The King Street Chronicle welcomes Mrs. Meghan McMahon, Head of Upper School, to Sacred Heart Greenwich. Mrs. McMahon is a graduate of Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (NCDS) in Newton, Massachusetts, and she brings with her a deep commitment to the Sacred Heart mission and Goals and Criteria. As a dancer and co-founder of Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts (UASPA) in New York City, Mrs. McMahon is passionate about creative expression, and she aims to help the Sacred Heart arts program flourish. She elaborated upon her vision and goals for the Upper School.
Mrs. McMahon entered the Sacred Heart Network as an NCDS student in sixth grade. Her family also has generational Sacred Heart roots, as her mother and two aunts were Sacred Heart alumnae. As a result, Mrs. McMahon has navigated her life with an emphasis on the Goals and Criteria. She reaffirmed her commitment to these values as Head of Upper School.
“It is essential to me that our girls, their experience in the Upper School, and their preparedness for life after graduation are at the center and that all decisions are guided by our Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria,” Mrs. McMahon said.
In particular, Mrs. McMahon shared that Goal Three, “a social awareness which impels to action,” has motivated her life choices. After she finished graduate school, she spent a year teaching history and dance at NCDS before moving to New York City to establish UASPA in 2006. She explained that Goal Three’s call to service inspired this move.
“We opened the school based on the value that all students should have access to a rigorous academic and artistic educational experience,” Mrs. McMahon said. “In New York City, there are selective public arts schools, but in order to get in, students need to have extensive training and experience, which requires a lot of money and resources. Our school was set up to respond to this need and our deep belief that arts education is essential for everyone. As a result, UASPA became the only non-audition, non-screened, public performing arts high school in New York City.”
After 17 years of leadership at UASPA, Mrs. McMahon brings her passion for creativity to King Street. Earlier this fall, she expanded the artistic opportunities at Sacred Heart by introducing a dance initiative to the Upper School. She spoke about the reasons for her dedication to the arts.
“I believe the arts are an essential component of a well-rounded education,” Mrs. McMahon said. “Arts education breathes life and creativity into a community. Through the arts, students not only have the opportunity to learn and deepen their artistic skills, but they are also able to cultivate their leadership capabilities, make connections across cultures and communities, develop empathy and self-awareness, have an emotional outlet, and so much more.”
As a new member of the Sacred Heart faculty, Mrs. McMahon seeks to familiarize herself with the community’s strengths and areas for growth. She has immersed herself in “a listening and observation tour” of the Upper School, and she noted her enjoyment at encountering “the extraordinary community and spirit” at Sacred Heart, whether at sports games, fall play rehearsals, or community service events.
As part of her exploration, Mrs. McMahon has begun conducting personal meetings with students. In line with St. Madeleine Sophie Barat’s philosophy of education, “for the sake of a single child,” Mrs. McMahon emphasizes individual connections with each student. She explained her belief in the strength of student-faculty relationships.
“Early in my teaching career, I attended a professional development session, and their tagline has stuck with me: ‘When you capture a kid’s heart, you can capture their mind,'” Mrs. McMahon said. “I love this line because I believe relationships are central. Relationships are the foundation for trust and belonging, and it is through relationships that we can build community, take risks, grow, and be in constant pursuit of excellence together.”
While Mrs. McMahon continues to strengthen her understanding of the Upper School community, her arrival on King Street marks a return to her Sacred Heart foundations. She spoke about the values that she feels encapsulate the essence of a Sacred Heart education.
“A Sacred Heart education is transformative,” Mrs. McMahon said. “Not only for the individual, who knows herself well, develops her purpose, deepens her faith, is intellectually curious and challenged, and cultivates a sisterhood like no other, but also for the tremendous impact that Sacred Heart women have on our world through their leadership and service.”
Featured Image by Avery Kim ’24
