Dr. Michael Orlando of Peabody, Mass. has been selected as the next president of Notre Dame Academy. Courtesy photo/Notre Dame Academy

TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass. — Following an exhaustive search, Dr. Michael Orlando of Peabody, Mass. was selected as the next president of Notre Dame Academy.

He is scheduled to begin his tenure on July 1.

After interviewing a number of other seasoned Catholic school leaders, the school’s Board of Directors voted unanimously in Orlando’s favor.

“We feel enormously blessed to have Dr. Orlando join the NDA community as he brings precisely the expertise we require at this pivotal time,” said Nicole Rocha Clark, chairwoman of the Board of Directors. “In addition to his background as a teacher, assistant principal for mission and identity, chief academic officer and principal, he has 20 years of Catholic school experience, innovation and success.”

According to the academy, Orlando has excelled in the areas of curriculum development, daily operations, enrollment, innovation and academic excellence.

He has served as the principal of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover since July 2023. Orlando also held a number of senior leadership roles during his 17 years at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, Mass.

“From conversations around the historic past of the school, the wonderful educators who devote their lives to this vocation and the families who entrust the school with the care of their children, it became evident that there is a great passion for continued growth, innovation and support for this fine institution,” said Orlando. The Hallmarks of a Notre Dame Learning Community are not only physically present on the campus, but they are lived by everyone connected to this community. Together, I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that await us and I am confident that we will continue to animate the vision and mission of St. Julie and all of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.”

Orlando holds a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Anselm College, a Master’s degree from Simmons University and a Doctorate from Northeastern University.