The following announcement was provided by Jackson Walnut Park School:
Jackson Walnut Park School (JWPS), the only institution in the Boston area offering Montessori early childhood education and an elementary Catholic curriculum, is pleased to announce the appointment of Patricia Lynn Gray of Watertown as its next Head of School. Gray is an experienced administrator with a track record of success in Catholic education and a former Fortune 500 corporate executive.
As head of the Newton school, Gray aims to foster community, faculty collaboration, and enhance the curriculum while upholding academic excellence as a faith-based institution. She will also seek to increase enrollment and bridge the Montessori and K–6 programs for a more cohesive educational experience for all students and families.
“Patricia’s leadership experience, particularly in a Catholic independent school that integrates early childhood Montessori education with rigorous elementary academics, makes her a perfect fit for Jackson Walnut Park School,” said Patricia deLeeuw and Michael Callnan, co-chairpersons of Jackson Walnut Park School’s Board of Trustees. “Her dedication to fostering a vibrant learning environment and her strong sense of community will help guide us into an exciting new chapter.”
Since assuming her role this summer, Gray has modernized classrooms to create a better learning environment, introduced monthly Mass to foster a community through faith, and created a director of athletics and auxiliaries role to enhance the student experience. The Director of Athletics is introducing new programs, such as cross-country and volleyball, which will offer students more growth opportunities. Additionally, the director is working on the installation of new outdoor tennis and basketball courts to complement the $6 million Student Center, which has yet to be named.
Gray comes to JWPS with more than 16 years of experience in education, following a 28-year corporate career. Most recently, she served as principal at Notre Dame de Sion Grade School of Kansas City, where for six years she led a highly successful, independent, co-educational Catholic institution serving PreK–8th grade. Under her leadership, enrollment grew by 37 percent, and Notre Dame de Sion was recognized as the “Best Private School” for both the elementary and high school levels by the Kansas City Star in 2024.
Gray also quadrupled the faculty’s diversity within five years and focused on math and science to accelerate student achievement and expand teacher professional development.
Earlier in her education career, Gray served as a teacher and ESL curriculum specialist. She was a principal for nine years before advancing to the head of school position.
Before her career in education, Gray held executive positions at two Fortune 500 companies. She served as a director of AT&T’s Call Center Operations and as director of customer service at Nike in Memphis.
Gray holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in economics and business from Hendrix College in Arkansas and a Master of Science in Education from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. Her professional training includes the national New Leaders Principal Programs; the Memphis Teaching Fellows Teacher Endorsement; a Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Certificate from Avila University; and she has completed 30 graduate hours in Modern Language with a TESL Endorsement from the University of Mississippi. Gray’s engagement with education policy and the K-12 pathway to higher education began in 1989, when she was appointed by then-Governor Bill Clinton to a ten-year term on the Arkansas State Board of Higher Education.
Jackson Walnut Park School is located at 200 Jackson Road, Newton.
About Jackson Walnut Park School
For nearly 60 years, Jackson Walnut Park School in Newton has nurtured and educated a diverse student body comprised of children from more than 20 local communities. The Jackson Walnut Park School is dedicated to providing individualized care and high-quality education to students ranging from toddlers to Grade 6. It is the only school in Greater Boston that combines a Montessori preschool with an independent Catholic elementary program, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The school’s mission is to inspire children to love learning, love God, and love others without distinction. The school strives to empower children by building confidence in its students, preparing them for academic success, and equipping them to lead purposeful lives. The Jackson Walnut Park School is a member of the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE), the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), the American Montessori Society (AMS), and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). For more information, visit www.jwpschools.org.