Woodlands Academy

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, founded in 1858, is an independent, Catholic, college preparatory day and boarding school for young women grades 9 through 12. Woodlands Academy is a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, which spans 41 countries and 22 schools in the U.S. and two in Canada. 

Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D. was appointed Head of School at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest and began her tenure on July 1, 2022. Dr. Dempf most recently served as Head of School at Academy of the Sacred Heart in Saint Charles, Missouri. Prior to that, she was the Director of the High School at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida. Dr. Dempf also has experience gained through an earlier role as National Program Director for the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. Dr. Dempf brings a passion for instructional excellence and student support evidenced by her early career as a teacher educator where she held the rank of Associate Professor in the School of Education at both Canisius College and the Sage Colleges after beginning her career as an Assistant Professor at Wesley College. Dr. Dempf earned a Ph.D. in Teaching and Curriculum at Syracuse University and holds a Master’s degree from Springfield College. Dr. Dempf’s undergraduate study was completed at Hobart and William Smith Colleges where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. In addition, she is a graduate of The Doane Stuart School on the Kenwood campus, then a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools.

Host: Len Dedo