Leading with Love

Kathleen Fox lives Loretto’s mission every day. Her life is a powerful example of how the Loretto spirit can take root in a young person and continue to grow for years to come. A graduate of Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis and a 2012 Loretto Volunteer at Marian Middle School, Kathleen discovered early that her calling was to help young people learn, feel loved and know their worth. Her year of service with the Loretto Community shaped both her faith and her future, leading her into a vocation that blends education, compassion and justice.

After completing her year as a volunteer, Kathleen wasn’t quite ready to leave the community she had come to love. She stayed a second year at Marian Middle School, continuing to immerse herself in the values she first learned as a student at Nerinx Hall: faith, community and the belief that every child deserves an opportunity for education.

Ensuring a high-quality and equitable education is my passion and now my goal for St. Ann’s School.

Kathleen Fox

“My fellow volunteers and I loved Tuesdays when we would join the Sisters for meals. They loved us and made us feel welcomed and appreciated.” The evenings, full of laughter, encouragement and love, made her feel grounded and supported during her early years as an educator. “I learned this all from Loretto, first at Nerinx and then as a Loretto Volunteer. Loretto has been formative in my life and always will be.”

When she moved to Chicago to teach at St. Ann School in the Pilsen neighborhood, Kathleen carried the Loretto mission with her. Pilsen is a vibrant and culturally rich community where many families face economic and immigration challenges each day. Kathleen created a buddy system that has individuals walking with those who feel threatened by immigration officials. At St. Ann’s, Kathleen became not only a teacher but a steady presence, someone who continues to believe that the potential of every student is dependent on community caring and support. Her leadership and love for her school community grew, and today, 12 years later, she serves as the principal. Under her guidance, the school continues to be a place of faith, safety and opportunity. What makes Kathleen’s leadership unique isn’t only her administrative skill — it’s her joy, her compassion and her deeply relational approach to education.

Each morning begins the same way: Kathleen stands at the school entrance, greeting students with an enthusiastic smile. She jokes with them, learns about their lives, celebrates their achievements and comforts them when challenges arise. She has a clear philosophy: “Every child who walks through our doors should know they are loved, seen and known. That’s where real learning begins.”

Her presence is felt everywhere — she’s popping into classrooms, encouraging teachers, cheering at athletic events, helping with art projects or simply making sure someone has a friend to sit with at lunch. Students adore her. One student says, “Ms. Fox puts a smile on everyone’s face with her jokes and funny acting.” Another shares, “She’s the best — so funny, caring and beautiful!”

Parents feel that same warmth. “She’s everywhere. You can feel her joy the moment you walk in the door,” one parent said. Another added, “She knows every child’s name and story. She makes school feel like family.”

The heart of Kathleen’s leadership echoes the long-standing Loretto belief that love is an act of justice and that education has the power to heal, unite and inspire. At St. Ann’s, learning isn’t only about academics; it is about belonging to a community rooted in dignity and hope. Her leadership style embodies the Loretto motto, “We work for justice and act for peace.”

As Kathleen looks back on her journey from Nerinx Hall to Marian Middle School to leading a community in Chicago, she continues to live the mission that first shaped her life. Her story is one of laughter, dedication and love in action. Her legacy is already being formed in the hearts of the students and families she serves each day.

Kathleen’s path reminds us that when we anchor our work in love and justice, we can transform lives and build communities that shine with hope.

Author’s updates since this article was written: To read more about ICE and the Pilsen neighborhood, please read this recent NCR article. Also, St. Pius V Church in Pilsen, the parish at which many St. Ann’s families worship, has been providing food for about 1,000 people each month. The parish recently received a $1,000 grant from the Loretto Hunger Fund. Kathleen initiated the request, and the Fund responded generously.