As Diocese of Richmond schools began the academic year on Monday, Aug. 23, three of the schools had new principals.
Dominican Sister Mary Cecilia Goodrum is the principal at St. Mary Star of the Sea School, Hampton. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, she has been a religious sister for more than 30 years.
Sister Mary Cecilia has worked with students at the elementary, middle, high school and college levels in the Dioceses of Nashville, as well as in the Archdioceses of Denver, Cincinnati, Chicago, New Orleans and Atlanta.
She has graduate degrees in school administration, religious/biblical studies and counseling psychology.
Matthew Weatherford brings 15 years of experience in public school education as principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School, Danville. He taught technology and engineering at Chatham High School for nine years. For the last six years, he has been assistant principal at Dan River High School.
Weatherford holds an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Arkansas State University – Jonesboro.
He and his family are members of St. Victoria Parish, Hurt.
For Carey Mae Jacobsen, a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Richmond, becoming principal of Our Lady of Lourdes School is a continuation of service that began there 20 years ago.
From 2001 until 2015, Jacobsen taught middle school mathematics and religion. She then moved into administration, first as the administration intern, then as assistant principal. Jacobsen earned her bachelor’s degree at Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree and doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies through Virginia Tech.