News at St. Catherine's
Arne Named Head of Middle School
Sharon Arne will join St. Catherine's on July 1 as Head of Middle School.
Sharon Arne will join St. Catherine's as the new Head of Middle School starting July 1.
She is currently the Academic Dean at Stuart Hall School, a grade 5-12 International Day and Boarding Episcopal School in Staunton, Va. Stuart Hall is part of Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia (CSDV) along with St. Catherine’s and St. Christopher’s.
"When I visited the campus in February, I was immediately drawn to the energy and spirit of the School," Arne said. "The girls enthusiastically shared their experiences with me, and the passion of the faculty and staff was very evident, not only in my conversations with them but also in their interactions with each other and the students."
She has served as Academic Dean at Stuart Hall since 2014 with responsibilities for school-wide curriculum development and programming, educational technology, and professional development. She has oversight of daily operations, college counseling, the Learning Center, and hiring, which includes active engagement in teacher growth plans, mentoring, and coaching.
Prior to Stuart Hall, Arne was the Academic Head of School at Lake Mary Preparatory School, a PK-12 International Day and Boarding School in Florida and Director of Academic Affairs and Middle and Upper School Teacher at Fayetteville Academy in North Carolina. She started her education career teaching fifth and sixth grades in Arlington County Schools in Virginia.
She graduated from James Madison University with a B.S. in Middle School Education with a specialization in math and science. Arne earned a Masters in Education: Management and Innovation from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. Throughout her esteemed educational career, she has presented at national conferences, led as Steering Committee Chairs for accreditations in Virginia and Florida, and served on the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) Professional Development Advisory Committee.
"I am delighted to welcome Sharon to St. Catherine’s and eager to see the positive impact of her leadership as she joins our Middle School community,” Head of School Cindy Trask said.
The Search Committee spent countless hours on the process. Arne and the other finalists met with students, faculty, staff, administrators, board members and parents.
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.
