Shannon Bland named Head of School

It is with great excitement that Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. RaeNell Houston announces Shannon Bland has accepted the Head of School position at St. Thérèse Academy effective, today, April 1, 2019. Bland will serve as the founding head of school of St. Thérèse Academy, the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ new school for children with learning differences and exceptional needs.
 
“I am delighted to welcome Mrs. Bland to the Archdiocese of New Orleans,” said Dr. Houston. “I have confidence that with her gifts and leadership, St. Thérèse Academy will grow and flourish as a place where students are provided personalized instruction and are recognized for their God-given talents.”
 
A native of the New Orleans area, Bland has over 30 years of experience in education, almost all in Catholic schools. She returns to the New Orleans area after most recently serving as principal of Cathedral School in Natchez, Mississippi. She holds a Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling from Loyola University of New Orleans, a Master of Science in Educational Administration from the University of Scranton, and a Masters of Education in Dyslexia Therapy from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University and is a graduate of the Academy of the Sacred Heart here in New Orleans.
Away from the classroom, Bland is constantly learning through various continuing education programs and fellowships and through membership in a multitude of professional education organizations including the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).
 
“I am so excited and humbled to be given the opportunity to be a part of an incredible institution that will teach as Jesus did,” said Bland. “As Jesus demonstrated a variety of methods in his teaching, so will we as we fulfill the mission of St. Thérèse Academy.”
 
St. Thérèse Academy, a school for exceptional learners, will open in Fall 2019 to provide a Catholic education for students with exceptional needs and/or learning differences who prefer to learn in an exclusive educational setting. To apply or learn more visit https://sttheresenola.org/.