Julia Paolino has been named Director of Arts at Bishop Hendricken High School. She becomes the third person to hold the position and the first female to lead the program. She succeeds Richard Sylvia is the Dean of Campus Life.

Paolino is a New England-based teaching artist and director, most recently serving as the Performing Arts Director of the Hockomock Area YMCA, where she produced and directed upwards of 10 productions each year. As part of her role, she also taught skills-based classes and camp programming for children ages 3-22. Prior to the YMCA, Paolino completed an Education Apprenticeship with the Tony Award-winning Hartford Stage Company. She has also directed and taught with Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University, The Gamm Theatre, and Rhode Island Youth Theatre.

Paolino is an alumna of the Arts at Bishop Hendricken’s Drama Program and performed in nearly all productions throughout her high school career. Through each summer of college, she worked on the Summer Stage at Bishop Hendricken staff in several teaching artist roles from 2013-2017. She also directed the summer mainstage productions of Godspell (2017), The Little Mermaid (2016), and Into the Woods (2015).

“This is a true homecoming for Julia,” said Sylvia. “She has been an integral builder of our summer programming for years, and as a student, grew her love of the arts here. Her creative vision, passion, and understanding of our program’s culture make her an invaluable addition to our program and our school.”

“Being at Hendricken feels like coming home again,” said Paolino. “I am so excited to continue growing and nurturing a program that shaped me into the artist and person I am today.”

As Director of Arts, Paolino will develop, oversee, and implement programming to promote the advancement of the Arts at Bishop Hendricken and its extracurricular programming in drama, music, media arts, and visual art. Additionally, Paolino will serve as the Drama Program Coordinator to direct and produce all theatrical productions.

Paolino is a graduate of Wheelock College where she studied Theatre and Communications, with minors in Community Arts and Political Science. She is a graduate of Toll Gate High School.