The new superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Burlington plans to weave her leadership expertise with her love for Catholicism as she carries out the responsibilities of her position.

“Leadership, for me, is about loving, nurturing and caring for those who give selflessly to improve the lives of children. I have a heartfelt, moral obligation to share my faith and my passion for the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church with school leaders, staff, students and families,” said Lisa Lamondie-Grenville, who assumed her duties Aug. 20. “This is a natural part of how I live and who I am. As superintendent of the schools for the Catholic Diocese, I am able to share my spiritual life with others to support the school communities and improve outcomes for students.”

She said she brings to her new job love for children, desire to serve leaders and teachers to make schools a safe and sacred place for students to achieve academically, personally and spiritually.

The greatest challenge that she hopes to address is student enrollment. “Families need to understand how imperative faith-based educational programs are in today’s world,” she said. “Empowering students with the ability to have an education that inspires them soulfully is paramount to fostering loving families and communities. Most importantly, students will be able to find strength in Our Lord and Savior to handle all the challenges they may be faced with at every stage in life and in the world to come.”

As superintendent, she plans to visit the Catholic schools in Vermont and get to know the staff and students as well as the programs that are being offered to create future well-rounded Catholic citizens. Her long-term plans will be based on the individual needs of schools based on leadership, staff perceptions and data-driven instructional results.

She earned bachelor and master of science degrees in education and received School District Administrator Certification.

She studied mainstreaming and inclusion practices abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has completed all required coursework and is in the process of completing her dissertation for her doctorate in educational studies at McGill University. Her dissertation focus is on leading educational reform.

“My dissertation is a memoire approach to reform initiatives that I led and how my practices were in keeping with research-based leadership methodologies and philosophies to support staff and students through eras of change,” she explained. “My goal is to work with school leaders to determine their needs, assist them with any reform initiatives they are focusing on now or in the future.”

During her career in administration, she has served students, teachers, families and communities in the roles of superintendent of schools, high school principal, elementary principal, director of special services, director of instruction, supervisor of special education and regional professional development specialist.

Born and raised in Malone, New York, she worked for FEH BOCES and The Malone Central School District as a special education teacher at all levels and across all disability classifications; was a regional professional development specialist for New York State training school personnel of special education laws and policies across the three counties in Northern New York; served the Brasher Falls Central School District for nearly a decade in a variety of positions starting with elementary principal, high school principal and director of special education, and director of instruction; was supervisor of special education for the St. Lawrence Lewis BOCES; and served as superintendent of schools for the Northeastern Clinton Central School District. While driving from Malone to Montreal for two years to complete face-to face course work through McGill University she taught full-time in a tenure track position for SUNY Potsdam.

She is the author of “The Princessipal,” the story of a school principal who enchants students with the magic of reading.  “It is an intermediate level reader; however the vocabulary and storyline will resonate with children and adults,” she said.

Lamondie-Grenville is a practicing Catholic with a strong devotion, faith and love for children and the Church. She has volunteered as a catechism teacher, lector and altar server.

She and her husband have two daughters, two grandsons and are expecting two more grandchildren.

Lamondie-Grenville replaces Lisa Lorenz who is now principal of Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington.