Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, announced today several principal appointments, as well as the designation of the first school to host the PRIDE (Pupils Receiving Inclusive Diversified Education) Plus program, which serves students with minimal learning disabilities.
Ms. Kathleen Filippelli has been appointed principal of the new Catholic elementary school to be initially located in Seton Keough High School. Ms. Filippelli is currently the principal of Father Charles Hall Catholic School in Baltimore, where she has served for the past 15 years. The new school, which will be named with input from the school community, will be established in a separate area from the high school and will be equipped especially for elementary school students. The Archdiocese is committed to building a new school once enrollment and fundraising goals are met.
The idea of merging several school communities into one new school family in Seton Keough is an exciting and life-giving challenge.” Ms Filippelli said.
Ms. Pamela Walters, currently the principal of Sacred Heart of Mary School in Graceland Park, has been appointed principal of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer School in Rosedale. Ms. Walters previously taught the PRIDE program and has a dual Bachelors degree in Special Education and Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Administration and Supervision.
In conjunction with Ms. Walters’ appointment, the Archbishop has announced that she will coordinate the first PRIDE Plus Program, which he announced March 4, will be strengthened and expanded. St. Clement will serve as the new Professional Development School for the PRIDE program, and the current PRIDE programs operating at Mother Mary Lange Catholic School and Sacred Heart of Mary will be hosted by St. Clement Mary Hofbauer School. This means that students currently enrolled in the PRIDE program at these two consolidating schools (and their siblings) are assured acceptance in the PRIDE program at St. Clement Mary Hofbauer School.
As the PRIDE professional development school for the Archdiocese, training of teachers for new PRIDE programs and coordination of the program will be directed by Ms. Walters at St. Clement’s. The Archdiocese is committed to expanding the program at one additional Catholic school in 2011 and in two more schools in 2012, bringing the total number of PRIDE schools to four.
The PRIDE Plus program serves as an innovative Archdiocesan resource designed to meet the special needs of students of average and above average intelligence with minimal learning disabilities in grades K-8. Teachers trained in the field of special education, who design specific programs to meet the personal needs of each child, staff the program. Small class sizes ensure that children receive individualized attention, and the values of integrity, respect and dependable work habits are emphasized. Special education teachers plan language and math instruction in a small group setting that occurs during the regularly scheduled language and math periods. Each child in the program also is an integral part of a regular mainstream homeroom; part of their day is spent with their mainstream classmates in social studies, science, religion, and special area subjects.
The Archbishop announced the following other principal appointments:
| Principal | New School | Current School |
|---|---|---|
| Margaret Dates | St. Pius X | St. Clare |
| Sr. Marie Rose Gustatus, SSND | St. Thomas Aquinas | St. Thomas Aquinas |
| Gregory Jones | Msgr. Slade | Msgr. Slade |
| Patricia Kelly | St. Michael the Archangel | St. Michael the Archangel |
| LaUanah King-Cassell | Ss. James and John | Ss. James and John |
| Sr. Rita Michelle Proctor, OSP | Cardinal Shehan | Mother Mary Lange |
| Sr. Irene Pryle, SSND | Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke | Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke |
| Thomas Riddle | Our Lady of Victory | Our Lady of Victory |
| Pamela Sanders | St. Ambrose | St. Ambrose |
| Patricia Schratz | St. Augustine | St. Augustine |
| Lisa Shipley | Our Lady of Mt. Carmel | Our Lady of Mt. Carmel |
| Shirley Wise | St. Philip Neri | St. Philip Neri |
The appointments were made by the Archbishop following a five-week interview process conducted by the Superintendent of Schools, a long-time Catholic educator and former school principal, and representatives of the Division of Human Resources and the Office of Schools Planning for the Archdiocese.