ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND APPOINTS CATHERINE A. EDWARDS AS PRINCIPAL
Laurel’s historic Catholic high school transitions to a President-Principal model, elevating a trusted internal leader to oversee day-to-day operations.
St. Vincent Pallotti High School, a premier co-educational Catholic college preparatory school founded in 1921 in Laurel, Maryland, sponsored by the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, recently announced a strategic development in its leadership structure. Effective July 1, 2026, the school will formally transition to a President-Principal model.
Under this new framework, Jeff Palumbo, who has dedicated the past 14 years to serving the community in a dual Principal/President capacity, will transition to focus solely on his role as President. Concurrently, the school is proud to announce the promotion of Catherine A. Edwards as Pallotti’s new Principal. Ms. Edwards will serve as St Vincent Pallotti’s first female lay Principal.
When asked about this new leadership transition and how it will affect Pallotti’s community, he remarked, “I am proud of what has been accomplished over the past fourteen years in support of St. Vincent Pallotti High School’s mission. Important programs such as the Arts Academy and the Computer Science & Engineering program have been established. We have also undertaken over $12 million in capital improvements. However, with the continued competition in the private school market and the increasing costs of operating our school, it has become clear that this change in leadership structure will help ensure the continued success of St. Vincent Pallotti High School. I am confident that we have the right person for the principal position in Catherine Edwards. Her years serving the school and our students will ensure continuity and she will bring new ideas and a fresh energy to the principal position.”
As President, Mr. Palumbo will focus on the school's financial sustainability, institutional advancement, human resources, enrollment, and marketing/communications. As Principal, Ms. Edwards will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the school, including faculty support and evaluation, extra-curricular activities, student affairs, school counseling, campus ministry, and athletics.
Sister Danuta Pryzbylek, SAC, Provincial North America and a corporate member of Pallotti’s board of directors shared, "As Pallottine Missionary Sisters, we view leadership as a sacred calling to serve and nurture our community. This new leadership model allows Jeff Palumbo, as President, to focus on the spiritual and strategic mission of the school, while Catherine Edwards, as our new Principal, ensures that the day-to-day environment remains a vibrant, safe, and faith-filled space for learning. We bless both leaders as they take on these vital roles, confident that their combined dedication will keep St. Vincent Pallotti High School rooted in the charism of St. Vincent Pallotti, reviving faith and rekindling charity in the hearts of all our students."
Ms. Edwards brings over 30 years of extensive experience in Catholic school administration, counseling, and non-profit management. A product of Catholic education herself, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame, as well as a Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling, and a Master of Arts in Catholic School Leadership, both from The Catholic University of America.
Since joining St. Vincent Pallotti High School in 2018, Ms. Edwards has served as Dean of Students and, most recently, as Assistant Principal for Student Affairs. In addition to her extensive history in Catholic secondary education, Ms. Edwards spent nearly a decade in senior non-profit executive leadership. This unique background brings valuable skills to the principalship, including expertise in strategic fiscal responsibility, volunteer mobilization, community marketing, and a deep, empathetic approach to managing organizational change.
Ms. Edwards is excited to assume this new role. She shares that, "Having been on both sides of the desk, not only as a Catholic school administrator and counselor, but also as a parent whose children went through the Catholic school system; I know exactly how important these high school years are. My passion lies in ensuring that every young man and woman at Pallotti feels supported, challenged, and valued as they maneuver through these critical years. I am thrilled to partner with Mr. Palumbo, the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, the Board of Directors, our extraordinary faculty, and our families to continue building a safe, positive, and rigorous environment for our students."
