Mission Statement

The Academy of the Holy Cross, a Catholic college preparatory school sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross since 1868, is dedicated to educating young women in a Christ-centered community which values diversity. The Academy is committed to developing women of courage, compassion and scholarship who responsibly embrace the social, spiritual and intellectual challenges of the world.

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Leadership Team

Kathleen Ryan Prebble

President/CEO

Kathleen Ryan Prebble, The Academy’s third President/CEO is an educational leader and passionate supporter of all girls’ schools. She has been President/CEO of The Academy of the Holy Cross since 2013. The John Carroll Society recently recognized Katy for her 43 years of service in a variety of teaching and leadership roles in Catholic schools.

Guided by the charism of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Katy remains committed to helping young women of faith develop the competence to see and the courage to act in creating a more just and compassionate world.

Katy has extensive experience in strategic planning and has been helping move the Academy forward with innovative programs, new and renovated campus facilities, and a strong sense of engagement with alumnae.

Katy holds a MEd. in Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and a B.S. In Oceanography from The Catholic University of America. Katy is a girls’ school graduate and attributes her confidence and leadership skills to her alma mater, Merion Mercy Academy and her mother, Marguerite Ryan.


Melissa Huey-Burns

Principal

Melissa Huey-Burns is in her fifth year as Principal of The Academy of the Holy Cross. Having served as an educational leader in Catholic middle and high schools for over 15 years, she understands the need for girls to find their voice and adopt an openness to skill-building that will enable them to adapt and succeed in the shifting marketplace. Prior to her teaching career, Melissa spent over 15 years as a business leader in international development with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. A proponent of experiential learning, Melissa believes that students need access to real-world experiences that link the classroom to the community, as they learn and enjoy how their minds work.

Melissa holds a B.A. in Modern Languages and Literature from Skidmore College, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her Master of Arts in French from Middlebury College, and her Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision for Changing Populations from Notre Dame of Maryland University.



Meredith Gobbi ’06

Director of Admissions

Meredith Gobbi is a proud alumna of The Academy of the Holy Cross and was thrilled to return in 2013 to work in the Admissions Office. She served as the Assistant Director of Admissions for four years and was pleased to be named Director of Admissions in July 2017. She is excited to be supporting the Academy’s mission by sharing the Holy Cross experience with future Ladies of the Academy!

Meredith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from Syracuse University. She received her MA in Modern Art from the University of Edinburgh. She is a member of St. Bartholomew parish, where she graduated from elementary school.





Charly Ryan

Director of Philanthropy and Stewardship

Charly Ryan joined The Academy of the Holy Cross in 2008. She has an extensive background in major gifts and capital campaign fundraising with an emphasis on donor cultivation and stewardship. She has guided the Academy’s Annual Fund to its highest levels in recent years and directed the management of the most recent capital campaign, The Difference We Make.

Charly’s career in Development includes St. Francis Episcopal Day School and The Bullis School. She has served on the Board of Trustees at The Bullis School and Seneca Academy. She is a long-time member of the Administrative Board for Potomac United Methodist Church.

A Maryland native, Charly attended the University of Maryland-National Cryptologic School through the NSA and Maryland School of Art & Design.




Danielle Mahaney Ballantine ’86

Director of Communications

Danielle Ballantine returned to her alma mater in 1995. During her tenure, it has been her honor to be part of the Academy’s transformation to a 21st century leader in girls’ education, first as the Director of Recruitment and Public Relations and presently as the Director of Communications.

Danielle earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Maryland. Her daughter Maeve is a proud Lady of the Academy class of 2017.






Kate Miner

Director of Finance

Kate Miner joined The Academy of the Holy Cross community in 2014. She has over 40 years of experience in accounting, finance and budgeting for non-profits, including over 15 years at independent schools. Kate served as Treasurer on the board of the Christ Child Society and currently serves as Treasurer on the board of OAR, a community-based restorative justice non-profit in Arlington, VA. Kate graduated from Georgetown University and received a Master’s from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.