Meet the Principal: Melissa Lambrecht Excited to Helm Sacred Heart

Name: Melissa Lambrecht

Age: 44

School: Principal at

Background: A multitude of new challenges and a host of met goals are culminating for Melissa Lambrecht, the new principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School.

Lambrecht, who has taught for 17 years, said she’s excited to bring her skills and faith to Sacred Heart, which educates more than 200 preschool through eighth-graders.

“I’m really happy to be here,” she said. “I hope to continue the proud tradition here and continue to provide students with an excellent, Catholic-based education."

A veteran of the Catholic system, Lambrecht has taught at several schools, including Our Lady of Sorrows in Farmington Hills, where she had also served as an assistant principal. Additionally, she has taught at St. Valentine’s in Redford, St. Clare of Montefalco in Grosse Pointe, and St. Catherine’s in Algonac. She has taught many grades, including kindergarten, fifth and sixth grades.

Lambrecht earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the University of Michigan, and her master’s in Catholic leadership at Madonna University.

Lambrecht has spent her entire career in Catholic schools. “I enjoy sharing my faith with others,” she said. “To be able to do that 24/7 is great.”

Goals and aspirations

All private schools are concerned about enrollment because the tuition paid by parents makes up the bulk of the school’s budget.

Lambrecht said one of her goals would be increasing enrollment by making the school more visible in Dearborn and the immediate community.

“We need to let people know we’re here and what we offer,” she said. “We offer a Catholic-based education and we have excellent MEAP (Michigan Education Assessment Program) scores.”

The school, because it is not state-run, is not required to take the MEAP, but Scared Heart uses the tests as a measuring stick for student progress, Lambrecht said.

Enrollment issues are often exacerbated by the ongoing economic problems faced in Michigan, which have pummeled Wayne County, but Lambrecht said parents have and will continue to place an emphasis on Catholic education.

“I’m always amazed at the importance parents place on a Catholic education,” she said. “They will go without to make sure their children (attend).”

Also, Lambrecht wants to continue the warm environment students find at the school, she said.

“When they come here, they know we care about them,” she said. “They know they’re loved by us, and they know they’re loved by God.”

Personal

Lambrecht will be commuting from New Hudson–about a half hour west–to school each day. Of Dearborn, she said she’s impressed with the community so far.

“I think the city is wonderful,” Lambrecht said. “The people are nice, and the community is diverse. I look forward to serving it well.”

When she’s not at school, Lambrecht enjoys spending time with her husband, Steve, and their daughters, Katelyn and Kathryn. She also enjoys baking, cooking and spending time outdoors.

Principals are often the unsung heroes at school, but each Monday, the Dearborn Patch will profile incoming administrators at several of Dearborn’s public and private schools that have agreed to take on the awesome responsibility of setting the tone at individual facilities.

If you know of a new principal embarking on this challenge, please let us know by emailing editor Jessica Carreras at Jessica.carreras@patch.com.