Kristen O’Leary
“In every student, there is an untapped potential that needs to be discovered, inspired and encouraged, in order to prosper”. As a champion of education for children with special needs, Kristen O’Leary has been working in the field of education for over 25 years. Starting off as a teacher in a small Catholic elementary school in the Bronx, she discovered her passion for helping children realize their full potential, regardless of their circumstance. Kristen then followed a path into the field of Special Education, working for Andrus in Yonkers and TheraCare in New Rochelle. In 2014, Kristen felt a calling to return to Catholic school and rekindle the classroom connection that she was lacking. After a short spell of teaching PreK4 at St. Anthony’s School in Yonkers, Kristen was called upon to become the principal of the John Cardinal O’Connor School in Irvington. JCOS is a Catholic school that is dedicated to providing quality education to children with learning differences. The school empowers children to thrive academically, spiritually, emotionally and socially in a supportive school community. At JCOS, they always #choosekind. In the role of principal, Kristen is able to foster an environment in which students are presented with an experiential and meaningful learning experience. At JCOS, students feel comfortable taking risks so that true learning can occur. Her students also learn the skills and strategies that they need to become life-long successful learners.
