Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Bigelow will resign her position effective June 30 as she and her family decided to relocate out of the area. 

“I am very grateful to Bishop Burbidge and Father Ferguson for their tremendous support of me and Catholic education. I have been so blessed to minister with them,” said Bigelow. “I am also grateful to the outstanding staff in the Office of Catholic Schools. It has been a joy to work with them each day. I will miss working with our principals and pastors who are such great witnesses of the faith for our students and their parents.”

Bigelow served as principal of the Franciscan School in Raleigh, N.C., before becoming superintendent in 2016.

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said, “I have known Jennifer for many years, both as a school principal in my former diocese and as a superintendent of Catholic education for the Diocese of Arlington. In both settings, she has demonstrated her considerable skills as an educator and as a leader in Catholic education.

“She is respected locally and by her colleagues throughout the country for her commitment to Catholic identity and excellence in education,” said Bishop Burbidge. “I am profoundly grateful for her service in the Diocese of Arlington. It is my hope and prayer that she will find abundant blessings and continued success in this new phase of her life. I convey to Jennifer my deepest gratitude and assure her and her family of my continued prayers.”

Joseph Vorbach, head of school at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, wishes Bigelow well. “I am personally grateful to Dr. Bigelow for her pragmatism and joyful zeal for Catholic education, and my gratitude is shared by our team at Bishop O'Connell,” he said. “Her approach to her work set a great example for all of us and her leadership will be missed.  We certainly extend to her and her family the prayers of the Bishop O'Connell community.”

Bigelow has served as superintendent of schools since July 5, 2016.