Two familiar faces — one in the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools and the other at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria — will be sticking around for a while.

Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sister Bernadette McManigal, who has served as the interim diocesan superintendent of schools since last September, was appointed Tuesday as the permanent superintendent.

Timothy Hamer, who has served as interim principal at Bishop Ireton since the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales departed last May, also was named Tuesday as the school’s permanent principal.

Both announcements were made after nationwide searches to fill the positions. Sister Bernadette was named interim superintendent after Dr. Timothy McNiff, who had led the diocesan school system for 13 years, left to become superintendent for the Archdiocese of New York.

“At a time when Catholic education seeks strong, faith-filled and creative leaders, I welcome Sister Bernadette as a permanent part of our Catholic educational team,” said Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde in a statement. “She has proven to be a dedicated collaborator in these past seven months.”

Since she arrived in the diocese, Sister Bernadette has coordinated enrollment management seminars for principals and pastors, advocated for increased tuition assistance for families struggling in the economic downturn, and hosted the first regional teacher job fair.

“The Catholic schools in Arlington are strong in the areas of Catholic identity and academics, thanks to the leadership of (McNiff) and the assistant superintendents in the Office of Catholic Schools,” Sister Bernadette said in a statement. “It is my desire to work with the staff and the principals to build on these strengths and to promote our excellent Catholic schools.”

Sister Bernadette previously served as superintendent for the Diocese of Lexington, Ky., for nine years. She also has worked as a teacher and principal in schools in New York and Chicago, and as an educational consultant to the dioceses of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., and Joliet, Ill.

At Bishop Ireton, Hamer is completing his 16th year at the school, where he spent 10 years as director of advancement and finance. He left in 1999 to pursue work in marketing and business before returning to the school in 2004. Before being named interim principal, Hamer had worked as assistant vice principal for academics. A member of Ireton’s class of 1978, Hamer said he was “thrilled and humbled by the bishop’s confidence in me.”

“This year has been an extraordinarily successful transition for us,” Hamer said. “We’ve achieved a shared sense that the Salesian spirituality will continue as our main identity going forward. Rather than a year filled with anxiety or nostalgia, it’s been a year filled with forward-looking and a focus on the possibilities.”

Hamer said the school will continue to build on its new role as an Oblate-affiliated school, and will begin developing a strategic plan for future growth.

In a letter announcing Hamer’s appointment, Bishop Loverde said he was grateful for Hamer’s years of service and expressed his confidence in Hamer’s leadership.

“Your experience as an administrator, coupled with your understanding of Salesian spirituality, certainly equips you in building upon the strong foundation laid by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.”

“I’m so blessed; the kids are fantastic,” Hamer said. “I couldn’t ask for a more vibrant group of students to work with.”