SAN DIEGO — Nine Catholic schools in the Diocese of San Diego have new principals this year.
At the elementary school level, they include: David Blair, St. Charles School; Jamie Brandt, St. Martin of Tours Academy; Annalisa Burgos, Nazareth School; María Guadalupe Hernández, St. John of the Cross School; Lorena Hernández, St. Pius X School; Francie Moss and Kathryn Zack as co-principals, Stella Maris Academy; Dominican Father Allan White, St. Mary’s School; and Dawn Almes Wright, St. Michael’s School.
Jeffrey McMurtry also has begun his first year as principal of Cathedral Catholic High School.
David Blair
St. Charles School, Imperial Beach
David Blair, the new principal of St. Charles School, has deep roots in that community.
Not only is the 43-year-old an alumnus, but he has been teaching there for more than 20 years and, for the past eight years, was its vice principal.
“I love this school and want to see it thrive — not just now, but for future generations,” he said.
Blair went on to attend Marian Catholic High School, whose tradition continues today at Mater Dei Catholic High School, before earning a bachelor’s in History and a teaching credential at the University of San Diego, a master’s in Education at San Diego State University, and a Catholic school leadership certification at Loyola Marymount University.
“I loved teaching so much and I never envisioned or had the desire to seek the position of principal,” said Blair, who has primarily taught seventh- and eighth-grade English Language Arts and Social Studies.
But, with his wife’s encouragement, he has become “more open” to where God might be calling him.
“To me, a principal serves as a coach and a guide,” said Blair, who has coached sports for 22 years. “It is about supporting teachers, helping students succeed, building strong relationships with families, creating fertile ground for all to grow, and keeping the mission of the school at the front and center.”
Blair said that he takes on his new role with “a mix of excitement, humility and a deep sense of responsibility.”
“This place means a lot to me.”
Jamie Brandt
St. Martin of Tours Academy, La Mesa
Born in Texarkana, Texas, Jamie Brandt moved to San Diego as a young child.
He attended Stella Maris Academy, James Madison High School, and the University of Notre Dame on an NROTC scholarship.
In 1990, after earning a bachelor’s in Economics, he was commissioned into the U.S. Navy, where he served on active duty for 14 years and 10 years as a reservist.
He also holds a Master of Science in Operations Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, and a Master of Education through the Catholic School Leadership Program at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.
Brandt got his first taste of teaching in 2002, as a math instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
In late 2004, he entered the seminary of the Archdiocese of Washington for three years. After returning to San Diego, he taught high schoolers at St. Joseph Academy in San Marcos, from 2008 to 2015.
It was there that he “fell in love” with teaching and became convinced that he would continue in Catholic education.
“I truly believe that God should be recognized and celebrated in every classroom,” said Brandt, who spent about a decade as a principal and teacher at two Catholic schools in Northern California, before returning to San Diego last year as principal of Stella Maris Academy.
“Despite a few challenges, it was a very good year, and it was a very difficult decision to leave,” he said.
Brandt feels “excited and ready,” as well as “grateful and humbled,” as he steps into his new role as principal at St. Martin of Tours Academy.
Annalisa Burgos
Nazareth School, San Diego
Annalisa Burgos was born and raised in El Centro and has spent much of her educational career in the Imperial Valley.
But this year finds her in the principal’s office at Nazareth School, which is located next-door to historic Mission San Diego.
“I am honored to serve as principal at Nazareth School,” said Burgos, who has 22 years of experience as a Catholic school educator and earned a bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from San Diego State University and a master’s in Theology from St. John Seminary. “It is a true gift to be part of a community rooted in the values of the Sisters of Nazareth, whose mission and core values inspire our ministry each day.”
Burgos taught at St. Mary’s School in El Centro and later at Vincent Memorial Catholic High School in Calexico. She went on to serve as principal of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in San Ysidro, teach at Yuma Catholic High School, and serve as principal of Holy Family School in Linda Vista and then at Sacred Heart School in Brawley.
She served at Sacred Heart School from 2016 until the school’s closure in the summer of 2023.
Last year, she was principal of St. Mary’s School in El Centro.
Reflecting on her current assignment, she said, “Our campus is located on the beautiful grounds of Mission San Diego de Alcalá, and hearing the Mission bells daily is a powerful reminder of our Catholic faith and the Church’s rich history. I am truly grateful to continue serving in a ministry that nurtures both the hearts and minds of our students.”
Lorena Hernández
St. Pius X School, Chula Vista
As a new principal, Lorena Hernández feels “the weight of the responsibility.”
“But it’s a joyful weight, one grounded in a desire to serve, to grow, and to help others do the same,” she said.
“With God’s guidance, I am ready to lead with compassion, courage and conviction — always keeping Christ at the center of all we do.”
