EAST PROVIDENCE — St. Mary Academy — Bay View has announced beloved Sister Marybeth Beretta is planning to step away from her role as president following the completion of the 2022-2023 school year. The Academy will soon embark on a national search for its next president, led by an 11-person Search Committee, with support from a highly regarded Catholic school leadership search firm.
“It has been a tremendous honor and privilege for me to serve as President of Bay View, and most importantly, to support so many wonderful people within our community of Mercy,” said Sister Marybeth. “The rich legacy of the Sisters of Mercy has been deeply woven throughout the life of this school for 148 years, and being able to contribute to that legacy is a gift for which I will always be grateful.”
Sister Marybeth began her role as president in 2017, and has made a remarkable, lasting impact on Bay View. Most notably, her impressive donor cultivation efforts made substantial facilities and grounds upgrades possible, including raising more than $3 million in donations to open the Academy’s new state-of-the-art Barbara A. Papitto Science and Innovation Center this year.
As a Sister of Mercy, Sister Marybeth played an influential role in shaping and maintaining the positive culture recognized at Bay View today, rooted in Mercy values. Under her tremendous leadership, guidance, and care, she improved both the campus and the offerings at the Academy, culminating in the recent reaccreditation and development of a new strategic plan, and maintaining strong school admission rates throughout her tenure.
“As Sr. Marybeth completes her incredible tenure this school year, our Board and school community remain extremely grateful for her years of leadership and outstanding service to the students, faculty, staff, families, alumnae, and greater Bay View community. She will be deeply missed,” said Alison Croke, Chair, Bay View Academy Board of Trustees. “I am confident our Search Committee, together with our professional Catholic school executive search counsel, will find our next great president who will build off of Sr. Marybeth’s momentum and guide us into the next amazing chapter of Bay View Academy.”
