SPIRIT. MIND. BODY. CORDECHO 3 Dear SHA Community, When my family and I cleared U.S. immigration in 2003 and I attempted to traverse this new city, I often stopped the unsuspecting pedestrian for help. Directions came in a baffling sequence of north or south, letters and numbers, i.e.,“Go north on the I-190.” The same enquiry in Ireland would have been met with a sequence of landmarks and the comment, “If you are going there, you shouldn’t be starting from here.” In either circumstance, reaching the destination depended on a reliable internal compass, a steady hand, and a full tank of gas. As Sacred Heart Academy set forth on our Strategic Planning journey 12 months ago, we were very fortunate in knowing the destination: the founding Sisters of St. Francis committed themselves long ago to “providing a balanced college preparatory education with a commitment to service for generations of young women in Western New York.” Success in setting direction for the Strategic Plan pivoted on open, candid, and sometimes challenging conversations with various stakeholder groups in the SHA community. Survey platforms, focus groups, retreats, and steering committees rallied the support of faculty and staff, students, parents, alumnae, and donors. We engaged cutting-edge consultants to help us interpret and map the catalog of information we gathered. We experienced support and solidarity from our partners in education here in WNY and throughout the country, all united in the mission and vision of Catholic education. We are grateful to all who lent their voices, talents, and time to creating the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. The landscape has changed dramatically since the Sisters first established the school in 1877. Now more than ever, society needs young citizens with the ability to think critically, with sound theories to determine what is true and what is false, and with a reference book of knowledge that is uniquely their own. The 2023-2028 Strategic Plan for SHA remains ever faithful to the values of St. Francis and St. Clare and aspires to share with SHA graduates the skills necessary to navigate the profound societal changes of our time. It has been my privilege to serve on the Board of Directors at SHA for the last five years. As the proud parent of Aoife Scannell ’18, it was with a debt of sincere gratitude that I agreed to join the board. I recall being overwhelmed at my first board meeting in September 2018 by the outstanding expertise, talents, and abilities of my fellow board members. It has been an honor to be part of a governing body that is so clearly united with and loyal to the mission and vision of the school, and whose members offer good governance with a steady hand across all domains. Throughout the pandemic I watched from a new perspective, and with great admiration, the dedication and solidarity of faculty and staff. They worked steadfastly to support students and colleagues both intellectually and socio-emotionally. Who could have imagined in spring 2022 that there would be “sufficient gas in the tank” to carry us through a five-year Strategic Planning process! Throughout this journey we have been guided by a reliable internal compass: the spiritual presence and support of the Sisters of St. Francis. Their presence remains palpable throughout the corridors and rooms of the Academy. A sincere thank you to all the Sisters. We celebrate your legacy! Yours in gratitude and appreciation, Eileen O’Brien-Scannell THE SHA COMMUNITY REMEMBERS Dr. Bryan Krull “I will miss serving as a judge for Bryan’s creative class projects. It was clear that the students learned a lot by inhabiting the lives of peoples in far-off times and places. Bryan was always a supporter of young women, from Girl Power Fridays and the Friday celebration of female musicians to being his daughter Addison’s go-between for Girl Scout cookie sales. His humor was clearly on display as a long-time member of that talented group, No Direction. Of course, Your 80s Movie Guide to Better Living (Volume 1) was the perfect Christmas gift for my nephews.” - DR. MARTHA HOROHOE, SHA COLLEAGUE “I remember Dr. Krull being so good-natured and funny (even when the class veered off track), and as a family man, proud of his two children. Something that stayed with me after graduating were his Girl Power Fridays - as it was this weekly activity that introduced me to so many brilliant women and their activism. His presence will be forever missed. Dr. Krull, thank you.” - KENYA SANDERS ’18 The outpouring of tributes and memories of Dr. Bryan Krull from colleagues and students is a testament to the impact he has had on all who were fortunate enough to teach or learn with him.
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