Bishop Michael F. Burbidge announced the appointment of Jonathan D. Brand as head of school for Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School in Arlington March 23, effective July 1, 2026.
Brand has many years of experience as an educator and administrator, most recently as head of school at Grymes Memorial School in Orange, Va. Previously, he served for 11 years as the founding headmaster of Chelsea Academy, an independent Catholic school in Front Royal.
“I am confident that Jonathan Brand is the ideal person to assume this role as head of school at Bishop O’Connell,” said Bishop Burbidge. “For generations, Bishop O’Connell High School has been a faith-filled community of learning, rooted in the life of Christ. By God’s grace, I believe Mr. Brand’s commitment to making Christ known in mind and heart, and his experience in sustaining excellence in Catholic education will bear abundant fruit for Bishop O’Connell. I also express my thanks to Mr. Bill Crittenberger for his dedicated and faithful service to Bishop O’Connell as head of school and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement.”
After Crittenberger announced his retirement as head of school earlier this academic year, Bishop Burbidge appointed a search committee that was led by school advisory board chair Michael Griffen and included diocesan Superintendent of Schools Joseph Vorbach.
“Jonathan Brand emerged from a very thorough process as the right person to be the next leader for Bishop O’Connell,” Vorbach said. “His faithful witness, his thoughtful leadership style and his successes as a leader in various settings have prepared him for this moment, which he is coming to with great enthusiasm.”
“Bishop O’Connell High School has long stood out as a flagship institution in the Diocese of Arlington and an authentic, Christ-centered school whose inspiring mission is lived out by the entire school community in remarkable ways,” Brand said. “I am deeply grateful to Bishop Burbidge for this opportunity, and I consider it a blessing and honor to join the leadership team in the work of guiding the school and building on its outstanding legacy.”
Brand holds a bachelor’s in history from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and a master’s in history from William and Mary in Williamsburg. He and his family are active parishioners at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas.
