United Way boss to head St. Paul's

By JACKIE MAJERUS
Press Staff
BRISTOL – After spending more than a decade raising money in his home community for the United Way, Cary Dupont is going back to his roots, taking over as president of St. Paul Catholic High School.
Dupont's new job – he'll start July 1 – will bring him back to his old high school, 40 years after entering its hallways as a freshman.
"I have a strong attachment for St. Paul's," said Dupont, who graduated from the school in 1972. His daughter, Sarah, is a 2003 graduate and his son, Andrew, is president of this year's graduating class.
Dupont, a 1976 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, is currently co-chair of the St. Paul board of directors. He's served on the volunteer board since 1999, he said.
He didn't apply for the job at St. Paul, said Dupont, but was approached by Archbishop Henry Mansell, the Rev. Timothy O'Brien, who is the school's current president, and Daniel Hoyt, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Hartford.
"They asked me to assume the position," said Dupont, and he agreed. "After being asked, I felt it was a good opportunity for me to go back to the school I graduated from."
St. Paul uses a college prep model, said Dupont, with a president and two deans.
Sharon Mielcarz is the dean of academic life, responsible for the faculty and curriculum, said Dupont, while Robert Kaminski is the dean of student life, handling athletics, discipline and guidance issues.
"There's no principal position," said Dupont. "The president is the person responsible for the entire school, running the business of the school."
According to Dupont, O'Brien – who has been splitting his time between running the school and his full-time post as pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in New Hartford – is leaving at the end of this month to focus solely on the parish. He will remain on the school board.
"The school really does need a full-time administrator," said Dupont.
In the interim, Maria Maynard, the assistant superintendent, will work with the school's deans to oversee operations at St. Paul, according to information from the archdiocese.
Once on the job, Dupont said he'll focus on boosting support for St. Paul through increased enrollment, volunteerism and financial contributions to the school.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge of being there," said Dupont, adding that he's excited about working with the faculty and helping students and families "achieve some of their dreams."
For the past 11 years, Dupont has led the United Way of West Central Connecticut. He said the organization has a committed board and a "terrific staff."
"I have a real comfort level, knowing that this organization's in good hands," said Dupont. "Knowing that allows me to accept this challenge at St. Paul's."
The United Way will form a search committee to find his replacement, said Dupont, who said his July starting date at St. Paul will give the agency enough time to find someone.
Dupont's new post isn't his first in Catholic education.
Before taking the job at the United Way, Dupont worked in development for St. Matthew's School in Forestville and later for the Archdiocese of Hartford as assistant director of development in the Office of Catholic Schools. There, he worked to raise support for Catholic elementary schools, said Dupont.
Earlier in his career, Dupont said, he worked in the 1970s for the Bristol Boys Club, running a summer camp and a program for at-risk youth and at the Connecticut Junior Republic, a residential facility for at-risk youth.
Because Dupont's job at St. Paul won't begin until the summer – after his son graduates – their time at the school won't overlap.
"He's just getting out on time," quipped Dupont.
Founded in 1966, St. Paul today has a student body of 300, with pupils from the central and western parts of the state.

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