Mount St. Mary Academy in Kenmore has selected a new leader of the all-girls Catholic high school. Western New York native Katherine Spillman has been selected as the new principal. Spillman has been serving as director of staff formation at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts the last decade. She will succeed Dawn Riggie, who announced her retirement in March after serving 25-years at the school.
"The board is thrilled to welcome Katie into our family. Her warm personality and vision for the future align perfectly with the character of Mount St. Mary,” said Board President Kathy Hoelscher Glieco ’81. “She comes to us with vast experience teaching in and ministering to Catholic school communities.”
“I am filled with joyful anticipation for all that awaits me at Mount St. Mary Academy,” Spillman said. “Building on the strong foundation established by beloved Principal Mrs. Dawn Riggie, and the faculty and staff, I look forward to guiding the community to continue to be a place where young women thrive and are nurtured in their unique giftedness.”
Spillman has Bachelor of Arts in Theology and History and a Master of Education from the University of Notre Dame. She also holds a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College.
Among her past experience prior to her position at Xaverian, Spillman served as Campus Minister for Ignatian Formation at Boston College and prior to that at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell. She also served as Director of Campus Ministry at Trinity Catholic High School in Newton, MA.
"Katie brings with her great experience, new ideas and an enthusiasm for leading a school community that is focused on the care and empowerment of young women,” said Glieco. “She recognizes Mount St. Mary Academy’s many strengths and is committed to building on them - and adding to them - as we continue to advance our mission of educating students in the tradition of our founders, the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur.”
Spillman’s husband Jim was recently named principal at St. Josephs Collegiate Institute in Tonawanda. Spillman and her husband are originally from the region growing up in Rochester and Tonawanda.
