Elizabeth “Beth” Bartolotta will serve as St. Francis of Assisi’s new principal for the 2017-2018 school year.

A meet-and-greet to introduce Bartolotta to the parish, parents and community will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, in the SFA Parish Center, 4556 Telegraph Road.

She brings with her 30 years of experience in the Archdiocese of St. Louis Catholic education arena, according to a news release.

“We (the search committee) are overjoyed to have found such a wonderful principal. St. Francis of Assisi will grow stronger under the direction of Mrs. Bartolotta. I look forward to working with her,” stated the Rev. Anthony Yates, who serves as SFA pastor.

Bartolotta holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary and early childhood education from Maryville University, a master’s degree in special education from Font-bonne University and a master’s degree in Administration from St. Louis University.

She is a certified religion teacher and certified catechist for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Bartolotta spent the last nine years as principal of St. Justin Martyr.

Before that, she was a learning consultant and a primary teacher at St. Justin Martyr and Our Lady of Sorrows. Bartolotta has served on accreditation teams with the St. Louis Archdiocese and with AdvancED.

The recipient of the Rose Philippine Duchesne Distinguished Principal Award in 2013, she brings to St. Francis experience in standards-based grading, professional learning communities, curriculum mapping, integrated instruction, strategic planning, enrollment management and data teams.

With these best practices in place, St. Justin Martyr experienced its highest level of enrollment in 40 years and wait lists at several grade levels.

Along with St. Francis parishioner Mary O’Connell, Bartolotta was a member of Archbishop Robert J. Carlson’s Mission Advancement Initiative.

The two served on a committee led by Karen Tichy to develop rubrics to accompany the National Standards and Bench-marks for Effective Catholic Schools.

Cultivating opportunities for encountering Christ is a goal of hers, the release stated. Bartolotta said that she is looking forward to creating a shared vision with the community of St. Francis of Assisi and to build a stronger, more viable ministry of Catholic education within the parish.

SFA School parent Tom Burton commended the search committee, stating, “I immediately started researching Mrs. Bartolotta and could not be more pleased.

“I have friends at SJM who cannot say enough good things about her. I also like her stances on innovation and curriculum. I hope she is exactly what we need for the future and will help us grow as a school and community.”