Christine Zecca Caltabiano
Christine Zecca Caltabiano is an accomplished education professional and consultant dedicated to advancing opportunities for young women through innovative leadership and program development. With a strong foundation in project management and executive administration, she brings a strategic and relationship-driven approach to education, focusing on building partnerships, enhancing school operations, and creating impactful student-centered initiatives. Her work reflects a deep commitment to empowering students and strengthening educational institutions through thoughtful collaboration and forward-thinking leadership.
Prior to transitioning into education, Christine spent approximately 15 years in New York working in private wealth management, where she operated in a chief-of-staff capacity, overseeing operations, managing high-level priorities, and supporting executive leadership. After relocating back to the Philadelphia area where she was raised, she began working at her all-girls high school alma mater an experience that sparked a profound passion for education, particularly in the space of girls’ leadership and development. Drawing on her business background, she intentionally shifted her career toward education, with a vision of applying her expertise to support and elevate private high schools for young women.
Currently serving as an Education Consultant and Office Manager at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School, Christine focuses on organizational leadership, operational strategy, and long-term institutional sustainability. She understands the dual structure of private schools where academic leadership and business operations intersect and sees her role aligned with leading the operational, fundraising, and strategic growth aspects of a school. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and has concentrated her research on donor retention, financial sustainability, and experiential learning programs that prepare young women for future success. Looking ahead, Christine’s long-term goal is to open an all-girls high school in downtown Philadelphia centered on leadership development and a strong arts program, reflecting both her passion for empowering young women and her appreciation for the city’s rich cultural landscape.
• Penn State University - B.A. Arts and Architecture, Visual Art
• Penn State University - M.Ed. in Ed. Leadership
• Graduated with Honors from Graduate School
• International Coalition of Girls Schools
• Villa Joseph Marie Alumnae Association
• International Coalition of Girls Schools - Fundraising and Member Recruitment
• Launched Business Ethics Case Study Competition in Philadelphia Area
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say the hard work ethic that I was raised with. I was raised in a very middle-class family - my dad was a shop teacher - and I just grew up... I think I remember working more than I remember anything else in my childhood.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to find what you love and figure out a way to make it a living. So, not necessarily just go after your dreams, but figure out a way to make those dreams a reality.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that it's okay to not know everything, and that figuring it out is part of the journey.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say that the biggest challenges are how the landscape of education is changing, both from the governmental side of it, and also the way tech is not necessarily challenging everything, but transforming it. So, figuring out the best way to have a hands-on approach that will lead to a future in the technological side of education that is safe and offers the best well-being for children.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say understanding the value of having confidence, having the courage to be resilient, and also understanding that when you're looking at something that may have boundaries, if you know they're not in the right place, it is okay to move them if it's going to be something that will make you happier.
Locations
Private Company
Pennington, NJ 08534