Angela Warner has been part of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School for several years as a parent, Parents and Teachers Together (PTT) president, school board member and, most recently, a teacher. She will now take on a new role, as she has been named the school's new principal. Warner succeeds principal Rebecca Harvey, who announced her retirement earlier this school year.

Warner left a career teaching in public high schools in 2019 to teach middle school mathematics at Seven Sorrows and never thought she would one day become principal. "I've always been tagged as a leader in my career path and worked in leadership positions," said Warner. "Here, at Seven Sorrows, it was not in my train of thought, but as I saw where I fit in at the school and my strengths over the last two years, (I believed that becoming principal) was something I could easily transition to."

Warner attended John Carroll High School in Bel Air, Md., and earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education mathematics and elementary education at Bloomsburg University and a Master of Education in mathematics at Millersville University. "As a math teacher, my goal is for Seven Sorrows to be a STEM-certified school," she said, noting that the school already has a STREAM program, where students can take part in projects involving science, technology, religion, engineering, art and math.

Warner, who started an after-school math club attended by 75% of middle school students, would also like to start a public speaking and debate club, as well as a drama club.

She also plans to stay connected to the students while fulfilling her role as an administrator. "I feel that principals need to have an active role in the building. I want the children to see me every day," Warner stated. "I am choosing to still teach one math class. I feel like in doing that I will stay connected to students and the teachers. Sometimes, unfortunately, the principal gets lost in the office and this is a way to avoid that. "

Warner emphasized that she is committed to providing students a quality Catholic education at Seven Sorrows. "On a daily basis my duties are to be the educational leader and foster relationships and allow our students to grow and learn," she said. "As a Catholic school principal, (my role is) to model and enrich our Christian faith."

Seven Sorrows, 360 E. Water St., Middletown, is a parochial elementary school serving students in prekindergarten through eighth grade. Enrollment is now open for the 2021-22 school year. Visit http://www.sevensorrowsschool.com or email mkennedy@ssbvm.org to learn more. To schedule a tour, call 717-944-5371.