Presidential Search
St. Joseph’s Academy President Search
Anticipated Start: July 2026
From the Chair of the SJA Board of Directors
After 14 years as the president of St. Joseph’s Academy and a career in Catholic education spanning 53 years, Jan Rhorer Breen ’69 has announced that she will retire at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. We celebrate and express deep gratitude to Jan for her leadership, marked by vision, faith and an unwavering commitment to transforming lives and building a community of young women poised to make a difference in the world.
As we embark upon the process of selecting the Academy’s next president, we do so as a pillar of educational excellence in the Baton Rouge community. Through Jan’s love and steadfast devotion to her alma mater, we find confidence in a bright and promising future. As we move forward, we honor her enduring legacy and the extraordinary work she advanced with such purpose and grace.
Throughout this transition, the heart of St. Joseph’s Academy – our Catholic faith, academic excellence, commitment to service and the bonds of sisterhood – remains as strong as ever. Our faculty, staff and administration are united in ensuring that our students continue to thrive each day, guided by the spirit of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Dr. Yolunda Taylor
Chair, Board of Directors
St. Joseph’s Academy
Presidential Search Update (April 2026)
As we move through spring and closer to the end of the academic year, we wanted to take this opportunity to provide an update on our search for the next president of St. Joseph’s Academy.
As we outlined in November, we have followed a carefully designed process led by our consultants at Partners in Mission. This included an onsite visit by our lead consultant, Kyle Pietrantonio; in-depth discussions with members of school leadership and representative faculty/staff; and focus groups with a broad range of constituents.
Armed with valuable feedback, Partners in Mission team members crafted a prospectus which thoughtfully described the qualities and experiences our Search Committee would seek in our next president. We then announced the position to the public, and the Partners in Mission team developed a vetted list of top candidates for our Search Committee’s consideration.
We were humbled by the number of truly outstanding candidates who applied for the position. Each expressed a heartfelt desire to embrace this exciting leadership opportunity and continue our unwavering commitment to educating young women in the spirit and charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph, providing opportunities for faith development in the Catholic tradition, academic excellence and personal growth.
Our Search Committee interviewed stellar semifinalists and is now in the process of making final decisions in preparation for presenting our recommendations to the SJA Board of Directors.
The Search Committee has worked closely, with the highest level of confidentiality, with our consultants to carefully and strategically walk through this process. We are confident that our deliberate efforts will result in the naming of a president who will be imminently qualified to foster our standing as a pillar of academic excellence in the Baton Rouge community.
We know that each and every one of you is as invested in the conclusion to this process as we are. We are pleased to share that we anticipate announcing our new president early this summer with a start date of July 1. We thank you for your ongoing support as we near the end of our selection process.
Warm regards,
Dr. Yolunda Taylor
Chair, Board of Directors
John D’Angelo
Chair, Search Committee
About St. Joseph’s Academy
Founded in 1868 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Joseph’s Academy is a premier Catholic, all-girls, college-preparatory high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, dedicated to educating young women as responsible and unifying members of the world community. Guided by the spirit and charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph, SJA fosters spiritual growth, academic excellence, leadership and service to others.
St. Joseph’s Academy has been recognized as a five-time National Blue Ribbon School. With an enrollment of 1,127 students, SJA draws young women from across the greater Baton Rouge area who seek a rigorous academic program, a vibrant faith community and a lifelong sisterhood rooted in shared values.
Located on a beautiful and historic 15-acre campus on Broussard Street, SJA offers state-of-the-art facilities, including modern academic spaces, a fine arts center and athletic facilities that support a wide range of co-curricular opportunities. The school’s rich history, coupled with a commitment to innovation and mission-driven education, makes it one of Louisiana’s most respected Catholic institutions.
St. Joseph’s Academy is sponsored by the Congregation of St. Joseph and a member of the CSJ Mission Network.
About the President’s Role
The President serves as the chief executive officer of St. Joseph’s Academy and is responsible for advancing the school’s mission, strategic vision and institutional sustainability. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President provides inspirational and mission-centered leadership while working in close collaboration with the Principal, administrative team, faculty, staff and the Sisters of St. Joseph.
The next President will:
- Be a practicing Catholic who embraces and lives the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
- Serve as the chief ambassador for St. Joseph’s Academy, strengthening relationships with students, alumnae, parents, faculty, staff and the broader Baton Rouge community.
- Lead with faith, vision and integrity, inspiring collaboration and a shared sense of mission.
- Advance institutional growth through strategic planning, enrollment management, advancement and community engagement.
- Champion academic excellence, faith formation and co-curricular innovation in partnership with the Principal and school leadership.
- Steward the Academy’s financial health and long-term vitality in alignment with its mission and strategic goals.
The search committee is on a fast-track to identify and secure the next President. All inquiries and applications will be treated with the highest degree of confidentiality and with the greatest respect. Candidates are expected to be available to assume the responsibilities of the position in July 2026.
Interested candidates are encouraged to learn more about this exciting leadership opportunity by reviewing the search prospectus below. To apply, visit the Partners in Mission website.