Wildwood Catholic Academy (WCA) opened in July 2020 as the first PreK-12 academy in the Diocese of Camden. Joe Cray, principal of the former Wildwood Catholic High School, is leading the school, supported by two vice principals at the upper and lower grade levels, Louise Fourney and Jennifer Snyder.
Louise Fourney is Wildwood Catholic’s new vice principal for the upper division, responsible for grades 9-12. Fourney spent 11 years as director of guidance at Saint Joseph High School in Hammonton, where she was instrumental in helping students navigate the college application and admission process.
In addition to her responsibilities as vice principal, she will provide guidance services at Wildwood Catholic.
“I’m so happy to be staying within the diocese,” said Fourney.
A Wildwood resident, she says an added bonus is her five-minute commute to work. Living so close, she said she is “looking forward to getting to know [school] families and students, being involved in the community where I live.”
Fourney raised and educated three children before pursuing her own degrees. Between 2004 and 2009 she earned associate, bachelor and master’s degrees, with recognition that included highest honors and a 4.0 GPA for her master’s work in school counseling at Wilmington University. At Rutgers University, she earned highest honors and received the Outstanding Student Award with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in psychology. She is on the Permanent President’s List at Camden County College, where she was commencement speaker when she earned her Associate’s Degree in Social Sciences.
Jennifer Snyder moved from the classroom at the former Cape Trinity Catholic School to the role of vice principal, lower division, at Wildwood Catholic. She is responsible for grades Pre-K through eighth grade.
Snyder’s teaching experience ranges from Pre-K through high school. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English at Arcadia University, she spent five years teaching middle school, then high school at private schools in Pennsylvania.
She moved away from the classroom for a 10-year career in the health insurance field, and returned to education after her two children were born — teaching dance classes and pre-school at the same time. A period of substitute teaching led to a full-time position at Cape Trinity Catholic in 2018.
“It’s a good fit,” said Snyder, who admits she misses the classroom but loves being part of what she described as a strong leadership team. She also acknowledged the support she has gotten from her mentor, Sister Sheila Murphy, who retired in July after 25 years as principal at Cape Trinity Catholic School.
“Sister Sheila is still there to help me with anything and everything,” said Snyder.
As she settles into her new role, Snyder said she looks forward to spending as much time as possible in classrooms, interacting with students and helping teachers.