CHARLOTTE — Catholic school communities in the Triad and in Asheville are welcoming new principals this fall. Two recent hires and three internal candidates have been tapped to lead St. Pius X in Greensboro, Our Lady of Mercy and St. Leo in Winston-Salem, Bishop McGuinness in Kernersville, and Asheville Catholic School.
Antonette AguileraAntonette Aguilera, the new principal of St. Pius X School in Greensboro, has more than 25 years of teaching experience, from elementary education to post-graduate levels. She began as a third-grade teacher near Los Angeles and has served St. Pius X School as assistant principal since 2018. In addition to her love for children and for teaching, her dedication to education advocacy and law has been a driving force in her career, she says.
“As someone who has been shaped by Catholic education, the mission of Catholic schools resonates deeply,” she adds. “I believe in nurturing in our students a lasting relationship with Christ and an appreciation for the profound beauty of our Gospel teachings.”
Aguilera holds a bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic University, a Juris Doctor degree from Western State University, a Master of Laws from the University of London, and a master’s degree in educational administration from Liberty University.
Callie MooreCallie Moore, the new principal of Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem, has spent the past nine years teaching and leading the middle school at St. Leo School in Winston-Salem. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from High Point University.
During her time at St. Leo, Moore was named Teacher of the Year for the 2019-’20 school year for her work in developing and executing the digital learning plan for the middle school. Most recently, she served as the assistant principal at St. Leo.
Moore says she feels God has always led her to the place she most needs to be, and He had a strong hand in leading her to this position. With His guidance, Moore says, she is looking forward to a new journey and is excited to see what the future holds at Our Lady of Mercy School.
Katie Nance Katie Nance is the new principal of St. Leo School in Winston-Salem. She has experience as a school administrator and non-profit executive. In her 11 years of management and senior leadership experience, she built and maintained relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
Nance earned her undergraduate degree at High Point University and a master’s degree in school administration from Appalachian State University. She served as admissions director and director of the lower school at High Point Friends School from 2017 to 2020. She has also served as director of education and programs at the Nido And Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum in High Point.
Nance is a member of various committees such as the High Point Chamber of Commerce and volunteers as a lector and greeter at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in High Point.
Melissa StuartMelissa Stuart, the new principal of Asheville Catholic School, will be familiar to the school community – having taught and served as assistant principal from 2022 to earlier this year. She joined the school in 2021 as a fourth-grade teacher, following 17 years of service in Miami-Dade County Schools. Throughout her career she taught upper elementary classes with a focus on reading development and a specialization in writing. She served as a lead teacher, instructional coach, and in 2016, was named a Florida High Impact Teacher.
Stuart first became an assistant principal in 2016 after earning a master’s degree in educational leadership. She worked in administration for three years before moving to Asheville with her family. Stuart attended Catholic school as a child and says her own Catholic education and experience in the classroom inform her leadership approach. She prioritizes having students find joy in learning and fulfillment in being living examples of Christ’s love.
Claire WillisClaire Willis assumed the role of principal of Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville in June 2024, with her predecessor, Dr. Jared Rashford, becoming president of the school. Willis most recently served as the assistant schools superintendent for the Diocese of Baton Rouge and has 10 years of experience as a Catholic school administrator.
Willis is a certified education leader and education specialist in gifted education and holds a master’s degree in education from Vanderbilt University, a master’s degree in business administration from Louisiana State University-Shreveport, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Louisiana State University.
After spending every summer in the North Carolina mountains since childhood, Willis and her family moved from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to fulfill their dream of making North Carolina home. She says she is excited to be a part of the Bishop McGuinness community and its mission to form the faith, character and intellect of young men and women.
— Annie Ferguson
Diocesan financial aid & discounts
Most families who attend Catholic schools receive some form of financial aid through tuition discounts or assistance.
All of the diocese’s schools offer some sort of tuition discount or subsidy for registered participating Catholic families, up to 30 percent in some cases.
Generally speaking, tuition amounts range from approximately $5,000 to $13,000 for registered Catholics, with non-participating Catholics and non-Catholics paying higher amounts. Multiple child discounts are also available.
Needs-based tuition assistance is also available to qualified families – making Catholic education more affordable than ever for more families.
The application period is January through March 31 for the upcoming school year.
A family does not have to be registered as a participating Catholic to receive aid. Aid is need-based and can only assist with the cost of tuition. As soon the application process is complete, families are eligible to receive an award.
For details about the MACS tuition assistance program, call 704-370-3273 or go online to www.discovermacs.org/family-individualized-tuition. The DiscoverMacs.org website has detailed information about how financial assistance works, how to apply, and answers to frequently asked questions.
The diocese’s nine parish-based schools and Bishop McGuinness High School offer similar need-based tuition assistance to qualified students. Details can be found on each school’s website.
All financial aid requests are processed through a third-party processor, FACTS. Most diocesan parish-based schools provide financial aid through the FACTS processor as well. Receiving financial aid requires an ample amount of documentation, which is verified through the FACTS processor using the information provided by the family.
Families are required to apply every year if they wish to continue receiving financial aid. However, applying for financial aid does not guarantee a family will receive aid.
State financial aid
Other financial aid options include the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program, Disabilities Grant Program, and Education Savings Accounts. These cover tuition and required fees at a participating non-public school. In addition, the Disabilities Grant and Education Savings Account may cover certain other expenses related to educating a child with a disability.
Opportunity Scholarship Program
The Opportunity Scholarship Program expands school choice in North Carolina through scholarship grants for eligible children in kindergarten through 12th grade. This program provides funding for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school. Scholarships range from approximately $3,000 to $7,000 and are based on a family’s household income.
Disabilities Grant Program
The Disabilities Grant Program is a program for eligible students with disabilities in kindergarten through 12th grade to provide an option for parents to pay tuition, fees and some other expenses at a participating school. This program provides funding of up to $8,000 per year ($4,000 per semester) for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school.
Education Savings Account
An Education Savings Account expands school choice for eligible students with disabilities in kindergarten through 12th grade. An Education Savings Account is for students attending a registered non-public school and can be applied to tuition and required fees and certain other expenses related to educating a child with a disability. Additionally, it allows parents quarterly access to funds on a debit card. This program currently provides funding of up to $9,000 per year for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school. Each program has specific additional requirements for eligibility.
For details on all of these programs, go to the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority’s website at www.ncseaa.edu/k12.