The following have been named principal or interim principal at Catholic elementary schools in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. This information was provided to the Catholic Standard by the Catholic Schools Office.
Teresa Skinner has accepted the position of principal at Archbishop Neale School in La Plata, Maryland. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in Catholic school leadership. She assumes her position at Archbishop Neale School after serving as a teacher for many years at Little Flower School in Bethesda, Maryland. She also served as director of religious education at Holy Face Church in Great Mills, Maryland. As a military spouse, Skinner, had the opportunity to follow her passion for teaching in several places across the United States.
Janet Szoch is the new principal at Father Andrew White, SJ School in Leonardtown, Maryland. She holds a bachelor of science degree in child development from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She also has earned a master’s degree in leadership and administration from Notre Dame University of Maryland. She previously taught mathematics and religion at Archbishop Neale School. She also served Charles County Schools as a special education inclusion teacher. Janet taught middle school mathematics for the county, where her students had the highest math gains in the county. In addition, she has served her parish – Sacred Heart in La Plata, Maryland – in various catechetical positions, including CCD teacher, marriage preparation instructo, and participant on the Mustard Seed Communities mission trip. A lifelong Catholic, Szoch and her husband have six children and twelve grandchildren.
Erin Meunier has been named the new principal at St. Joseph Regional Catholic School in Beltsville, Maryland. She had been assistant principal at the school since 2020. Before coming to St. Joseph, she was a teacher in a Catholic school in Diocese of Arlington. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree, with a specialization in mathematics leadership.
Jeanne Donatelli, the former vice principal of St. Jude Regional Catholic School in Rockville, Maryland, has accepted the position as interim principal at the school for the upcoming school year, 2021-2022 academic year. She has served at St. Jude for more than 20 years, and is a former Golden Apple winner and Teacher of the Year. She has been a key member of the leadership team at St. Jude School for several years.
Ricardo “Sam” Chapa is the new principal of St. Francis International School, in Silver Spring, Maryland. He comes to St. Francis from Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School in Takoma Park, Maryland, where he was the social studies department chair. He had served at Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School since 2011. At Don Bosco, Chapa also was a member of the Instructional Leadership Team and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. He is fluent in English, Spanish and French.
Raven Wilkins is the new principal at St. Augustine Catholic School in Washington, D.C. He is a product of Roman Catholic of the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools. He attended Holy Redeemer School in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Archbishop Carroll High School, also in Washington, D.C. His first role at St. Augustine was in 2008 as a middle school math teacher. Since then he has served the school as resource teacher, admission director and assistant principal. Wilkins said he is very grateful for the sacrifices his teachers and administrators made for him, and welcomes the opportunity to do the same for others.
Melissa Sloane is the new principal of Mother of God School in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She previously worked at St. John the Evangelist School in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she was the technology coordinator and assistant principal. Prior to that, she was director of the resource program at St. Bernadette School in Silver Spring. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and theology and two master’s degrees in special education and leadership.
Caitlin Keeton is returning to a principal position in a Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Catholic elementary school. She is the new principal at St. John the Evangelist School in Silver Spring, Maryland. Keeton previously served as principal of Little Flower School in Great Mills, Maryland, from 2013-2017; and recently served as principal of St. Agnes School in Arlington, Massachusetts.
Vincent Spadoni is also returning to a principal position in a Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Catholic elementary school. He is the new principal at St. Peter’s Catholic School in Olney, Maryland. Spadoni has served in archdiocesan Catholic school leadership positions since 1998. He previously served as vice principal and principal at St. Elizabeth Catholic School in Rockville, Maryland, and principal at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Cheverly, Maryland. Most recently, he was president of Consortium of Catholic Academies.
