QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 38
Al Zappelli takes on a new role: Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives
He shares some insight into his new career and his all-encompassing history of his time at the Priory What is your new job role and what does that mean exactly? Exactly? Strategic Initiatives can be all over the place, especially as a school with so many unique characteristics. Let’s start with Senior Director. This means I’ve been around a bit and experienced many things at this special place we call Priory. I’ve probably signed well over 2500 admissions letters. The tapestry of unique and diverse individuals that have come to be known as Priory students has enriched our student body over the years. Having this experience gives me perspectives to work on a number of projects, thus Strategic Initiatives. Priory is at a very important crossroad in its evolution. Part of that is how do we maintain our “Benedictineness” and remain true to our five values. So part of what I’m doing is to work with the international network of Benedictine schools known as the ICBE,–International Commission on Benedictine Education. This initiative will create professional development opportunities for faculty and administrators in Benedictine schools across the United States and internationally. Another initiative is our 60th Anniversary celebration. I’ll be coordinating our founding anniversaries. This year, it’s the foundation of the monastery in 1956 and arrival of the first seven monks. Next year, we celebrate the start of Woodside Priory School in September of 1957.
