Alicia Herald, an alumna from 2002, has been announced as the new President of Notre Dame de Sion Schools, starting next year. Herald will be taking over from 1966 alumnae Susan Stanton currently serving as the Interim President while Christina Broderick took a sabbatical leave. 

“She’s an alum, she loves Sion and I believe she will engage the alumni community,” High School Principal Natalie McDonough said. “She knows the culture and understands the tradition.”

Herald has more than 12 years of teaching experience and founded Teach for America where she has served as Executive Director of the Kansas City regional office. She has also served as the KIPP Endeavor Academy Interim Executive Director and Board Chair. Herald was appointed by the Governor is 2015 to chair the Missouri Charter Public School Commision. Currently, she works for the company that she sold her educational technology startup to.

“She has done more than probably I will ever do,” McDonough said. “She has a lot of energy and is super brilliant.”

During Herald’s time at Sion, she was a captain of the state championship volleyball and basketball team. Following her graduation, Herald went on to obtain a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis, an M.A. in Elementary Education from Loyola Marymount and an M.B.A from Washington University in St. Louis Olin School of Business.

“As an alum, she can connect with the students on a deeper level,” junior Lilly Concannon said. “She understands that our actions as a school must reflect our mission.”

While searching for the new principal, the executive positions on Student Council and the Student Advisory Council were given the opportunity to interview both Herald and another final candidate for the position.

“I think she has the personality to help bring Sion’s admission back up,” Concannon said. “She is very personable and wants to be open to students’ opinions or comments.”