schools, a confederation of nine educational institutions across the country. The network also includes the Holy Child School at Rosemont.
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