Seven new Catholic school leaders share their visions for the new year
As the 2025-26 school year begins, the Archdiocese of Newark welcomes seven new Catholic school leaders. These educators bring a breadth of practical experience and a deep appreciation of Catholic learning to their new roles.
Jersey Catholic spoke with them about their visions for their schools and students.
Michele Link is no stranger to leading schools in Jersey City. The new Principal of the 113-year-old Sacred Heart School — which just relocated to a new address — previously served in the same role for almost 12 years at BelovED Community Charter School.
Link received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from the Syracuse University School of Education. She then received her Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Seton Hall University, before earning another master’s degree as a Reading Specialist from New Jersey City University.
It is not the building that makes us Sacred Heart; it is the staff and students and bringing those traditions with us. We want to introduce Catholic education to our new community in an even stronger way. That will come from what we are doing in the school academically and spiritually, as well as through a focus on community service.
I want us to be a part of the community, because it is not just what happens in the school; it takes everybody to make the school and students grow.”
– Michele Link, Sacred Heart School
Rita Naviello can still remember her first day of school as a PreK student at Sacred Heart School in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, where she is now the new Principal. “I often reflect on my first time standing on these steps,” she said, adding that it will be exciting to welcome her students on their first day of school. “It feels like my life has come full circle,” she said. “Now I can provide the love and support that was afforded to me on my first day walking up the steps of Sacred Heart.”
Most recently at the helm of St. Ambrose Catholic School in Old Bridge, Naviello is seeking to provide opportunities within her school’s curriculum to cultivate the expression of individual gifts, talents, and interests of Sacred Heart School students.
Ultimately, our goal is to create children who are exemplary in all that we stand for, but also, we want to prepare them abundantly for high school. And that kind of goes back to SAT prep, being able to build a resume, and, when they go for their interviews, to be able to speak to their Catholic identity, service, and to their leadership.”
– Rita Naviello, Sacred Heart School
Juliette Picciano, who previously was the first President of Manhattan’s Cathedral High School, is now the Head of School at Mt. Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell.
“It is an institution with a beautiful and long legacy,” Picciano said.
Picciano would like to achieve, in broad strokes, the timeless mission and founding vision of the Dominican Sisters.
“The beauty of timeless missions is that they have applicability in every age and generation, and I am really excited about that,” Picciano said.
She added that the purpose of education is for the full flourishing of each person, and that full, human flourishing happens when in relationship with God.
The beauty of working in a Catholic school is that you can live an integrated life. My goals for myself and my family are the same as the goals that I have for our young women. We want you to be fully alive, fully yourself, and have freedom and a relationship with God.”
– Juliette Picciano, Mount Saint Dominic of Caldwell
Dr. James Reagan is very familiar with Union Catholic High School in Union, New Jersey.
A 1996 graduate of the school, Dr. Reagan was Assistant Principal at Union Catholic for the past 23 years before becoming Principal for the upcoming school year.
Dr. Reagan, who has a Master of Arts in Education degree from Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, is proud of the Union Catholic High School mantra “Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow.” In this spirit, he is looking to start new clubs and new traditions at the school.
My key concern is that our school develops the unique needs and talents of each individual learner. Everyone is different, and I will make use of one of former principal Sister Percylee’s quotes that I put up in the main office over the summer: ‘Become all God calls you to be.’
We also want to stay at the forefront technologically. In this regard, we have taken a bold stance, adding Artificial Intelligence (AI) to our curriculum. We are one of only 50 schools in the country that received certification through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for AI education.”
– Dr. James Reagan, Union Catholic High School
Reginald Sainte-Rose is a graduate of St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale. Now the new President of the school, he taught at his alma mater for five years. After receiving his master’s degree from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, he worked as a principal at public schools in Berkeley Heights and North Plainfield.
He said that St. Joseph Regional High School will be offering many more AP courses, both on campus and online (where teachers will monitor student progress), and dual enrollment, where students can take classes on college campuses, potentially partnering with St. Peter’s and Seton Hall universities.
We have great academics here, but we want to step it up a notch with more course offerings, helping our students to understand what it takes to be successful as a 21st-century learner. Are the skills you are learning helping to prepare you for this world with a faith-based approach?
At the end of the day, we want to teach them the skills it takes to succeed, not just in college, but beyond. We will push them academically and get them out of their comfort zones.”
– Reginald Sainte-Rose, St. Joseph Regional High School
Joan M. Silo has been an educator and administrator in Catholic organizations for over 20 years. She earned an Education Specialist degree and a Master of Theology degree from Seton Hall University and has served as a principal and head of school at the elementary and secondary levels. As head of school at Immaculata High School in Somerville, she expanded programs for students to earn college credits and explore opportunities in industries through community partnerships and alumni engagement.
Silo will draw upon that rich experience as the new Principal of Paramus Catholic Regional High School, where she previously served as vice principal of academics.
Rejoining this impressive Christ-centered high school community is a profound honor. I am blessed to be doing so as we celebrate our 60th anniversary.
We will uphold a tradition of academic distinction through a collaborative effort, sending our students into the world to serve and lead with advanced critical thinking skills and a strong moral compass so they can pursue God’s purpose for their life with great success.”
– Joan M. Silo, Paramus Catholic Regional High School
Dr. Christine Vuolo, incoming Principal of Saint Catherine of Siena School in Cedar Grove, received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Theatre Arts from the State University of New York at New Paltz. She then earned a Master of Science and Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology from St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University. Previously, Dr. Vuolo was Co-Head of the Upper School at the Quad Preparatory School in Jersey City.
Herself a Catholic school alumnus, Dr. Vuolo attended Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Park Ridge and Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest.
I have come to learn that St. Catherine has a strong academic program. Of course, we want to continue within that tradition. Spiritually, I would like students to come to know themselves, their gifts, and their areas of growth; and then to help them use that self-knowledge to learn how they can become saints themselves.
As we study the lives of the saints, we do see that they all had their own struggles, but also the gifts and talents that God gave them. I am hoping that will be a theme throughout the year.”
– Dr. Christine Vuolo, Saint Catherine of Siena School
Click HERE to learn more about Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Newark.
Featured image: Clockwise – Union Catholic High School classroom, Paramus Regional Catholic High School, Paramus High School orchestra, St. Joseph Regional High School (Office of Catholic Schools)
