School hallways are familiar territory for Alicia M. Farren, who has served in the education field for more than 15 years.
This year, however, she is breaking new ground as principal of Bishop McHugh Regional School, Cape May Court House.
A graduate of Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Farren says she returned to serving in Catholic education a few years ago because of “the sense of community and family.”
Farren is one of two newly named principals in South Jersey Catholic Schools this academic year. Thomas Iacovone Jr., who has been acting principal of Gloucester Catholic High School since last spring, is now principal.
Iacovone was already well-acquainted with the school culture, however. Since 2007, he had served at the Gloucester City school as a faculty member, dean of discipline and assistant principal for student affairs. He taught physical education, U.S. history, sociology, algebra and computer applications. Even now as principal, he is still teaching U.S. History 1, one period a day, to sophomores.
He says he enjoys connecting with students, “educating mind and spirit, and connecting with the [classroom] material on a spiritual level.”
The same can be said for Farren, too. In her first month at Bishop McHugh, she has been “focused on building relationships with students, teachers and families,” she says, adding that she has enjoyed “going into the classrooms of these highly qualified teachers, [seeing them] in action and watching the students learn. School comes alive in the classroom.”
Before her current role, Farren served for years as a teacher and in administration. Most recently, she was a part-time study skills teacher in Saint Joseph Regional School, Somers Point. Before that, she was principal in Saint Joseph the Protector School/Saint Luke Catholic School, Glenside, Pa.
A Scranton University graduate with a dual major in psychology/philosophy and a minor in theology, she also holds a master of arts in education from LaSalle University, with dual certification in elementary (K-6) and special education (K-12).
“I’m very happy to find that the journey took me here,” she says of her Bishop McHugh role.
Iacovone, who holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa., and a master of arts in higher education administration from Rowan University, is optimistic about the year ahead.
Acknowledging the “pandemic cloud” that has hovered over so many, he hopes to “bring a positive energy to the school, and help students, teachers stay safe [while] looking forward to building on what’s been already built here.”
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