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Arlington Catholic Announces the Retirement of Longtime Athletic Director Dan Shine

Saint Agnes School | Arlington Catholic High School | Arlington Catholic Announces the Retirement of Longtime Athletic Director Dan ShineSaint Agnes School/Arlington Catholic High School announces the retirement of longtime Athletic Director Dan Shine, effective July 1, 2026, following decades of exceptional service to the school’s athletic program. The school is also pleased to share that Rob Sarmiento, currently the Associate Athletic Director, has been selected to succeed Mr. Shine as the next Athletic Director.

Mr. Shine’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping a strong, values-based athletic program rooted in sportsmanship, teamwork, and excellence both on and off the field. Throughout his remarkable 49-year tenure, Dan has guided our athletic department from humble beginnings into one of the most recognized and respected programs. He has worked tirelessly to support student-athletes, coaches, and families while fostering a culture of integrity, commitment, and pride within the school community. His dedication, professionalism, and genuine care for students have left an enduring and immeasurable impact.

Although Mr. Shine is retiring as Athletic Director, he will continue serving Arlington Catholic as Athletic Director Emeritus, supporting athletics and contributing to various special projects. In this role, he will represent AC at all MIAA meetings and events and will also serve as the liaison to the Town of Arlington.

Succeeding Mr. Shine is Rob Sarmiento, who brings extensive experience, deep institutional knowledge, and a strong commitment to student development. Mr. Sarmiento has demonstrated a passion for athletics as an extension of the school’s Catholic mission and is well prepared to lead the program into its next chapter.

“We are confident that Rob Sarmiento will build upon the strong foundation Dan has established,” said Father Marc. “His leadership, vision, and enthusiasm will serve our students and athletic community well.”

The Saint Agnes/Arlington Catholic community extends its sincere gratitude to Dan Shine for his extraordinary years of service and leadership, and for setting a lasting standard of excellence for generations to come. We also look forward to continued excellence under Rob Sarmiento’s direction.

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Naughton, Nate

Nathaniel Naughton
AC ’90
Associate Principal for Academics, 6-12, Social Studies Teacher

Nate is a 1990 graduate of Arlington Catholic and has worked at our school since 1995. He has served as a Social Studies teacher, Department Chair, Associate Principal, and now Associate Head of School. He is happy to support our students, faculty, and staff each day and feels truly privileged to have spent his entire career on Medford St.
Barrett, Steve

Steve Barrett
Associate Principal: Operations & Management, 6-12

Steve serves as the Associate Principal of Operations at Arlington Catholic High School, where he is dedicated to supporting students’ growth in faith, academics, and community. He also serves as the Coordinator of International Students.

Upon graduating from Boston College with a BS in Political Science in 1986, Steve began teaching History at Matignon High School, and has been a Catholic educator and administrator in several schools for the past 39 years. He also holds a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from American International College. Steve joined Arlington Catholic in 2008 as the Dean of Students and served as Director of Admissions for a decade before his appointment to his current role.

Steve and his wife Erin are proud parents of two AC alums- Stephen Class of 2010, and William Class of 2014.

Sullivan, Laurie

Dr. Laurie Sullivan
Associate Principal, K0-8

Dr. Laurie A. Sullivan is a dedicated Catholic school leader with extensive experience as a principal, associate principal, and instructional consultant across PreK–12 settings. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Boston College and has led initiatives in school improvement, faculty mentorship, and faith-based formation. Dr. Sullivan is passionate about advancing academic excellence and nurturing the whole child in mind, heart, and spirit through inclusive, mission-driven leadership.
Saint Agnes School | Arlington Catholic High School|Calendar

John Graeffa
Principal/Head of School

John Graceffa has devoted the past fourteen years of his professional life to Saint Agnes School/Arlington Catholic High School, serving in key leadership roles including Dean of Students, Vice Principal, Principal, and most recently, Acting Head of School. A proud graduate of Springfield College, he holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Education.

Before joining the SAS/AC community, Mr. Graceffa spent the early part of his career in public education as a high school history teacher at Waltham High School, where he also coached soccer, basketball, and tennis. He went on to serve as Principal of Waltham High School for 23 years, earning widespread respect for his dedication to student success and academic excellence. In addition, he served for eight years as an elected member of the Waltham School Committee and participated actively in several educational organizations throughout his career.

Reflecting on his transition into Catholic education, Mr. Graceffa shared:

“As my decision to retire from public education came to fruition, I aggressively sought to work in Catholic education for the opportunity to encourage the awareness of God in daily life, embrace the culture of service and giving back to those in need, instill values of caring for each other and empathy for others, develop young leaders, and place an emphasis on moral and character development. I was fortunate to have this opportunity at Saint Agnes School / Arlington Catholic High School. I have embraced the opportunity to have Catholic values interwoven and embedded in the spiritual, academic, social, and physical life of our students and faculty.”

Mr. Graceffa’s leadership has left an indelible mark on the SAS/AC community, where his passion for faith-based education and holistic student development continues to shape the school’s mission and future.

Fr. Marc Bishop

Very Reverend Marc J. Bishop, V.F.
Pastor
St. Camillus Parish and St. Agnes Parish, Arlington, MA

Fr. Marc, a native of Billerica, MA, was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ on May 26, 2001, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, MA. Father graduated from Austin Preparatory School in the Spring of 1991 and graduated from Seton Hall University in May 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

He entered St. John’s Seminary in the Fall of 1995. After graduating from seminary with a Bachelor of Philosophy and Master of Divinity degrees, he was ordained at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on May 26, 2001. His first assignment was St. Mary Parish (Chelmsford). Fr. Marc happily served there for four and a half years before being called to service in the active-duty military. Fr. Marc, then a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserve, was on active duty with First Battalion, Twenty-fifth Marines from January 2006 to December 2006. He served the religious needs of the Marines and Sailors in Al-Fallujah, Iraq, from March 2006 to October 2006. In February of 2007, Fr. Marc received the Vincent Capadano Reserve Officer Association’s Chaplain of the Year Award. Fr. Marc was also honored by the Massachusetts District, Bishop Healy Province, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus with the Father Joseph T. O’Callahan 2007 Memorial Award, “… for outstanding and significant contributions to the principles of patriotism, brotherly love and love of country…”

Fr. Marc was a member of Team Ministry at Holy Family Parish (Amesbury), from February 15, 2007 to June 30, 2008; he served as pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish (Methuen/Lawrence) from July 2008 to June 2010. July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2014, Fr. Marc was Pastor of both St. Rita Parish (Lowell) and Ste. Marguerite Parish (Dracut). He served as the Administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish (Marlborough) from July 2014 through May 2018. He also served as the Vicar Forane of Vicariate One of the West Region of the Archdiocese of Boston, ending May 31, 2018.

He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Catholic School Foundation. Father Marc enjoys athletics and served as an assistant coach for the Lowell Catholic Varsity Boys Ice Hockey Team for eight seasons, most notably assisting the team to a 2017 Division II State Championship. Fr. Marc is Pastor of St. Camillus Parish (Arlington/Belmont) and St. Agnes Parish (Arlington), appointed by His Eminence Sean P. Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, on June 1, 2018. Fr. Marc is currently the Vicar Forane for Vicariate IV of the North Region.