Nine new principals join diocesan schools heading into the 2021-22 school year:
Jeanne Canavan, principal of Our Lady of Hope School in Potomac Falls, earned a bachelor’s from the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, in 1999, and a master’s from Marymount University in Arlington in 2012. She has 10 years of teaching experience, and 12 years of administrative experience at the Basilica School of St. Mary in Alexandria where she served until June.
Kate Chelak, principal of Blessed Sacrament School in Alexandria, earned a bachelor’s in anthropology and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in 2011 and 2012, respectively. She is pursuing a master’s in administration and supervision from Marymount University in Arlington. She has served at Blessed Sacrament since 2012.
Amy Fry, principal of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church, earned a bachelor’s from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind., in 1995, and a master’s in education from Marymount University in Arlington in 2008. She has six years of teaching experience and nine years of administrative experience in the Arlington diocese, most recently at St. Charles Early Education Center in Arlington.
Darcie Girmus, principal of St. Bernadette School in Springfield, earned a bachelor’s in elementary education in 1986, and a master’s in curriculum instruction in 1989 from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. In 2011, she earned a master’s in administration from Marymount University in Arlington. She has 27 years of teaching experience. Most recently, she served in an administrative role in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Timothy Guy, principal of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, earned a bachelor’s in mathematics from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., in 1987; a master’s in education from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 2002; and a doctorate in education leadership from Virginia Polytechnical Institute in 2016. He has 25 years of teaching and administrative experience.
Kristie Meyers, principal of Queen of Apostles School in Alexandria, earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in Indianapolis in 2004; a master’s from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind., in 2008; and a specialist degree from Regent University in Virginia Beach in 2020. In the diocese, she has served at St. Leo the Great in Fairfax, St. Bernadette in Springfield and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.
Francis Roque, principal of Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, earned a bachelor’s in economics from Providence College in Providence, R.I., and a master’s in education in administration and supervision from Marymount University in Arlington. He served in different roles at O’Connell since 2011 , including director of information technology, director of student life and dean of student affairs.
Anthony Sahadi, principal of St. Ann School in Arlington, earned a bachelor’s in history and a master’s in education administration from the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, Mich. He served as a Catholic school principal for the Archdioceses of Detroit and Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Schiller, principal of St. William of York School in Stafford, earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Dayton, Ohio, in 1992, and a master’s in public administration from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla., in 1997. She has served in education in the Dioceses of Raleigh and San Diego.
