By Naeisha Rose
Members of the board of trustees at The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica Estates chose Ann O’Hagan-Cordes as the new principal of the all-girls Catholic college preparatory school last week, concluding a three-month search.
The Mary Louis Academy is one of five schools for young women sponsored by The Sisters of St. Joseph, one of the largest orders of Catholic women on Long Island. The school has a 160-year tradition of ministry throughout New York, according to spokeswoman Tara Rogers.
The headquarters for the Sisters of St. Joseph is in Brentwood, L.I.
The school emphasizes intellectual, social, and spiritual growth, which is just one of the reasons O’Hagan-Cordes was selected as the new principal.
O’Hagan-Cordes has a master’s in education from Fordham University, spent the past eight years as an assistant principal at the school and wants to build on the work of former principal S. Kathleen McKinney, who led the school for 21 years.
“In her own words, Ann ‘brings energy, excitement and motivation to lead TMLA with experience, dedication and commitment,’” said Rogers.
The new principal is definitely dedicated to ensuring that the next generation of young women at TMLA continues their education at some of the top universities in the country and New York.
“The Mary Louis Academy is an extraordinary institution,” said O’Hagan-Cordes. “We currently have students at Columbia, Princeton, NYU, Fordham, Notre Dame, Stony Brook and St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn.”
O’Hagan-Cordes also has a personal connection to the school.
“I am an alumna and I am a parent of an alum,” said O’Hagan-Cordes. “I have great pride in being a product of The Mary Louis Academy. So the opportunity to lead the school into the future is overwhelming,” added the 1984 graduate.
“Ann’s personal experience with TMLA as a student, a teacher, and as administrator makes her uniquely suited to her new role as principal,” said Sister Helen Kearney, president of the Sisters of St. Joseph. “The congregation and board have great confidence that Ann, along with the dedicated faculty and staff, will lead TMLA into a vibrant future.”
O’Hagan-Cordes will assume her new post in the fall, according to Rogers.
“I want to help prepare these young women for college and the world, and let them know there is no limitations on what they seek to do,” said O’Hagan-Cordes.
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
