President resigns, new leader sought
UPPER PROVIDENCE >> A nationwide search has been launched for a new president of Pope John Paul II High School in the wake of the Jan. 13 resignation of Jason Bozzone.
Bozzone’s resignation was announced in a letter sent home to school families the same day.
President of the school is a salaried position, but Kenneth Gavin, chief communication officer for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, declined Wednesday to disclose Bozzone’s salary.
Unlike public schools, Catholic school salaries, which are not funded with taxpayer dollars, are not public information.
“William Carroll, Co-Chair of the Pope John Paul II High School Board of Directors, will serve as the acting president of school until a permanent successor is installed,” according to the letter.
“I am truly humbled to assume the role of acting president of Pope John Paul II High School until a permanent successor is installed,” Carroll wrote in a “president’s welcome” message on the school’s website.
The letter provided no specific reason for Bozzone’s resignation after 3½ years in the post, other than to say it was made “after careful consideration.”
“We thank Mr. Bozzone for his leadership, service and commitment to the school and wish him
well as he pursues his next opportunity,” according to the letter.
Carroll’s message said Bozzone “resigned his position to pursue other opportunities outside the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.”
“Faith in the Future and the Office of Catholic Education will immediately launch a national search for Mr. Bozzone’s successor,” according to the letter sent home to school families.
It promised “this will be an inclusive and transparent process, and we are committed to finding a successor who embodies the virtues of Pope John Paul II High School, represents our growing community and propels the school forward. We will continue to provide updates throughout the school year and summer as we near a final selection for the position.”
According to its website, Faith in the Future Foundation is a non-profit formed in the wake of the 2012 effort to prevent the closing of four Catholic schools.
Subsequently, “in a groundbreaking decision, the Archdiocese transferred the management of 17 high schools and four schools of special education to Faith in the Future, a new nonprofit that is independent of the Archdiocese,” according to the website. In fact, the letter sent home to parents was signed by Irene Horstmann Hannan, chief executive officer of the foundation. It is the same foundation that until recently employed Bozzone’s wife Melissa. Gavin confirmed that Melissa Bozzone has left the Faith in the Future foundation. “Mrs. Bozzone was an employee of the Faith in the Future Foundation, and not the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. FIF is grateful for the contributions she made and wishes her well in future endeavors,” he wrote in an email in response to questions about her departure. In response to follow-up questions about whether it was a conflict for Melissa Bozzone to work for the foundation that managed Pope John Paul II where her husband was president, Gavin responded that Melissa Bozzone “was not in a management position overseeing PJPII in any way. She was working directly with our schools of special education and was not responsible for oversight of any high school.” In addition to the 17 high schools in the Archdiocese, Faith in the Future Foundation operates four special education schools — Archbishop Ryan School for the Deaf and St. Lucy School for the Blind, Our Lady of Confidence Day School and St. Katherine School. Asked for a contact at the foundation where further questions about Melissa Bozzone’s departure could be posed, Gavin responded: “There would not be any additional comment regarding Mrs. Bozzone beyond what I have shared with you.” When he was appointed in 2016, Bozzone succeeded Louis Giuliano, who had been named assistant chief financial officer in Educational Financial Services for the Office of Catholic Education. Bozzone, who was born in The Bronx and raised in Pennsylvania’s Pocono mountains, took the post “after 15 years working in higher education, the last nine at Temple University where he most recently was assistant dean in the College of Education,” according to an article about his appointment in CatholicPhilly.com. “Prior to Temple University Bozzone worked in advancement, alumni relations and student life at the University of Pennsylvania, Cabrini College and Pennsylvania State University’s Abington Campus,” according to the article.