About

Leadership, Faculty & Staff

Xaverian Leadership

List of 7 items.

  • Dr. Jacob Conca '94, Head of School

    Dr. Jacob Conca became Xaverian Brothers High School's first layperson Head of School in 2019. As a 1994 graduate of Xaverian and an employee at Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools since 2003, Dr. Conca has a sincere appreciation for and thorough understanding of the Xaverian mission and values. He served as Dean of Students at Xaverian from 2003-2007, Principal of Saint John's High School from 2007-2016, and Principal of Xaverian from 2016-2019 before being appointed Head of School. His background also includes extensive teaching and coaching experience.

    Dr. Conca holds a bachelor's degree from Amherst College, an M.Ed. from Providence College, and a Ph.D. from Boston College. In addition to his work at Xaverian, he serves on the Board of Trustees at Xavier High School in Connecticut, Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, and Dana Hall School in Wellesley. 

  • Dr. Michael Nicholson, P '29, Principal

    Dr. Michael Nicholson was appointed Principal in November 2019, after serving as Xaverian's Assistant Principal for Student Life. He came to Xaverian from Saint John's High School. There, Dr. Nicholson served as a faculty member in the Religious Studies Department, coach, campus minister, Director of Campus Ministry, and ultimately as the Assistant Principal for Student Life. 

    Dr. Nicholson holds a bachelor's degree in Theology from St. Anselm College and a master's degree in Religious Education and Catholic School Leadership from Boston College. He earned his Doctorate of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, in addition to a certificate in Catholic School Leadership. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Saint Bernard School, another Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School that is located in Connecticut. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor at Boston College's Lynch School of Education in the Roche Center for Catholic Education.

  • Dr. Stephen Dacey '95, P '31, Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning

    Dr. Stephen Dacey '95 joined Xaverian in the 2003-2004 school year. Responsible for fostering a dynamic teaching and learning environment focused on the classroom and beyond, in his current role Dr. Dacey supports faculty and students in a variety of ways, including assessment of data and incorporating teacher and student feedback into Xaverian's instructional approach. He helps to identify effective models to sustain overall academic growth and excellence at Xaverian.
     
    Dr. Dacey holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Secondary Education from Stonehill College. He also holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College, as well as a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Boston College. Before Xaverian, he worked with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Goddard Space Flight Center to improve educational use and access of NASA data applications in the classroom. He began his career teaching science at Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. 

  • Dr. Thomas Smith, Assistant Principal for Academics, Grades 9-12

    Dr. Thomas Smith is the Assistant Principal for Academics, Grades 9-12. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Boston College and two master’s degrees: a Master of Science in mathematics from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Education in secondary education and mathematics from BC. In addition, he also earned his Doctor of Education in educational leadership from BC.  

    Prior to Xaverian, Mr. Smith spent 19 years in service as a math teacher and the Dean of Teaching and Learning at Boston College High School.

  • Dr. Jay McGilvray, Assistant Principal, Francis Xavier Division Grades 7 & 8

    Dr. Jay McGilvray joined Xaverian in the 2003-2004 school year. He has served as an English teacher, coach, and department chair. He was appointed to Assistant Principal for Grades 7 and 8 (FXD) in May 2013. Dr. McGilvray served as the varsity golf coach for 10 years at Xaverian, the freshman baseball coach for four years, and the Department Chair of the English Department.

    Before joining the faculty at Xaverian, Dr. McGilvray taught middle school in Arlington and Danvers. He holds an undergraduate degree from Elon University, a Master of Educational Administration from Boston College, and a Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership as well as a Catholic School Leadership certificate from Creighton University. 

  • Mr. Joshua Tranfaglia, Assistant Principal for Student Life

    Mr. Joshua Tranfaglia joined Xaverian as a social studies faculty member in 2014, and from 2014-2019 taught in the Francis Xavier Division (FXD) and coached golf, basketball, and baseball at both the FXD and high school levels. He became the Assistant Principal for Student Life in 2019. Prior to Xaverian, Mr. Tranfaglia taught social studies and religion at St. Michael School in Fall River.

    Mr. Tranfaglia has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Secondary Education from Providence College. He completed the Providence Alliance for Catholic Teachers program out of Providence College, which prepares teachers for life in Catholic education. 

  • Mr. Terrell Diggs, Dean of Students

    Mr. Terrell Diggs brings over 12 years of experience in educational leadership within Catholic and private school settings, and he joins the Xaverian community with a deep commitment to student formation and character development. He previously served as Athletic Director and Restorative Practice Coordinator at New Heights Charter School of Brockton, Mr. Diggs has also held key roles at several mission-driven institutions, including Assistant Director of Admissions at St. Sebastian’s School, Assistant Director of Enrollment Management at Boston College High School, and Vice Principal and Athletic Director at Nativity Preparatory School.
     
    In addition to his administrative work, Mr. Diggs has served as a classroom teacher, coach, mentor, and school leader. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stonehill College and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Boston College.

