Two Local Catholic Schools Name New Leaders

With the 2019-2020 school year winding down, two local archdiocesan Catholic schools have named their new leaders. Archbishop Chapelle High School has announced that alum and long-time Chapelle administrator Mrs. Connie Dantagnan will assume the role of Head of School for the 2020-2021 school year. This week St. Scholastica Academy announced that Mrs. Sheri Gillio, an experienced Catholic school administrator, will assume their Head of School position for the upcoming year.

Connie Dantagnan, Archbishop Chapelle High School

Mrs. Dantagnan has served on the Administrative Team at Archbishop Chapelle High School since 2013 in the roles of Director of Alumnae Relations, Director of Institutional Advancement, and most recently Dean of Students. Prior to 2013, she spent nearly a decade at Chapelle serving both in the classroom and as Director of Admissions.
 
Mrs. Dantagnan holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Louisiana State University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with a focus in Catholic School Administration from the University of Dayton.

"I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lead my Alma Mater and the young women of Archbishop Chapelle High into the future," said Mrs. Dantagnan. "I am a passionate person and I look forward to carrying out my passion for Catholic education through the things I am most passionate about: God, my family and close friends and Archbishop Chapelle High School.  At Chapelle, we are a family, with many unique goal and talents.  In each of the student’s uniqueness, there is one commonality:  their strong, never-ending faith in Our Lord. I am excited to see what the future holds as I embrace our Chipmunk community."
 
A native of the Metairie area, Mrs. Dantagnan and her family are parishioners of St. Ann. She is married to Dr. Ricky Dantagnan and they have three children Quinn, Archbishop Rummel High School, Class of 2015; Jacqueline, Archbishop Chapelle High School, Class of 2019; and Kate, Class of 2021.
 
She succeeds Ms. Leila Benoit who has lead Archbishop Chapelle High School for the past five years. Ms. Benoit’s contributions to Chapelle have set a precedent of success and achievement that Mrs. Dantagnan along with the Chapelle faculty, staff, and students will build upon.

 

Sheri Gillio, St. Scholastica Academy

In a letter to the St. Scholastica Academy school community, Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. RaeNell Houston wrote that Mrs. Gillio is an experienced Catholic school administrator who, “will bring her love and passion for Catholic education to this role.”
 
Mrs. Gillio has served as a Catholic school administrator since 2001 in the roles of Principal, Assistant Principal and Director of Admissions. Most recently, Mrs. Gillio served as Assistant Principal at St. Aloysius School and St. Joseph’s Academy, respectively, in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
 
Mrs. Gillio holds a Bachelor of Science in Family, Child and Consumer Science from Louisiana State University and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from the University of New Orleans.

“I am truly humbled by the opportunity to serve the St. Scholastica community,” said Gillio. “I am looking forward to partnering with the faculty, staff, alumnae, students and the entire SSA community to continue the tradition of excellence in educating young women in the Benedictine tradition. I can’t wait to get started!”
 
Mrs. Gillio is married to Cliff Gillio and they have two daughters Alexandra Gillio Nichols and Amelia-Ann Gillio and a son-in-law Travis Nichols. They are parishioners of St. Aloysius in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. She succeeds Dr. Cissy LaForge who has led St. Scholastica for the past five years and recently announced her new position as Head of School at St. Michael’s Special School in New Orleans.