The Diocese of Charleston enters the 2016-17 school year with four new principals.
One takes the helm of a brand new high school in the Pee Dee while three others step into big shoes at established schools looking for new leadership.
Theodore “Ted” Hanes
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton High School in Myrtle Beach
Ted Hanes was tapped almost a year ago to guide St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the newest school in the diocese.
Officially, Hanes has been principal since January, although he was also on hand for the groundbreaking of the new school in November 2015.
He spent the months prior to the start of school overseeing the construction and still-to-come opening, which is tentatively scheduled for October. He also presided over several meetings with prospective families to tell them about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Hanes made the move south from Pennsylvania. Before taking the reins of South Carolina’s latest Catholic school, he spent 22 years at Elk County Catholic High School in St. Marys, Pa. He served as a teacher and then in 2011 took on the role of vice principal.
Hanes said he’s looking forward to escaping the brutally cold winters, but will miss downhill skiing.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton will begin with a class of ninth-graders and will add a new class of students each year until graduating its first class of seniors in 2020.
The diocesan high school falls under the leadership of the Catholic Schools Office and Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone.
Karen Durand
St. John School in North Charleston
Karen Durand will take the baton from Carole Anne White, who served 17 years as principal at St. John.
The new principal has an affinity for the school, which specializes in students with special needs, because she grew up with an autistic brother. Her dad, who was in the U.S. Navy, was able to keep the family in North Charleston and Durand said she’s spent her whole life in the area.
She attended College of Charleston and Charleston Southern, where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s, respectively.
In her professional career, she taught English at Berkeley High School in Moncks Corner for five years and spent the past 15 years at Miller Mott Technical College.
She and her family are active members of St. John Church. Durand said she had commented just recently about how cool it would be to work at the school, and now she is principal.
“I loved where I was, but I felt such a call to go to St. John,” she said.
St. John has served the North Charleston community since 1949 and had upwards of 300 students when the U.S. Navy base was open.
It is now a small, but close-knit community of students in K-4 through eighth grade.
Karen Luzzo
Holy Trinity in Longs
Karen Luzzo will continue to grow Holy Trinity School, moving from teacher to principal following the retirement of Sheila Durante.
Originally from Connecticut, Luzzo said she moved south 12 years ago and has been with Holy Trinity “since before the doors opened” eight years ago. She taught first, second and third grades, plus English language arts and religion to students in fourth through eighth grades.
Luzzo earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Connecticut State University. She also has certification from Neumann University in its Family Honor program, a family-centered approach to chastity values, plus graduate level certification in Catholic school leadership from Creighton University. She has spent over 18 years in administrative and teaching roles in private schools and early learning centers.
She and her husband are members of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the school and assist with its continued growth,” she said.
Holy Trinity was founded in 2009 and enrolls students in grades K-4 through eighth.
David Friedlander
Summerville Catholic in Summerville
David Friedlander takes charge of Summerville Catholic as it transitions to a regional school.
Friedlander, who is from New York, converted to Catholicism in 1993. “Everything that happens, I believe, has a higher purpose,” he said, noting how God has worked in his life.
He has been involved with Catholic education for 15 years. He attended the State University of New York in Oswego for his bachelor’s degree and in Geneseo for his master’s degree. He also has a certificate in administrative studies from Oswego.
Friedlander’s first role as principal was at a parish school transitioning to a regional school. He spent 12 years there, and said that experience ended up being perfect for his new role at Summerville.
In addition to his tenure as principal of three Catholic schools, he also served as director of education for ARC in New York.
He said his goal is to support the people in the school and the community, and to make sure they have a vital Catholic identity.
Summerville Catholic was established in 1988 and serves K-3 through eighth grade.
