CHICAGO — The board of directors of DePaul College Prep, a Catholic coeducational high school located on the Fr. Gordon Campus at 3633 N. California Ave. in Chicago, has unanimously elected its principal, James Quaid, to the position of school president and principal.

Quaid, who joined the school in 2013, will continue in his role as school principal while directing the ongoing changes and expansion of the 62-year-old Congregation of the Resurrection founded and sponsored school located on Chicago’s Northside. Quaid brings 34 years of experience focusing on educational leadership and academics into this role.

“Dr. Quaid’s stellar record of academic excellence, along with his leadership skills, stood out to us all and we are honored to have him serve in this capacity at DePaul College Prep. He is uniquely qualified to propel the school academically, spiritually and athletically for our current and future students,” said the Rev. Gene Szarek, CR, provincial superior.

Quaid will work closely with the Congregation of the Resurrection, the founders and Catholic sponsors of the school, and with the lay board of directors who are the governing body of the school. For the past year as principal, he has also worked in unison with DePaul University, which is engaged in an ongoing and vibrant academic partnership with the school.

Quaid has served on multiple Catholic school boards, university boards, the High School Leadership Council of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Illinois High School Association Board.

“Dr. Quaid is a highly respected academic leader and example for our existing and future students. His record of achievement and his passion for academics and especially for excellence in Catholic education inspire those around him. Through his leadership, DePaul College Prep will continue to grow and serve the needs of Chicago’s families who seek a welcoming, well- rounded, Catholic and vibrantly academic high school option for their children,” said Mary Dempsey, board chair.

"DePaul College Prep's unique partnership with DePaul University offers an exciting opportunity for all of us to be a part of it,” said Quaid. “We continue to benefit from the support and resources of a great Catholic university, and will have the potential to become a solid model for other secondary schools across the country.”

Before joining DePaul College Prep, Dr. Quaid served as headmaster of Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois; associate superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago; and was principal of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, for 16 years.

He earned a doctorate in educational leadership, foundations and counseling from Loyola University; a master’s degree in history from Purdue University and a master’s degree in education from Loyola; and bachelor’s degrees in history and philosophy from Benedictine University. He also earned a nonprofit management endorsement from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.

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