Faculty & Staff Directory

  • Photo of William Wallace
    Mr. William Wallace
    Bridgewater State College - B.S.
    Bio
     
    Mr. William Wallace started teaching at Xaverian in the 2020-2021 school year. Prior to  that, Mr. Wallace dedicated 34 years to the Walpole Public School system where he taught math and was an assistant principal. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Bridgewater State College.
  • Photo of Mark Watson
    Mr. Mark Watson
    University of New Hampshire - M.S.
    Southern Connecticut State University - B.S.
    Bio
     
    Mr. Mark Watson joined the Xaverian faculty in the 2022-2023 school year. He comes to Xaverian from LaSalle Academy in Providence, where he was the science department chair and yearbook advisor, and taught biology, environmental science, oceanography, and AP Biology for 15 years. He has a B.S. from Southern Connecticut State University, a master’s in fish biology from University of Rhode Island, and master’s in zoology from the University of New Hampshire. 
  • Photo of Joseph Webb
    Mr. Joseph Webb
    Fordham University - B.A.
    Northeastern University - M.Ed.
    Bio
     
    Mr. Joseph Webb joined the Xaverian faculty in the 2016-2017 school year. Prior to Xaverian, Mr. Webb taught at St. Brigid School in Framingham and worked as DRE/Youth Minister at the Natick Catholic Collaborative. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Fordham University and a Master of Education Technology from Northeastern University. Mr. Webb serves as the racquetball club moderator and is the coach of the Xaverian mock trial program.
  • Photo of Peter Welch
    Dr. Peter Welch
    Villanova University - M.A.
    Fordham University - B.A.
    Creighton University - Ed.D.
    Bio
     
    Dr. Peter Welch joined Xaverian’s theology department and the campus ministry team in the 2022-2023 school year. Prior to Xaverian, Dr. Welch began his career as a teacher, coach, and bus driver at Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He also taught at Saint Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, NJ, and served as a campus minister at Emmanuel College in Boston. He has a B.A. in philosophy and theology from Fordham University, a Master of Ministry and Theology from Villanova University, and earned his Doctorate of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University.
  • Photo of Victoria Wesalowski
    Ms. Victoria Wesalowski
    Boston University - B.S.
  • Photo of Stephen Weyl
    Mr. Stephen Weyl
    Stanford University - B.S.
    Stanford University - M.S.
    Harvard University - M.B.A.
    Iona College - M.S.
    Bio
     
    Mr. Stephen Weyl joins our talented computer science faculty this year. Prior to Xaverian, Mr. Weyl performed computer science research at Stanford, where he managed major software development projects; served as an executive at Apple, IBM, and Japanese multinational, Ricoh; and acted as a founder and board member of several technology companies. He has been teaching since 2017 and has a Masters of Science in adolescent education from Iona College. Mr. Weyl also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master of Science in Computer Science and Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Stanford University. 
  • Photo of Gregg Whitaker
    Mr. Gregg Whitaker
    Director of Technology
    Indian River State College - A.S.
  • Photo of Hannah White
    Ms. Hannah White
    Tufts University - B.S.
    Tufts University - M.A.T.
    Bio
     
    Ms. Hannah White joined the Xaverian faculty in 2022.  She teaches biology and chemistry and serves as the varsity ultimate frisbee coach.  Prior to Xaverian, Ms. White taught at Revere High School for four years.  She has a B.S. in biology and a M.A. in teaching, both from Tufts University.
  • Photo of Mark White
    Mr. Mark White
    University of Massachusetts - Boston - M.Ed.
    Northeastern University - M.S.A.
    Stonehill College - B.S.
    Bio
     
    Mr. Mark White ’07 joined Xaverian’s faculty in the 2015-2016 school year. Prior to teaching at Xaverian, Mr. White worked as an accountant for Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Boston. Following his time as an accountant, Mr. White completed a post-baccalaureate teaching program at UMass Boston and a teaching residency with Boston Public Schools. He has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Stonehill College, a Master of Accounting from Northeastern University, and a Master of Education from UMass Boston. Mr. White serves as the moderator of the business club and a coach for the football, basketball, and track and field programs.

Contact Us

List of 12 members.

  • Photo of Ann Alsfeld

    Mrs. Ann Alsfeld 

    Chief of Advancement and External Relations
  • Photo of James Conley

    Mr. James Conley 

    Director of Campus Ministry
  • Photo of Edward Currle

    Mr. Edward Currle 

    Director of Athletics
  • Photo of Terrell Diggs

    Mr. Terrell Diggs 

    Dean of Students
  • Photo of Bryan Finley

    Mr. Bryan Finley 

    Director of Facilities
  • Photo of Michaela Fitzpatrick

    Ms. Michaela Fitzpatrick 

    Director of Counseling
  • Photo of Carolyn Herman

    Dr. Carolyn Herman 

    Director of Staff Formation
  • Photo of Katie Hickey

    Ms. Katie Hickey 

    Director of Strategic Communications
  • Photo of Kyle MacDonald

    Mr. Kyle MacDonald 

    Director of Admissions
  • Photo of Barbara Messina

    Mrs. Barbara Messina 

    Director of Finance and Operations
  • Photo of Daniel Tucker

    Mr. Daniel Tucker 

    Director of the Ruth Kennedy Library
  • Photo of Gregg Whitaker

    Mr. Gregg Whitaker 

    Director of Technology

Xaverian Brothers High School

800 Clapboardtree Street
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone: 781-326-6392
Fax: 781-320-0458
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EIN (Tax ID Number): 04-2314036 
Xaverian is a Catholic, college-preparatory school for boys in grades 7-12. As an inclusive community, we embrace diverse experiences and perspectives, welcoming students and families from all faiths and backgrounds. Through exceptional academics, athletics, the arts, faith formation, and service opportunities, we help young men discover their unique gifts and talents so they can share them with a world in need.