Meet Ms. Elizabeth A. Esposito, SJHA High School Principal
The Board of Trustees and Sister Mary Coffelt, the President of St. Joseph Hill Academy and the Provincial Superior of the Daughters of Divine Charity announced the appointment of Ms. Elizabeth Esposito as the principal of the High School for the 2023-2024. She succeeded Mrs. Maria Molluzzo, who retired after serving St. Joseph Hill Academy for 34 years and leading the High School as principal for five years.
Ms. Esposito is a former Hilltopper, graduating with the Class of 1994. Upon graduation, she attended St. John’s University receiving both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Pathology, and a Master’s of Science degree in Special Education, finishing at the top of her class. Ms. Esposito began her journey in education by working as a Teacher of Speech Improvement at the Eden II School. For the next six years, she worked in the Special Education sector as either a Teacher of Speech Improvement, a Special Education Itinerant Teacher, or an Educational Therapist. She worked with students presenting with Autism, Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, and other profoundly debilitating conditions. The next chapter of her professional career began after praying a novena to the Sacred Heart in the hope of being led to her next teaching position as a junior high school teacher of Social Studies and Religion at St. Paul School in 2004. She then spent the next 19 years as a junior high teacher of Social Studies, Religion, and English Language Arts teaching at Academy of St. Dorothy and St. Adalbert School, where she was named New York State Teacher of the Year for two consecutive years.
Ms. Esposito was recommended to apply to the Curran Principal Academy at Fordham University by her supervisor at St. Adalbert School. She enrolled in 2017 after completing the interview process and graduated with a 4.0. Ms. Esposito accepted the principalship at Holy Rosary School in 2018, while still a student at Fordham University and instituted several programs to help the school build capacity and enrollment. In 2020, Holy Rosary School merged with St. Adalbert School and Ms. Esposito was offered the position of Assistant Principal in St. Joseph Hill Academy Elementary School where she worked in collaboration with Mr. Lawrence Hansen and the staff for the next three years. She has built a rapport with her colleagues and students that she holds dear to her heart. She continues to enjoy collaborating with Mr. Hansen and the elementary school staff.
She has devoted and dedicated her life to her profession and plans to continue the traditions and legacy of the Daughters of Divine Charity and the charism of Mother Franziska Lechner of “making God’s Love Visible.” Ms. Esposito continuously seeks to take the young women of St. Joseph Hill Academy High School to the next level of leadership, accomplishment, and success.
"If someone told me at my 1994 graduation that I would return in twenty-nine years as principal, I would not have believed them. When I reminisce about my four years as a Hilltopper, I am reminded of the traditions that kept the reputation top-notch. One of my accomplishments in life was working diligently to graduate from St. Joseph Hill Academy. After graduation, the skills and values I received as a student proved to be most valuable in the 'real' world. I am forever grateful to my former teachers for instilling perseverance and fortitude in me. I have some big shoes to fill and am eager to help guide these young ladies as they become independent, successful women in society. Above all, I am forever grateful to Sr. Mary, Mrs. Molluzzo, Mr. Hansen, and the Board Members for having the confidence in me to continue the traditions set forth by Mother Franciska Lechner and the Daughters of Divine Charity," said Ms. Elizabeth Esposito, '94.
"Ms. Esposito's dedication to Catholic Education and her unique expertise and leadership skills will help sustain St. Joseph Hill Academy’s legacy of educating and empowering young women to become principled leaders who stand ready to meet society’s challenges," said Sister Mary Coffelt, F.D.C., President, St. Joseph Hill Academy and Provincial Superior, Daughters of Divine Charity.