School’s finally out for William Lessa, who retired as principal of Cardinal Hayes High School after spending his entire 53-year career in education at the Bronx institution.
Serving first as a social studies and religion teacher at Hayes beginning in 1971, he later also became a guidance counselor, before taking over as principal in 2008.
During celebrations for Hayes’ 75th anniversary in 2016, Lessa said of the school, “The success of Cardinal Hayes is imperative to the Bronx and New York City and the Catholic Church as we continue to produce young men of faith who follow our motto of ‘For God and Country,’” Lessa told Catholic New York.
In April, during a Scholas event held at Hayes, Lessa expressed his hope and belief in what students can accomplish. “It’s up to you to change the world and make it a better place,” he said. “We all live under the same roof and worship the same God, so it is important for us to work together, and you, young people, to be change agents.”
During a retirement celebration in May, Lessa received a Citation of Merit from Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “We are grateful for Principal Lessa’s commitment, dedication, leadership, and pouring so much into our students. His lifetime of service will always be remembered as he closes this chapter of his career,” Gibson wrote in a May 31 Instagram post commemorating the event.
Sister Mary Grace Walsh, superintendent of schools of the Archdiocese of New York, praised Lessa in a letter delivered on the day of the May 22 event. “Your unwavering commitment to the mission of Cardinal Hayes—to inspire diverse young men of the New York City metropolitan area to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens— has been nothing short of extraordinary. You have not only upheld but embodied this mission, fostering spiritual and intellectual growth through a rigorous academic program, vibrant extracurricular opportunities, and a culture of personal discipline rooted in Roman Catholic values,” she wrote.
“Mr. Lessa is a true legend in New York Catholic education. He is the heart and soul of Cardinal Hayes High School and has dedicated his life to the service of the students and families of the school. This transition is bittersweet, but I am very excited for this next chapter in the illustrious history of Cardinal Hayes High School,” Dr. Michael Carey, president of Cardinal Hayes, said.
“Bill’s commitment to generations of young men through Catholic education, the support of his wife Mary Ann and family, and his active faith and service to the Church is a true blessing! What an honor it is to have a persevering and joyful witness among us,” wrote Monsignor Luke Sweeney, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scarsdale, in the bulletin of Lessa’s parish, in late May.
Cardinal Hayes announced in February that Bronx native Steven Iuso will become its next principal, effective July 1. Iuso joins Cardinal Hayes from Christ The King School in the Bronx, where he has served as principal since 2016.
Cardinal Hayes High School is an all-boys Catholic high school located on the Grand Concourse in the South Bronx. Founded in 1941, the school serves a diverse student body from the New York City metropolitan area, inspiring young men to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens.