By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 8/21/03)

Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy McNiff welcomed five new principals at a meeting last week. The five principals represent 132 years of teaching experience.

St. Mark School in Vienna has welcomed Helen Brewer to serve as the first principal of the newest school in the diocese. Brewer is coming to St. Mark School from Paul VI Catholic High School where she worked in administration for the last five years.

Brewer is originally from New York. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in education from Immaculata College in Immaculata, Pa., and a master’s degree in religious education from St. Charles Seminary in Overbrook, Pa. She has 36 years of experience in education, 17 of them in the Diocese of Arlington.

Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father Matthew Hillyard is the new principal at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria where he has served as chaplain and vice-principal for the last three years.

Father Hillyard is originally from Washington, D.C. He received a bachelor of arts degree in modern languages from Allentown College in Center Valley, Pa. He earned master’s degrees in divinity and church history from DeSales School of Theology in Washington and Catholic University in Washington, respectively. He has worked in education for 14 years.

Bonnie McGann will be traveling to the Shenandoah Valley this fall as she assumes the role of principal at Sacred Heart Academy in Winchester. She has taught at St. Theresa School in Ashburn for the last four years. She is originally from Philadelphia, Pa.

McGann earned her associates degree in developmental psychology from Briarcliff College in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Glassboro State College in Glassboro N.J., a law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego, a master of labor law from Georgetown University Law School in Washington, and a master of education in the Catholic School Leadership Program from Marymount University in Arlington.

McGann taught for five years before entering the U.S. Navy, and returned to teaching in 1999 after retiring from the Navy as a commander.

Vivian Uthe will step up as principal at St. Agnes School in Arlington where she has spent the last three years as assistant principal.

Originally from Lorain, Ohio, she earned her bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Uthe gained a master’s degree in education from George Mason University in Fairfax, and has done post-graduate work in learning disabilities and reading at the University of Virginia. She has 32 years of teaching experience.

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary Sister Margaret Vellon comes to St. Bernadette School in Springfield from New York. She has dedicated over 40 years to her career in education, 30 of them as an administrator.

Sister Vellon earned her bachelor’s degree from Marymount College, Tarrytown, N.Y., a master’s degree from Teachers’ College in New York City, and a doctorate from Fordham University in New York City.