Jenny Poulos named St. Joan of Arc Catholic School principal for 2019-20

Published 11:44 am Friday, April 12, 2019

LAPLACE — St. Joan of Arc Catholic School announced Friday morning that a new principal would take for the 2019-20 school year.

Jenny Poulos will begin her leadership role on July 1, when current SJA principal Jeffrey M. Montz retires from school administration.

“I am excited, honored and humbled to accept the position as principal and spiritual leader of St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in LaPlace,” Poulos said. “I look forward to joining and getting to know the faith community and working with Fr. Pat and the dedicated staff of SJA to foster the spiritual and educational development of each student.”

Poulos lives in Destrehan with her husband, Rudy. They have three children: Courtney, Andrew, and Sydney and a son-in-law, Denny.

Poulos earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University in Atlanta. She received a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from The University of Holy Cross in New Orleans.

Poulos began her career teaching in the St. Charles Parish Public Schools before having her children and staying home with them for a number of years. In 2003 she was called to the ministry of Catholic Education and joined her children, who were attending St. Charles Borromeo in Destrehan.

She taught first grade for six years before moving to Colorado in 2009. While there, she taught English/Language Arts and Religion to fourth and fifth graders at St. Louis School in Englewood.

Upon moving back to Louisiana, Poulos returned to St. Charles Borromeo in 2011 as a second grade and a PE teacher while in graduate school. She was a member of the Leadership team, Safe Schools Coordinator, Advanc-ED team leader and worked with discipline.

In 2017 she took a position at Our Lady of Lourdes in Slidell as a Student Support Service Coordinator and second grade teacher.

She became assistant principal at Our Lady of Lourdes in July of 2018, assisting teachers, students and families with their educational and behavioral concerns. She was part of a team who established a new Early Childhood Development Center serving 6-week olds through pre-K three year olds.