Local Catholic School Principal gets high honor

White House honors St. Mary's Academy principal

Published: Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 4:59 PM     Updated: Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 4:59 PM

By Times-Picayune Staff NOLA.com

Sister Jennie Jones, principal of St. Mary's Academy in New Orleans, is one of nine Catholic education leaders who will be honored at the White House tomorrow as Champions of Change for their service to their communities and the nation.

Sister Jennie Jones, St. Mary's Academy principal

Jones was instrumental in the effort to rebuild St., Mary's, her alma mater, after the campus, at 6905 Chef Menteur Highway, was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Under Jones' leadership, the school was expanded to include classes from kindergarten through eighth grades to accommodate students and families displaced by the hurricane.
The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama's Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different sector is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.
According to a statement released by the White House about the latest honorees, "these extraordinary individuals have made a significant impact on the students, families, and educators through Catholic schools and universities throughout America. Their innovative ideas and dedication to students and to the wider community, demonstrate the strong commitment to ensuring that every child has an opportunity for greatness."
"We are thrilled to recognize these extraordinary Champions in Catholic Education at the White House. Each of these nine leaders embody the values of education, innovation and service through their stellar contributions to Catholic schools and the wider communities they serve," said Alexia Kelley, senior policy advisor at the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. "These Champions, like their colleagues in Catholic education across the country, inspire all of us to build up our communities and our nation's young people."
Jones has been a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family order for 42 years. She has served as a school principal for 27 years at various Catholic schools.
St, Mary's opened on Chartres Street in 1867 and moved in 1881 to the Orleans Avenue building that housed the Quadroon Ballroom. After a year in the St. Louis Cathedral School on St. Ann Street, the school relocated to eastern New Orleans in September 1965, the month that Hurricane Betsy struck.
Nearly 40 years later, Katrina struck, forcing school officials to evacuate.
After the storm, St. Mary's combined with St. Augustine High School and Xavier Preparatory High School as part of the MAX School. From January through May 2006, St. Mary's held classes on Xavier Prep's Uptown campus.
In August 2006, as part of a gift from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, St. Mary's moved to what had been the Gentilly campus of St. James Major School, located at 3774 Gentilly Blvd.
St. Mary's returned to its Chef Menteur Highway campus -- and modular buildings -- in the fall of 2007.
In April, the rebuilt school was opened on Feb. 21 and was dedicated in April.
To watch the awards presentation live, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/live tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.