He was the first man to lead this all-girls school. Carrollton’s headmaster to step down
The headmaster of Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Coconut Grove announced this week that he was stepping down after seven years at the helm of the Coconut Grove Catholic all-girls school, which goes from pre-K to 12th grade.
Olen Kalkus, 66, said he wants to return to teaching and spend more time with his family.
“In my 46 years as an educator, I have been a head of school for just 26 years, and a dean or division head for an additional 11,” Kalkus said in an email Friday. “It is time to get back to my roots as a teacher.”
Kalkus said he has two grandchildren and an 89-year-old mother living in the Czech Republic, whom he has not been able to visit since the COVID-19 pandemic started about 18 months ago.
The Carrollton Board of Trustees will choose Kalkus’ successor. And he said he will stay on until a new headmaster is hired.
“They have a search committee which will guide an international search, as they did before I was appointed. I am sure they will find many highly qualified candidates,” Kalkus said.
The school, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary at its historic property at 3747 Main Highway in the Grove, praised Kalkus and his leadership as the first lay headmaster, meaning he is not clergy. Kalkus succeeded Sister Suzanne Cooke, who was headmistress for 17 years before becoming the first head of Sacred Heart education in the United States and Canada.
Raphael M. Bastian, chair of the board of trustees, said the school’s endowment fund quadrupled to more than $11 million with Kalkus at the lead, advanced Carrollton’s information technology capabilities and enhanced classrooms as well as athletic fields and facilities.
”Our academics have been enriched by his vision as well. He increased course variety in the Upper School, expanded French into the Primary School, and consolidated and expanded the Robotics, Engineering and Computer Science program,” Bastian said in a letter to parents and other stakeholders.
“His deep rooted understanding of and passion for Sacred Heart education and the Goals and Criteria have positively shaped our school, and his efforts will continue to be felt as we carry on our mission.”
Not only is Kalkus the first lay person to lead the school, he is also the first man. Sister Cooke was credited with rolling out an international baccalaureate program, and expanding the curriculum to include more math, science and world languages, including Mandarin to kindergartners.
Carrollton has been embroiled in a contentious dispute in the Grove with its plan to build an elementary school for boys at the historic Villa Woodbine property at 2167 South Bayshore Drive. The school purchased the property for $8.375 million in December 2019.
Neighbors have complained about potential traffic from a school; the city of Miami has deferred making a decision about the school’s plans.
