Richard Fairley to promote ‘modest growth’ at Hagerstown school

Saying he has been “warmly embraced” by the St. Maria Goretti High School community in Hagerstown, Richard Fairley is looking forward to getting to know the students, teachers and staff of the 230-student school.

Mr. Fairley, who most recently served as vice principal for academics at The Cardinal Gibbons School in Baltimore, said he plans to promote modest growth in enrollment at St. Maria Goretti.

“We need to have some growth to support the programs,” he said, “otherwise, we’re just raising tuition. Two hundred fifty students is probably a good number for us. We’ll grow incrementally.”

A parishioner of St. Katharine Drexel in Frederick who serves on the parish council, Mr. Fairley said the school is introducing a high-tech program called “Headline” that will allow greater communication between parents and teachers, he said. Teachers will be able to send personalized electronic reports to parents.

A native of Maine, Mr. Fairley holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and personnel management from St. Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia and a master’s degree in education from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He has also studied at the University of Maryland, College Park, and is currently enrolled in the education leadership certification program at Hood College in Frederick.

Mr. Fairley is the former headmaster of St. John’s Catholic Prep in Frederick, where he also served as athletic director and dean of students. Early in his educational career, he taught, coached and served as an administrator at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville.