Corpus Christi's Chiplock Recognized as Educational Leader

By Michael F. Flach
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 11/21/02)

Corpus Christi School Principal George E. Chiplock was among 18 local principals honored Nov. 18 by the Washington Post Educational Foundation as part of its annual Distinguished Educational Leadership Awards.

Chiplock, who has been principal at Corpus Christi School for 12 years, was the only private school principal honored at the event, which recognizes the Washington area’s top educators. There are 620 private schools in the region.

Dr. Timothy McNiff, diocesan superintendent of schools, and Father Paul Berghout, parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church, were among those in attendance for the ceremony. The only other diocesan principal to receive this honor was Bishop O’Connell Principal Alward V. Burch, who was presented his award in 1997.

Washington Post Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Donald E. Graham presented each recipient with a crystal bell and a trip to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands next August. Graham said the principal’s awards program, which was started in 1986, and the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards are the paper’s two most important annual events.

Other Virginia principals honored this year included: Robert F. Yeager from George Washington Middle School in Alexandria; Lee Bell from C. Hunter Ritchie Elementary School in Fauquier; Patricia A. Heiselberg from Laurel Ridge Elementary School in Fairfax; Miriam D. Hughey-Guy from Barcroft Elementary School in Arlington; Virginia M. Minshew of Farmwell Station Middle School in Loudoun; Jeff S. Abt from Baldwin Elementary School in Manassas; Randall B. Washburn from Rocky Run Elementary School in Stafford; and Rae E. Darlington from Graham Park Middle School in Prince William.

In addition to the awards ceremony, each principal was recognized as part of a series of full-page advertisements which have appeared in the Post during the past several days.

Chiplock holds a bachelor of arts degree in humanities from Biscayne College in Miami and a master’s degree in world history from Georgetown. He started his teaching career in 1968 at Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington. He was promoted to vice principal and dean of academics in 1972 and remained there for 17 years. He was hired to be the first principal at Corpus Christi School in 1990.

Corpus Christi School was established after it became apparent that St. Philip and St. Anthony Schools in Falls Church could not survive on their own. Both had endured years of dwindling enrollments and financial difficulties.

Corpus Christi’s success was not guaranteed. No other diocesan elementary schools had ever combined. The school has flourished thanks to Chiplock’s leadership, combined with strong parental and faculty dedication. The total enrollment at both campuses now exceeds 650 students.

Msgr. Thomas Cassidy and Father Richard Martin, former pastors of St. Anthony and St. Philip Parishes respectively, provided important financial and moral support during the time they were assigned there. The Early Childhood Center at St. Philip’s Campus, led by Allis Hanley, has become a model preschool, kindergarten and extended day facility.

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