Originally from Holtville, Hernández has lived in San Diego for the past 25 years.
She joined the staff of St. Pius X School eight years ago, inspired by the impact that the school had on the lives of her three daughters.
“It has been a blessing to serve in a school community that values both faith and family,” she said.
Hernández, who holds a bachelor’s in Business Administration from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, was hired as the school’s administrative assistant in September of 2017 and transitioned into the role of office manager in June 2021.
The latter position was one in which she handled a range of responsibilities, from payroll and human resources to tuition management, admissions and advancement.
“My responsibility (as principal) is to foster an environment where faith and learning go hand in hand, and where every student is seen, valued and guided to reach their full God-given potential,” she said. “I strive to ensure that our school remains a place where Catholic identity is not only taught but lived.”
“I feel a deep sense of gratitude, humility and purpose,” she said. “I am honored by the trust placed in me to lead a school community that is grounded in faith, tradition and excellence.”
María Guadalupe Hernández
St. John of the Cross School, Lemon Grove
St. John of the Cross School in Lemon Grove welcomes María Guadalupe Hernández, a veteran educator with more than 30 years of experience, as its new principal this year.
Originally from La Barca, Jalisco, Mexico, Hernández has served at Catholic schools throughout California, including in Bakersfield, Sacramento and Los Angeles, as well as Calexico.
She earned a bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from California State University, Sacramento, and her credential and a master’s from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
From fall of 2012 through the conclusion of the 2023-2024 academic year, she was principal of Vincent Memorial Catholic High School in Calexico. Last year, she served as principal of St. Katharine Drexel Academy in San Diego.
Other assignments in the Diocese of San Diego include a teaching position at Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy, also in Calexico.
For her new school, St. John of the Cross, the last few years have been eventful ones.
On Jan. 22, 2024, after extensive flooding caused by a day of record rainfall in San Diego County, the school’s campus was evacuated.
Beginning Feb. 5 of that year, the school relocated temporarily to the campus of St. Michael Academy, a parochial school in Paradise Hills that had closed three years earlier. Repairs were completed in time for the St. John of the Cross campus to re-open for the 2024-2025 school year.
This will be its second year back after the flood.
“I am happy to serve my new community of St John of the Cross,” said Hernández. “It is with great faith and love to the Diocese of San Diego that I accepted this ministry.”
Francie Moss
Stella Maris Academy, La Jolla
Francie Moss was one year into her retirement, when she was asked to come back to Stella Maris Academy to serve as principal for one year.
She agreed, but proposed the idea of a co-principal model of governance, with her sharing leadership with Kathryn Zack, then the school’s vice principal.
Moss, who has 42 years of experience in education, including 21 as a principal, said that she sees the co-principal arrangement as “a great way for principals to ‘ease into retirement,’ by capitalizing on their strengths and sharing responsibilities with another trusted professional.”
“I am excited to bring this new, forward-thinking, model of administration to Stella Maris Academy,” she said. “I am looking forward to working side-by-side with my co-principal as we navigate these uncharted waters together.”
Born and raised in San Diego, Moss earned a bachelor’s in Liberal Studies and a California Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Diego State University, and a master’s in Educational Administration from National University.
Moss taught at-risk students in public school for one year, while also teaching religious education classes at her home parish, Holy Trinity, in El Cajon. Her career in Catholic education began when she learned that the parish school needed a third-grade teacher.
She also has taught at St. Martin of Tours Academy in La Mesa and at St. Michael Academy, the former parochial school of St. Michael Parish in Paradise Hills. As a principal, she led St. Mary, Star of the Sea School in Oceanside, Holy Trinity School and, from 2019 to 2024, Stella Maris Academy.
“The ability to bring our faith to our children, who are the future of the Church, is an honor and a privilege,” said Moss. “I can’t imagine teaching in a secular classroom where, even though he is present, the presence of Jesus is not recognized.”
Father Allan White, OP
St. Mary’s School, El Centro
“I did not seek this position,” Dominican Father Allan White said of his role as principal of St. Mary’s School in El Centro – a position that he previously held from 2019 through 2024.
“If I have occupied any role, it is because I was asked to,” he said. “Dominicans take a vow of obedience. I have always seen the responsibilities I have been given as an invitation to grow as an obedient disciple of the Lord.”
Born in London, Father White entered religious life in 1973. He professed vows the next year and was ordained to the priesthood in 1979.
He holds a bachelor’s in Modern History, subsequently converted into a master’s, from the University of Oxford, and a bachelor’s of Divinity and a doctorate, both from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Father White has spent more than 40 years in education, including at universities, diocesan seminaries, and teaching courses for lay people engaged in parish ministry.
