FALL RIVER — Kellie Kickham (in photo) has been appointed principal of St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro. The appointment, which became effective July 1, was announced recently by  Fall River Diocesan School Superintendent Stephen A. Perla.

Kickham replaces Sister Mary Jane Holden, C.P., who retired in June after serving as principal of the school for the past 15 years.

Kickham has been principal at St. Mary’s School in Winchester, Mass., where she launched a foreign language program to include Italian and Mandarin Chinese. She also oversaw the expansion of the STREAM curriculum (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and mathematics) while nurturing the students’ spiritual paths to incorporate God and community into their daily lives. As assistant principal at St. Agatha School in Milton before that, she fostered a professional learning culture across all grades and disciplines. Prior to her administrative posts, Kickham was an eighth-grade English and Language Arts teacher.

“The opportunity to leverage my experiences with the MAP growth program as well as a STEM curriculum is one I could not pass up,” Kickham explained. “God has blessed me with a strong foundation to grow the St. John the Evangelist community. This school’s history is so entrenched in the Attleboro community, and I am so excited to meet the families and truly know the students!”

Underscoring the “crucial role” that Catholic schools play in teaching the Catholic faith to the next generation, St. John the Evangelist Parish pastor Father Dariusz Kalinowski said, “Kellie Kickham is the right person to lead this very important ministry.” Superintendent Perla added that she “has demonstrated very strong leadership skills and we are so fortunate to have her as a new school leader in the Diocese of Fall River.”

Kickham received her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Boston College and a master of education degree from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She is actively involved in the Boston College Lynch Leadership Academy where she was a Cohort VI Fellow, and she participated in the Roche Center for Catholic Leadership Emmaus Series program. “

The Catholic Schools Alliance comprises administrators, teachers, staff, parents and clergy joined in partnership to educate the children of the Diocese of Fall River in Catholic faith and values. Our schools have a demanding educational culture that helps students from across the academic spectrum reach their God-given potential. With an emphasis on service and respect for the dignity of every person, we prepare students to meet the challenges of today’s diverse world and become meaningful

The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
The Bishop of Fall River