Announcing Lucy Goldstein as St. Catherine’s next Head of School

Following a national search that began with more than 300 candidates, we are honored to announce the appointment of Lucy Whittle Goldstein as St. Catherine’s next Head of School, effective July 1, 2027. 
A comprehensive national search led us to an exceptionally talented leader who embodies the intellectual courage, curiosity and moral fortitude we seek to instill in our girls. Lucy is uniquely prepared to embrace and honor St. Catherine’s traditions and Episcopal values while guiding us into the future. 
A lifelong educator with more than 25 years of experience, Lucy currently serves as Assistant Head for Strategic Initiatives and Dean of Faculty at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. 
You may read more in the June 2026 announcement from Lane H. Sanderson ’91, Chair of St. Catherine’s Board of Governors. 

A Message from Lucy Goldstein

Dear St. Catherine's Community,
I am profoundly honored to have been selected as your next Head of School. From the moment I stepped onto the Green on a hot and beautiful May afternoon, I experienced the particular magic of St. Catherine's - the crackle and buzz of girls of all ages laughing, playing, learning, and growing - and I felt deeply and immediately connected to the mission of the school. I felt that same connection each time I engaged with members of your community: a sense of a shared vision for excellence that is rooted in one hundred thirty years of this school's remarkable story.
My career in schools has been built on the conviction that education is most powerful when it attends to the mind, heart, and spirit of each child - her confidence, her resilience, and her sense of responsibility to the people around her. In a wonderful twist of fate, one of my grandmothers and two of my aunts attended St. Catherine's, and I grew up understanding, even before I could fully articulate it, that a school like St. Catherine’s shapes not just minds but character and souls. My time in Episcopal schools has only deepened that belief. A school community, at its best, should send students into the world with a fierce commitment to the wellbeing of all. I believe St. Catherine's does this in a powerful and distinctive way, and I look forward to discovering the many ways girls grow here to be ethical, courageous, and joyful leaders.
As I prepare to join you, my first and most important job will be to listen to students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumnae. The wisdom and spirit of this community are its greatest assets, and I intend to learn from it every day. I cannot wait to experience firsthand the traditions and stories that make St. Catherine's so singular, and to build together on its exceptional foundation, led so ably by Cindy Trask and the Board of Governors. Jeremy and I, and our daughter Jane, are eager to become a part of this community's life. 
I look forward to meeting you soon.
Warmly, 
Lucy Whittle Goldstein
Looking Ahead: The 2026-2027 School Year
The timing of this announcement provides a long runway for a smooth transition. Cindy Trask will continue to lead St. Catherine’s throughout 2026-2027, and we look forward to opportunities next year to thank her for her outstanding leadership. We also look forward to Lucy visiting campus this fall, when the community will have opportunities to meet her and her family.

Shaping the Future of St. Catherine’s

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  • Head of School Search

In January 2026, Head of School Cindy Trask announced that the end of the 2026-2027 school year will conclude her tenure as Head of St. Catherine’s School after six years in the role. 
Cindy’s generous and thoughtful 18 month timeline empowered St. Catherine’s to both conduct a comprehensive, nationwide search for St. Catherine’s 13th Head of School and benefit from an extensive transition period. 
St. Catherine’s is exceptionally well-positioned for the future, thanks in large part to Cindy’s outstanding leadership. We look forward to opportunities in 2026-2027 to thank her for her service.

Search Committee

The committee is intentionally composed of a group representing current and past parents, alumnae, faculty and voices from our brother school, St. Christopher’s. The committee represents a wide range of perspectives and a shared commitment to St. Catherine’s mission and future.

  • Henry Broaddus - President, Episcopal Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia (CSDV)
  • Marjorie Childress - Board member, P ’32
  • Jill Davenport ’88 - Head of School Search Committee Chair, Board Vice Chair, P ’17, ’19
  • Pontus Hiort - St. Catherine’s Dean of Faculty
  • Elizabeth Jennings ’81 - Board Emerita, P ’13, ’15, ’20 
  • Mason Lecky - Head of School, St. Christopher’s School, P ’30
  • Cathy McGehee - Board member, former St. Catherine's faculty, P ’09, ’13
  • The Rev. Edward O. Miller, Jr. - Chair, CSDV Board of Trustees
  • Matt Palmer - Board member, P ’27, ’30, ’32
  • Deep Patel - Board member, P ’25, ’28
  • Lane Sanderson ’91 - Board Chair, former St. Catherine's staff, P ’21, ’25
  • The Rev. Dr. Dorothy White - CSDV Trustee, former St. Catherine’s chaplain
6001 Grove Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23226
804-288-2804
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St. Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.