Cincinnati, Ohio, September 7, 2023– Saint Ursula Academy is excited to introduce Kathy Restle as SUA’s new Principal. A search committee unanimously selected Mrs. Restle, who assumed her new role on August 1, 2023.

Kathy Restle comes with more than 23 years of experience in education and high school administration and has successfully designed and implemented high-level instructional strategies and programs. Kathy’s professional experience, Catholic faith, and skillset allow SUA to move forward with confidence, continuing our commitment to the highest standards of academic excellence and to the Catholic, Ursuline mission that is at the foundation of all we do.

She has a proven track record of building strong, supportive school cultures through strong communication and community engagement skills. She also has experience with creative, innovative, and data-driven college preparatory academic programs. She is a lifelong Catholic with a deep commitment to her faith.

“I was initially attracted to the SUA community because I wanted to work in a smaller school where it was possible to develop supportive relationships with students,” said Principal Restle. “I have been thrilled to learn that its welcoming community is one of Saint Ursula’s hallmark features, and based on my experiences so far, I can certainly attest that is true. I also was attracted by SUA’s long-standing tradition of providing exemplary academic experiences for its students. I am so grateful to be in a faith-based school where we can draw upon the values of the Catholic church as well as those of the Ursulines to help our young women grow into the people that they were made to be. At its core, education is all about developing people, and SUA is a great place to do that!”

Kathy spent the past eight years at Walnut Hills High School, where she served as high school grade-level principal in an accelerated college preparatory environment. Her vast experience and qualifications make her an outstanding choice to be Saint Ursula Academy’s next principal.

“I am overjoyed for our students and faculty/staff to welcome a new principal who shows a dedication to our educational, emotional and spiritual growth. Kathy brings an energy and vision to our professional community at a time when student global learning is critical to our students’ success; far beyond their four years at Saint Ursula Academy,” said Saint Ursula Academy President Lelia Keefe Kramer ’77.

Kathy’s deep commitment to student-centric learning and the development of students and faculty is clear. She has a continuous improvement mindset and is committed to building relationships through engagement with faculty, staff, students, and parents.

“I have been involved in education in some capacity as a teacher, college admissions advisor, assistant principal or principal for over 23 years,” said Mrs. Restle. “While the majority of my professional experiences have been in public schools, I can definitely draw upon my own education and upbringing in Catholic schools. I mention often that parenting two children of my own, who are now young adults, have provided me some of my best professional development. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate these teen years as a parent, and I think each day of my personal and moral responsibility to treat the students in our school with the love, respect, and care that I would want for my own children.”

When asked how she can begin to make her mark on the student experience at SUA, Mrs. Restle added “I always describe SUA as a school that has been taken care of very well. There is such a long and rich history of providing outstanding student educational experiences. Ultimately, my hope is that I can help SUA to keep growing and evolving to its next level of success. In the short term, I want to take my time and learn as much as I can about teaching and learning at SUA by spending time with the students and their teachers in the classrooms. I want to be a very visible principal who is involved in the students’ experiences and regarded as a trusted resource. I love to collaborate with people and learn from their ideas as well.”

Kathy Restle has a B.A. in English Literature from Ohio Wesleyan, earned her M.A. in English from Xavier University, and M.Ed in Educational Administration from The University of Cincinnati. Kathy lives in Anderson Township with her husband Mike. She says she is always so happy to see her two sons Nick and Joey who live in Cincinnati as well. She enjoys spending time with my family and friends who live nearby, reading, cooking for family and friends, hiking and spending time in nature.

Saint Ursula Academy is a dynamic Catholic, college-preparatory, educational community for young women known for academic excellence and rich tradition. Saint Ursula welcomes students from more than 90 grade schools in the Greater Cincinnati area and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. Saint Ursula was named a Best Workplace in Ohio by Ohio Business Magazine in 2023. SUA earned the Best of Cincinnati Award in the School category in 2021 and 2022 by the Cincinnati Awards Program. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of Saint Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910. 94% of the Class of 2023 earned college scholarship offers totaling nearly $28-million.