Holy Angels Academy

One of the premiere secondary school educators in Western New York has been appointed President/Head of School at Holy Angels Academy.

Joan D. Thomas, superintendent of the Orchard Park Central School District since 2005, will take charge of the Catholic school for young women in North Buffalo on July 1, 2010.  Thomas submitted her letter of retirement to the Orchard Park School Board on Sept. 15.  Her retirement will take effect next June.
 
“I am very excited about this new opportunity to help and lead the students, faculty and community of Holy Angels Academy,” Thomas said.  “My goal is to not only teach our young women to value others but also believe in their ability to learn and grow.  My hope is to inspire them to be become life-long learners. I value the wisdom of Mother Teresa who said, ‘God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.’”

The appointment of Thomas is the culmination of a lengthy search designed to build the administrative structure of the school as well as to develop program initiatives which will position Holy Angels Academy as a leading educational setting for young women in Western New York.

“We believe the appointment of Joan Thomas will help us achieve that goal,” said Michael Pratt, chair of the Holy Angels Board of Trustees.  “Joan is recognized throughout Western New York for her ability to bring all segments of an educational community together in a spirit of collaboration and trust.  During her tenure at Orchard Park she has been proactive in establishing the school district to a position of regional excellence.  We know that Joan believes that striving for excellence within a Catholic educational setting is a very powerful combination in the development of young women."

In the Orchard Park Central School District, Thomas serves 5,200 students in four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.  Orchard Park High School has one of the highest percentages of Regents diploma graduates in the state, with more than 90 percent of the graduates going on to higher education.
 

According to the 2009-10 Business First Guide to Western New York Schools, Orchard Park was ranked fifth among the 97 school districts in the region.  Orchard Park High School ranked second among 50 high schools when it comes to achievement on the playing field, winning 12 Section VI titles between 2005 and 2009.

“My focus has always been the success of the student,” Thomas said.  “Trust and collaboration are the key ingredients for this to occur. My greatest strength is my ability to work well with parents, teachers, staff, students, and the community.  With trust and collaboration, goals, whether individual, site-based or district-wide, can and will be accomplished.”

During the current academic year, Craig Allwes is leading the academy as interim Chief Academic Officer.  In the coming months, both Allwes and Thomas will be involved in curriculum and program development.  Thomas will also take part in several special events.
 
Sister Julia Lanigan, GNSH, President of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, said, “The last few years have seen a tremendous amount of change at Holy Angels Academy. The visible, external additions to the campus in the form of a new gym, library, theater and new classrooms attest to the deep commitment of parents and the Buffalo community to the future of the school. We are confident that the appointment of Joan Thomas will continue a parallel upgrading and improvement in the academic and extracurricular offerings of Holy Angels, as well as its enhanced visibility in the Buffalo area.”

Thomas lives in Orchard Park with her husband Peter where they are members of Nativity of Our Lord Parish.  They have four grown children and three grandchildren.

She is a graduate of Elmira College where she received a Bachelor’s of Science degree.  She earned a Master’s Degree in Secondary Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Certificate of Advanced Instruction, School District Leader and School Building Leader from Buffalo State College.

Thomas said she is looking forward to this new opportunity.  “I have spent my life in education and now I have the responsibility to share my learning with the young women of Holy Angels Academy.  I also have the ability to support the young women’s families in their quest to provide the best education possible for their daughters.  These parents, through Catholic education and Holy Angels Academy, have launched a solid ship, one that with patience and guidance from me will go far.”

Thomas has extensive leadership and classroom experience.  She has been an elementary and middle school principal, high school assistant principal and she is an adjunct professor at Canisius College in the School of Human Resources and Education.

“We believe that Mrs. Thomas and the administrative team, faculty will set a new standard of excellence for the students of Holy Angels Academy,” said Mary Slisz, vice chair of the Holy Angels board and chair of the search committee.