With a mixture of gratitude and sadness, the Lauralton Hall Board of Trustees has announced the retirement of Antoinette (Toni) Iadarola, President of the all-girls school in Milford. She was appointed in 2009. Iadarola, who has been described as a pint-sized powerhouse by all who know her, will serve in the position until the end of the next academic year, June 2017. Iadarola’s skillful leadership is rooted in a genuine commitment to the education of young women and the Catholic faith at the oldest independent Catholic school for young women in Connecticut.
“When Toni first arrived at Lauralton, she had just returned to Connecticut to retire, but quickly realized that she couldn’t sit still, so in essence, she flunked retirement.” Dr. Trudy Dickneider, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said. “Once hired, she immediately began working with the school community to develop strategic and master plans to further its goal of empowering young women for life and was uniquely qualified to move it to the next stage in becoming a premiere Catholic prep school for girls in the nation.”
Iadarola is a recognized and published scholar, having completed graduate work at Georgetown, Yale and Oxford Universities. Her academic career as an accomplished professor began as she grew into leadership positions as department chair, provosts and finally president of Cabrini College.
She mastered academic theory and practice, became an examiner for regional accrediting agencies, and a governance training facilitator for the Association of Governing Boards. Her career and personal life has been rooted in the Mercy Tradition and Charism.
“Toni has been the catalyst for incredible enhancements to the Lauralton Hall experience,” adds Dr. Dickneider. “She is a prime example of ‘good things come in small packages.’ She may be small in stature, but leaves an enormous legacy.”
Some of the achievements fulfilled during Iadarola’s tenure include:
— Completion of a new $2 million athletic field.
— Construction of the Cyber Café, a Center for Guidance and College Planning.
— Conversion of the Carriage Barn, an officially recognized historic site, into the Center for Visual and Performing Arts.
— Renovations of classrooms to accommodate the way students learn and teachers teach in today’s digital world.
— Spearheaded efforts for revised class scheduling to better prepare students for the demands and freedoms of college.
— Record levels of enrollment and diversity.
— Instituted a program for faculty development opportunities and continually recruited new and talented professionals for the faculty and president’s leadership team.
— Unprecedented fundraising success with the school’s first comprehensive “Because We Believe” Capital Campaign, which is targeted to achieve its $6M goal.
— Named the entire campus to the National Register of Historic Places.
Dr. Dickneider also describes a popular new tradition started by Iadarola that is loved by the students and parents.
“New freshmen are initiated into Lauralton Hall at the school’s matriculation ceremony, wearing the school uniform, signing a pledge to honor the Core Values and formally meeting the President,” she said. “I cannot imagine the school without this annual event.”
Dr. Dickneider notes Iadarola’s accomplishments are even more impressive given the fact that she continued to work, while battling cancer. “Toni’s fortitude when she was physically down was truly awe-inspiring,” she adds. “She is a rare combination of compassion and strength that encourages everyone who knows her and we are all very thankful that she is healthy now.”
In fact, the students dedicated this year’s yearbook to Iadarola as an amazing role model who taught them to persevere regardless of any obstacles that they may encounter throughout their lives.
“It has been a privilege and blessing to work with the many dedicated board members, teachers, staff, parents and especially the outstanding students at Lauralton,” said Dr. Iadarola. “Lauralton Hall has been a gift to me and I am truly grateful. I like to think that in some small way, I have transformed Lauralton into becoming its best self, but truly in the process, deep down inside, I know that the school has transformed me as well.”
A native of New York City, Iadarola was raised in Shelton, Connecticut and graduated from Shelton High School. A product of a Mercy education herself, Iadarola graduated with a B.A. in History/Political Science from the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford where she began her career as a history professor in 1973.
The Board will conduct a search to find a suitable and capable successor to continue Lauralton’s mission.
“Toni is truly irreplaceable – we will all deeply miss our fearless leader and best friend, who has represented us perfectly throughout these past eight years,” concludes Dr. Dickneider. “She doesn’t stop challenging you as an individual to accompany her on the journey and we all wish her the best on her personal pursuit of successful retirement this time.”
Lauralton Hall is at 200 High St., Milford.
