May 15, 2023

 

Dear Community,

 

We are blessed to have Mrs. Amy Crawford Bauer join St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School as its new principal, effective July 1, 2023. Mrs. Bauer has been a devoted educator, dynamic team leader, and effective administrator for over twenty-five years. Her professional journey consists of serving as a Drexel Hill Middle School teacher for seventeen years, working as an Adjunct Instructor at Delaware Community College for one year, and being the Executive Director of Next Level Referee Training in Villanova for nine years. Before assuming this position for the last seven years, she was the Director of Admissions, Director of Student Achievement, and Assistant Principal for Student Services at Cardinal O'Hara High School. 

 

Mrs. Bauer comments, "Through my work in a variety of education settings, I have developed a deep appreciation for high academic standards, and my leadership and management skills have grown exponentially. Furthermore, I have developed a skill set that demonstrates my capacity to work collaboratively and independently in environments requiring active learning and careful attention to detail. Lastly, but most importantly, my strong Catholic beliefs and desire to put faith into action will be key in working with faculty, staff, students, and families of St. Mary Magdalen."

 

A part of our Principal Application contained essay questions. One question was: How do you view your role as a Principal in a Catholic School? Mrs. Bauer's answer speaks directly to her vision, "The presence of faith-based learning, sense of community, daily expressions of faith, religious beliefs and spirituality, as well as actions and activities motivated by Catholic principles are what set parochial schools apart. The mission of any Catholic school must be clearly stated, and it is the principal's job to support this objective while developing a community of faith among teachers, staff, students, and families. Teaching and learning are of the utmost importance in any school, and the principal must serve as the instructional leader. Also, key is developing a strong community that believes in hard work, kindness, and social justice. It is the duty of the principal to facilitate the development of this community and encourage the teachers and families to be a part of it. I firmly believe that if people feel invested and are part of a community that has meaning and works together towards a common goal, they are likely to stay, become involved, and encourage others to join the group as well. All of these components are necessary for Catholic schools to survive."

 

Mrs. Bauer resides in Havertown and is a parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish with her husband, Jim, two daughters, and a son. She attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and Cardinal O'Hara High School, received a B.S. from Boston College, an M.S. from Widener University, and is completing her Ed. D. at Immaculata University in Educational Leadership. In addition, she has her Pennsylvania Professional Certification.

 

We believe that Mrs. Bauer's professional skills, willingness to learn, energetic nature, drive to succeed, and dedication to Catholic Education will fit well with the mission of St. Mary Magdalen Parish and School.

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Rev. Msgr. Ralph J. Chieffo

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