Education is not merely the transmission of facts, figures, and data—it is the formation of character and the cultivation of ethical leadership. True teaching inspires others to grow in wisdom and integrity. Throughout his career and personal life, James Hickey has embodied this belief, serving as a torchbearer in the field of education and contributing meaningfully to the flourishing of young people and the communities they serve.
Hickey’s educational journey began at Wagner College, where he was deeply immersed in campus life. He served as president of the Student Government Association and was initiated into Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity. He graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History and went on to earn a Master of Science in Secondary Education from Wagner in 1997. He later pursued doctoral studies at Fordham University, completing his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy in 2003.
Throughout his graduate studies, Hickey worked full-time at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, holding a variety of faculty and educational roles—history teacher, college advisor, academic dean, director of development, and assistant to the head of school. His responsibilities spanned enrollment management, budgeting, and curriculm and instructions, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of school leadership.
An educator who has held several senior leadership roles in secondary schools, Dr. Hickey has been a leader in educational change for most of his professional career. In 2003, Hickey was appointed Principal of Old Bridge High School, one of the largest high schools in the nation at the time. He led a transformative turnaround, restoring the school’s accreditation from the Middle States Association, reversing years of underperformance on state assessments, removing the school’s designation as a “School in Need of Improvement,” and guiding Old Bridge to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) benchmarks under No Child Left Behind. In 2009, Dr. Hickey was named the New Jersey Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for his work in transforming one of the largest public high schools in the nation. He was recognized for his work by the United States Secretary of Education and the New Jersey Commissioner of Education.
In 2013, Hickey was named the tenth Head of Austin Preparatory School following his tenure as Dean of Academic Affairs at The Penningotn School. Since arriving at Austin Prep, Dr. Hickey successfully brought to completion two strategic plans and is currently leading the School through its third five year strategic plan. Under his leadership, Austin Prep has experienced capacity enrollment, an increase in the number of teaching faculty, and innovation in academic offerings and student experiences outside the classroom. During his tenure, Austin Prep has invested more than $25 million in facility modernization and upgrades.