He came to the United States in 2011.
Father White served as director of the New York University Catholic Center from 2012 until 2015, when he accepted a position at St. Mary’s School.
He said, “I have been here ever since as vice principal, principal, teacher and now principal once more.”
“The principal can set the tone, but it is not the principal alone who builds the school as a house of God,” he said. “The principal’s responsibility is to build unity and communion, recognizing the gifts of others and allowing them to express them for the good of the whole school family.”
Dawn Almes Wright
St. Michael’s School, Poway
As a freshman at the University of Notre Dame, Dawn Almes Wright was sure that she wanted to go into politics.
“I’m thankful God had another plan for me,” said Wright, who has been in the educational field since her graduation in 1992.
“Once I started student teaching,” she said, “I knew I’d found my vocation.”
But her vocation wasn’t all she found at Notre Dame.
Wright, who grew up Protestant, became Catholic during her senior year, thanks to the influence of Catholic friends who brought her to Mass.
She earned a bachelor’s in Secondary Education and History at the University of Maryland and a master’s in Theology at the Augustine Institute. She is currently pursuing a master’s in Educational Leadership program at the University of Notre Dame.
As an educator, she has taught at public schools, homeschooled her children for 15 years, and served as a parish catechist. In 2017, she took a job as a middle school teacher at St. Michael’s School in Poway.
“As soon as I started teaching at St. Michael’s School, I felt a sense of belonging and community I had not experienced before,” she said.
She taught there through 2023 and, after teaching Religion at Cathedral Catholic High School for the 2023-2024 academic year, returned to St. Michael’s School last year as vice principal.
“I came to St. Michael’s a few years after a family tragedy, was immediately welcomed into the family here, and found healing,” she said. “Now, I have the opportunity to give back to a community that has given me so much.”
Kathryn Zack
Stella Maris Academy, La Jolla
“It was such a meaningful time in my life. I learned so much from my teachers,” Kathryn Zack said of her years as a Catholic school student.
She said that, among the lessons that she learned was that “faith is the rudder that steers our lives.”
That nautical metaphor is an apt one for Zack, who is serving as co-principal of Stella Maris Academy – Latin for “Star of the Sea” – with Francie Moss this year.
Originally from the Bay Area, Zack holds a bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from California State University, San Marcos, where she also earned an elementary teaching credential and CLAD (Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development) certification, and a master’s in Educational Administration and an administrative credential.
Of her 28 years in education, she has spent 18 at Catholic schools.
“What I love most (about Catholic education) is that faith is woven into everything we do. … There’s a strong sense of community and a shared mission to help students become thoughtful, compassionate people who want to make a difference,” she said. “It truly feels like being part of a family.”
Zack taught at St. Peter the Apostle School in Fallbrook and The Nativity School in Rancho Santa Fe, before transitioning to public schools — teaching at Clair Burgener Academy in Oceanside and joining the administration at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Oceanside.
Returning to Catholic education, she joined the faculty of Stella Maris Academy in 2010, eventually becoming vice principal. Even now, as co-principal, she continues to teach middle-schoolers.
Reflecting on her new role, she said, “I believe a principal’s role is to lead with both heart and purpose.”
“Having been part of this school community for 15 years,” she said, “I feel both honored and excited to take on this new role. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and confident that my deep understanding of our school’s culture and values will help me serve effectively.”
Jeffrey McMurtry
Cathedral Catholic High School, Carmel Valley
How did an aspiring college professor become a high school principal?
Jeffrey McMurtry earned a bachelor’s in Humanities at San Diego State University in 1993 and then pursued a master’s in the same discipline at the University of Texas at Arlington.
He taught at the latter, from 1994 to 2001, as a graduate instructor and then adjunct.
McMurtry moved back to his native San Diego to pursue a career as a college professor. While interviewing for a tenure track position, he served as a substitute teacher at the University of San Diego High School.
“I fell in love with Catholic education right away (and) stopped interviewing at colleges,” said McMurtry, who was hired mid-year by the high school as an English teacher.
The University of San Diego High School closed in 2005, with the Dons’ legacy carried on at Cathedral Catholic High School. McMurtry has been associated with the community, in various roles, for more than 23 of his 30 years in education. Most recently, he was dean of academics for nine years.
“When Cathedral Catholic posted for a principal last fall, I was eager to apply,” he said, “not because I am terribly ambitious … Rather, I felt I could equip myself for the job, was committed to do the work, had long experience in facilitating and driving change, already loved the community and, most importantly, felt obliged to say ‘yes’ should God call me to lead the Dons.
“To do otherwise,” he said, “would have seemed ungrateful for all of the training, formation, responsibility and affirmation I had received over the years from my mentors among the ‘Dons.’”
