Charlie Heintz to Serve as Regis Principal

Mr. Charlie Heintz, an experienced and dedicated Ignatian educator, has been appointed by Rev. Christopher J. Devron, SJ to serve as Regis’ principal, effective in the summer of 2023.

Heintz is currently in his fourth year as Principal at Loyola Academy (Loyola) in Wilmette, IL, a Jesuit secondary school just outside of Chicago. A native of Queens, NY, he has devoted his entire career to Catholic education and spent the past 25 years as an administrator, teacher, counselor, and coach at Jesuit high schools. Assistant Principal for Academics Dr. Ralph Nofi will serve as Interim Principal for the 2022-23 school year.

A Comprehensive Search

Heintz’s appointment resulted from an expansive national search that drew interest from a diverse group of educational leaders with a wide range of backgrounds. The search was precipitated by an announcement from Rev. Anthony Andreassi, CO that he will leave Regis in June after 19 years as a teacher and administrator in order to serve in a new assignment for the Brooklyn Oratory, his religious community.

The school’s six-person Principal Search Committee reviewed applications, vetted and interviewed promising candidates, and recommended finalists to Fr. Devron. Finalists then visited Regis to participate in another round of interviews with the school’s Leadership Team, Faculty Council officers, and Academic Committee. By an overwhelming margin, they recommended that Heintz should serve as the school’s next principal.

Fr. Devron summarized the process and outcome of the search: “Through feedback provided to the Search Committee, Regis parents, faculty, staff, and students were clear in what they seek in the next principal: a proven educational leader with the capacity to develop relationships through strong interpersonal skills, coach faculty for growth and development, and articulate and bring to life a vision of excellence and innovation grounded in our Catholic Jesuit mission, iconic tradition and history, and strategic priorities. I’m delighted that in Charlie Heintz we have found such a leader. I’m also profoundly grateful to the 29 members of our school community who interviewed the finalists. I’m confident that their strong consensus in favor of Charlie’s candidacy will be confirmed by his service and leadership.”

Fr. Devron went on to state: “I first met Charlie nearly 30 years ago when he volunteered to teach underserved students in an urban Catholic grammar school on Chicago’s South Side. I have followed his career at Loyola, where his colleagues and parents describe him as a leader who prioritizes the needs of students. He is present and visible in the school community and takes the time to celebrate successes and recognize achievements. He inspires faculty to collaborate and learn from each other and their students while introducing new pedagogical methods and curricula to their classroom teaching. Through his optimistic approach to challenges, Charlie exemplifies Ignatius Loyola’s invitation to find God in all things. In his vocation as a husband and father of two daughters, he is a role model to young people. I’m excited for the larger Regis community to get to know him and benefit from his vision, compassion, and leadership.”

A Dynamic Ignatian Educator: Charlie Heintz

During his tenure as Loyola’s Principal, Heintz introduced many innovative initiatives, including a new grading scale, curriculum updates in science and theology, and eight new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) courses. Under his leadership, the school established the Bowman Scholars for first-generation and under-resourced students, and the faculty and staff has become more diverse.

Prior to his time as Principal, Heintz served Loyola in a wide variety of other roles: Assistant Principal for Student Services, Director of Counseling and College Counseling, Assistant Dean of Students, and English Teacher. Before arriving at Loyola, Heintz taught English at Xavier High School (New York). He began his career in education in the Inner City Teaching Corps (ICTC), where he spent two years living as a volunteer in a faith-based community and teaching at Holy Angels School in Chicago.

“I hope my colleagues at Loyola have felt like we stood shoulder to shoulder together on a mission to help students become the people that God created them to be,” Heintz said. “Our faith ought to animate the work that we do. I’ve been so blessed to be able to do that in great organizations.”

The opportunity to join Regis excited Heintz because of the school’s sterling academic reputation as well as its unique tuition-free model and longstanding commitment to giving special consideration to families in need of financial assistance. During his visit to Regis, he was inspired by his conversations with faculty and staff and their joyful passion for their collective goal of forming Men for Others.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join Regis,” Heintz said. “There is something distinctive about the school and its mission, and I aim to amplify its wonderful traditions as well as lead future Regians toward a hope-filled future.”

Heintz is looking forward to returning to New York with his wife and two daughters. His father served in the New York City Police Department, and Heintz attended Chaminade High School on Long Island. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross, where he majored in Economics and English and was awarded the Presidential Service Award. He holds a Master’s Degree in Education and earned an Administrative License in Illinois from Loyola University in Chicago. Heintz has completed the Seminars in Ignatian Leadership with the Jesuit Schools Network, and he will be a fellow this summer at the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Transformational Educational Leadership.

Cura Personalis and Generous Service: Dr. Ralph Nofi

Serving for the past year as Regis’ Assistant Principal for Academics, Dr. Nofi’s tenure stretches over three decades as the school’s clinical psychologist and a teacher. He is a trusted mentor to Regis students, faculty, and staff.

“Regis has always been blessed to count on faculty and staff to offer their gifts generously when called upon. Dr. Nofi has been doing this for decades. Ralph understands our student community and the culture of our faculty and staff,” Fr. Devron said. “His attention to cura personalis allows him to see beneath superficial challenges to address our students’ deeper needs and promote their ongoing growth and development. I am grateful for his willingness to serve as Interim Principal this coming school year. I trust that Ralph’s leadership will provide stability while encouraging us to advance in our strategic priorities.”

Dr. Nofi will retire at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 academic year.

As Regis completes this critical process, Fr. Devron expressed his gratitude to Interim President Christian Talbot ’93, the Regis Leadership Team, the members of the Search Committee, the full faculty and staff, and the many Regis students and parents who played a role in the school’s search for its next principal over the past five months.

“The Third Apostolic Preference of the Society of Jesus invites us to ‘to accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future,’” Fr. Devron said. “Regis’ transformative education provides an extraordinary resource in this work. Building on the efforts of Christian Talbot and Fr. Andreassi, I am confident that Ralph Nofi and Charlie Heintz will advance our mission and lead us in realizing our bold strategic priorities.”