St. Paul VI Catholic High School Names New Head Of School

CHANTILLY, VA — The Catholic Diocese of Arlington named Dr. Matthew Powell as the new head of school at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, succeeding Virginia “Ginny” Colwell, who had served as head of school at St. Paul VI for the past 16 years.

Powell comes to St. Paul VI after serving as headmaster at Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame in Spokane, Washington, a school he founded. Prior to that, he was president of Bishop McDevitt High School in Philadelphia.

“I have great confidence that Dr. Matthew Powell will serve faithfully at St. Paul VI Catholic High School and focus on the school’s Catholic mission and values,” Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, said in a statement Tuesday.

The Catholic Diocese of Arlington opened St. Paul VI Catholic High School's new 68-acre campus in Chantilly in August 2020. St. Paul VI first opened in 1983, following the purchase and renovation of the former Fairfax High School building in Fairfax City. The school had outgrown the Fairfax City location and chose the Chantilly location as the new site for its campus.

SEE ALSO: Paul VI High School Opens New Campus In Chantilly

Ninety-nine percent of St. Paul VI Class of 2021 graduates went on to attend colleges and universities last fall. Academic honors for St. Paul VI seniors included two perfect ACT scores, three National Merit finalists, five National Merit commended scholars, 20 AP scholars and one national AP scholar.

Partners in Mission/School Leadership Search Solutions, a recruitment firm dedicated to Catholic education, assisted the Catholic Diocese of Arlington with its national search for a new head of school at St. Paul VI.

“I am blessed to have this opportunity to join the St. Paul VI community," Powell said in a statement. "I would like to especially thank Mrs. Colwell for all she has done to prepare St. Paul VI to embark upon its next chapter by ensuring that St. Paul VI is grounded in its commitment to make real and present the truth and beauty of our Catholic faith.”

Colwell is retiring after 29 years of service at St. Paul VI, including 16 years as head of school. Powell will take over as head of school on July 1.

“Dr. Powell made a powerful positive impression on the school community during the interview process and emerged from a robust national search as the unanimous candidate of the search committee," said Joseph E. Vorbach III, PhD, MEd, superintendent of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Arlington.