William Fitzgerald, president of St. Joseph High School, has been named the recipient of the Division I 2020 Chief Executive Leadership Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Fitzgerald is one of a handful of high school presidents to receive this award, which is traditionally given to leaders of colleges or universities.
Fitzgerald joined St. Joseph as Head of School in 2008. In 2014, he led the transformation of the school's campus, including the multi-million dollar O'Keefe Media Center, new athletic fields, a Health and Wellness Center, the "Cup of Joe" Café, and an environmental classroom in the adjacent wetlands.
Jessica Costa, the school's director of marketing and enrollment management, said Fitzgerald exemplified the values of a Catholic college preparatory school.
"Leading by example, he has advanced the academic rigor and moral refinement of our students and the community," she said.
"Dr. Fitz," as the students call him, balances rigor with support, innovation with tradition, and development with service, said Advancement Director Aimee Marcella. With his planned retirement at the end of the year, the school will be celebrating his contributions to education, she said.
Prior to working in education, Fitzgerald worked in publishing. He holds a BA in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, an MA in Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School, and an MS and PhD in Education from Boston College.
The Chief Executive Leadership Award honors institutional leaders for outstanding contributions to their campus communities, for efforts in promoting public understanding of education, and for support of advancement at their campuses. Nominees must have demonstrated the ability to increase their institution's stature in the community and to establish a positive image for their institution while leading it to even higher levels of success. Fitzgerald will be recognized at the annual CASE District I Awards Luncheon on Thursday, March 12.
Lisa Weir / For Hearst Connecticut Media
School president, William J. Fitzgerald, speaks to those in attendance at the Commencement ceremony. St. Josephs High School in Trumbull, Conn. Graduation ceremony took place at their campus on Sat. June 4, 2016.
Contributed / St. Joseph High School
Dr. William Fitzgerald speaks to students in St. Joseph's Cup of Joe Café.
Contributed / St. Joseph High School
Dr. William Fitzgerald
Autumn Driscoll / Autumn Driscoll
St. Joseph High School President William Fitzgerald during graduation at St. Joseph High School Saturday, May 30, 2015 in Trumbull, Conn.
