Dwyer named principal of St. Francis Xavier

Dwyer, a native of New Orleans, began her career in education in the Memphis, Tennessee, school system as a fourth-grade teacher for three years and a second-grade teacher for one year. She earned a master of education in curriculum and instruction from Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee.
    

She returned home to New Orleans to join the faculty of Stuart Hall School for Boys for eight years, where she taught fourth grade, coached soccer and was lower school division leader. 
    

From 2012-14, she served as curriculum coordinator at Our Lady of the Lake School in Mandeville and also earned a second master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of New Orleans. She later earned a doctorate in educational administration from UNO, writing her dissertation on “Networking and School Leaders.”
    

She also was accepted as a fellow of the School Leadership Center of Greater New Orleans. 
    

At Holy Name, she overcame a significant decline in enrollment due to the expansion of other schools to raise the student body to 520 students. She has served for 20 years in education, 16 of which have been in Catholic schools.
    

“I attended Catholic school from kindergarten through college,” Dwyer said. “I can only imagine myself leading a Catholic school. It is such a special gift to be able to strive for excellence in education while also developing the spirituality of the stakeholders in the school community. The fact that I can openly rely on my faith in times of celebration, contentment and difficulty, and help others to do so as well, is something to be treasured.”
    

Dwyer also said she was honored to be the school’s educational and spiritual leader “and serve as a role model to the youth of our church.”
    

“I am humbled to lead faculty and staff through both spiritual guidance and educational expertise,” Dwyer said. “Catholic education is successful because of its focus on the whole person. I firmly believe that in feeding and educating the soul of our students, we are able to better educate their minds to prepare them to be lifelong learners who follow God in all their endeavors.
    

“I also look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence at St. Francis Xavier while striving for continuous improvement in order to prepare our students to be lifelong learners with a strong faith in God and commitment to serving others.”