Leadership

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Stephen Duffy, Head of Jackson Walnut Park School
Bridget Barrett-Parker, Director of Walnut Park Montessori



Stephen Duffy
Head of Jackson Walnut Park School

Steve grew up north of Boston and attended Reading Memorial High School. After receiving his B.A. in English from Middlebury College, he went on to attend the college’s Bread Loaf School of English for his M.A., later working at both the school and at the famed Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. After years as an English and history teacher, Steve was awarded a Klingenstein Fellowship to attend Columbia University’s Teacher’s College, where he earned his Ed.M. in Organizational Leadership. He became the Upper School Principal at Rutgers Preparatory School and then served as the Head of School at Falmouth Academy on Cape Cod. Steve has presented at the NAIS national convention and served on numerous school accreditation committees. Steve brings his love of working with students, teachers, and parents in support of a community that educates hearts as well as minds. He’s mindful of the changing landscape of education and the world, and the imperative need for schools to adapt to change. Steve has a loyal devotion to Boston’s sports teams and an inexplicable affinity for moose.

Bridget Barrett-Parker
Director of Walnut Park Montessori

Bridget brings a wealth of knowledge about child development and Montessori pedagogy to Jackson Walnut Park School and Walnut Park Montessori. A lifelong educator, she holds a BA in Elementary and Special Education from Providence College and an M. Ed in Early Childhood Education from Gordon College. She is American Montessori Society (AMS) and Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) trained, with years of experience teaching and coaching educators in this field. Bridget stands by Dr. Montessori’s words, “the most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six.” She is honored to support teachers and families navigating the essential work of early childhood. In addition to education, Bridget is passionate about distance running, gardening, and spending time in nature with her family.

Jackson Walnut Park School Leadership Team
Pictured left to right: Amanda Donigan Gibbs, Stephen Duffy, Kristin Bedard, Bridgett Barker-Parker, Stephanie Marcucci, and Megan Polli.


Learn about the Jackson Walnut Park School:

  • Board of Trustees
  • Leadership Team
  • Sponsorship by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston
  • Accreditations and Memberships
  • Board of Trustees

    Jackson Walnut Park School operates as one school comprised of two divisions, Walnut Park Montessori and Jackson Elementary.

    The school is governed by one unified Board of Trustees and is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston.

    2023-24 Board of Trustees

    Michael T. Callnan, Auburndale, MA

    Patricia DeLeeuw, Harvard, MA

    Julia DeVoy, Newton, MA

    Sister Gail Donahue, Brighton, MA

    Sister Charlene Favreau, Dracut, MA

    Elizabeth Foley, Belmont, MA

    Armen Grigorian, Boston, MA

    Myron Inglis, Boston, MA

    Jennifer Kordell, West Newton, MA

    Huajun Liu, Needham, MA

    Kathryn Mackintosh, Needham, MA

    Amy Scangarello, Lexington, MA

    James Scholl, Westwood, MA

    Emily Venanzi, Newton, MA

  • Leadership Team

    The Jackson Walnut Park School Leadership Team is composed of six leaders who bring a diverse range of knowledge and expertise to their service of the School.

     

    Stephen Duffy, Head of Jackson Walnut Park School

    Bridget Barrett-Parker, Director of Walnut Park Montessori

    Stephanie Marcucci, Director of Teaching & Learning

    Megan Polli, School Counselor

    Amanda Donigan Gibbs, Director of Admission & Enrollment Management

    Kristin Bedard, Director of Advancement & Communications

  • Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston

    Jackson Walnut Park School is proud to be a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston.

    Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston sponsored ministries have been responding to needs in the Boston archdiocese since the founding of Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1885.

    With the exception of Regis College, the governance of each sponsored ministry, its financial well-being, and its furtherance of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston mission, is entrusted to its own governing board, in this case, the Jackson Walnut Park School Board of Trustees.

    The administration and staff of each sponsored ministry, its integration and safeguarding of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston mission, and the assessment of its quality are the responsibility of the Corporation for Sponsored Ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, Inc., a corporation established in 2000.

    Regis College was separately incorporated in the 1960s. Its corporation has the same responsibilities as the Corporation for Sponsored Ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, Inc.

    Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston sponsored ministries include:

    • Fontbonne, Milton, MA, a Catholic, all-girl, college preparatory high school and early college serving students in grades 7-12 throughout Greater Boston and the South Shore of Massachusetts since 1954. (fontbonneacademy.org)
    • Regis College, Weston, MA, a welcoming and inclusive community rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and inspired by the social justice values of its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. (regiscollege.edu)
    • Bethany Hill Place, Framingham, MA, an organization combining housing and learning opportunities within a climate of respect and inclusion, to help community families in the greatest need to develop skills, strengthen their lives, and build financially stable futures. (bethanyhillplace.org)
    • Bethany Health Care Center, Framingham, MA, a residential nursing facility that strives to provide the highest levels of care in a comfortable, homelike environment to support residents’ physical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual needs. Services include long and short term care, rehabilitation, an onsite clinic, memory care, respite and hospice, spiritual care, and social services. (bethanyhealthcare.org)

    The Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston welcome volunteers to support their work. Submit your interest here.

  • Accreditations and Memberships

    Walnut Park Montessori is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS).

    The American Montessori Society leads, empowers, and serves the global community of Montessori educators as the foremost advocate for research and policy, ongoing teacher education, and standards of accreditation through opportunities for mentored individual growth, collaboration, and member engagement.

    Jackson Elementary is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

    The New England Association of Schools and Colleges is an independent, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization which partners with over 1500 public, independent, and international schools in the US and worldwide to assess, support, and promote high quality education for all students through accreditation, professional assistance, and pursuit of best practices.

    Jackson Walnut Park School is a member of the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE).

    With an ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion, the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) shapes the educational landscape for independent schools through leadership, education, service, and strategic advocacy.

    Jackson Walnut Park School is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).

    In service of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) strengthens Catholic school communities by convening all stakeholders and providing professional development, data, public policy and resources to support faith and intellectual formation.