The Antilles School Board of Trustees announced on Friday the appointment of Shannon Harris Oriol as the next head of Antilles School, effective July 1, 2021.
Oriol is currently the assistant head of school, with responsibilities of chief academic officer and oversight of enrollment. She is a lead coordinator for the school’s strategic plan implementation and Middle States accreditation, and she has additionally served on the accreditation teams for other territorial and stateside schools as well as on the boards of Dancing Classrooms V.I. and the V.I. Children’s Museum.
“Shannon’s combination of academic and operational knowledge augmented by her professional qualifications separated her from a crowded applicant field, but it is her demonstrated ability to care deeply and think strategically that most distinguish her as a head who can ably lead Antilles into its next chapter,” Claire Starkey, president of the Antilles School Board of Trustees, said.
“As our school, like so many others in the states and across the globe, works to provide and preserve a quality education in the midst of this pandemic, we valued Shannon’s clear understanding of our challenges and strengths, and her ability to provide a level of stability and continuity that are critical at this juncture,” said Starkey.
A New Jersey native with Caribbean roots, Oriol holds a master’s degree in educational administration. She began her career as a classroom teacher and became a statewide educational specialist before moving to St. Thomas as a visiting instructor at the University of the Virgin Islands in 2002. She joined Antilles in 2006. In the 14 years since, Oriol has been director of professional development, advancement and communications, marketing and admissions.
“I am honored to accept this position and dedicated to Antilles School’s living up to its mission and launching leaders who will contribute to the greater good of our community and our world,” Oriol said.
