Bishop Fenwick Names Archbishop Williams Principal As New President

PEABODY, MA — The current principal of Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree has been named the next president of Bishop Fenwick High School of Peabody and the St. Mary of the Annunciation School.

Dr. Michael Volonnino will transition into his new role beginning on July 1.

Volonnino has helped lead significant enrollment growth, major capital improvements, and mission-centered academic and spiritual development at Williams.

"I am incredibly grateful and excited to join the Fenwick and St. Mary’s community," Volonnino said. "There is a visible momentum here that is hard to ignore, and it's been inspiring to see how deeply the mission is lived out every day.

"My first priority is to listen and learn from all of you as we move forward together, staying focused on what matters most: preparing our students for lives of leadership, service, and purpose."

The schools said he combines practical leadership experience with strong academic credentials, having earned a Ph.D. in Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.Ed. from Rutgers University, and an A.B. from Harvard University.

He has presented at multiple National Catholic Educational Association conventions and has contributed scholarly work on instructional leadership and educator effectiveness.

The schools said the appointment follows a comprehensive national search conducted over the
past four months. The final candidates each spent two days on campus, meeting with faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni as part of a thorough and collaborative evaluation process.

The Board of Trustees unanimously affirmed the Search Committee's recommendation, reflecting a strong and unified confidence in Dr. Volonnino's leadership, vision, and character.