Saint Joseph School Hires New Principle

Saint Joseph School hires new principals

 

MARTINSBURG, WV - The two new principals hired to lead the elementary and high schools at Saint Joseph School look forward to working together again on the same administrative team.

Brian Peppiatt will lead the programs for grades kindergarten to eight, while Joseph Sladky will oversee grades nine to 12 at the only Catholic school in the Eastern Panhandle. The pair worked together for three years at Chelsea Academy in Front Royal, Virginia, and were on the same leadership team for two of them.

“I very much look forward to working with Dr. Sladky at St. Joseph's,” said Peppiatt, 55, of Winchester, Virginia. “We worked closely on many administrative duties, including the monitoring of student achievement, curriculum alignment spanning kindergarten through 12th grade, and teacher hiring and mentoring. I think my experience with kindergarten to eighth grade and his experience in high school will make for a very strong academic program at St. Joseph's.”

Sladky said the pair’s skill sets are complementary.

“Brian brings an enormous amount of administrative experience with him,” said Sladky, 60, of Chester Gap, Virginia. “I have spent most of my career in the classroom of three independent Catholic schools as a veteran teacher, instructing students in a wide range of disciplines. Brian and I agree completely on a host of administrative issues. We both look forward to working with Mrs. (Maria) Byrd as members of a team.”

Peppiatt began his tenure three years ago at Chelsea Academy as dean of the lower school and helped get programming started for grades kindergarten to three. He is now the assistant headmaster and teaches geography to students in grades kindergarten to six.

 

Sladky had two stints at Chelsea Academy - first as a founding faculty member in 2008 who stayed for 11 years in various roles, including as a curriculum developer, accreditation team member and teacher of various subjects in middle and high school. He returned in 2023 to teach, then assumed the role of academic dean in August 2024. In the years between, he was a member of the faculty at Gregory the Great Academy in Elmhurst Township, Pennsylvania.

Sladky has almost 25 years of teaching experience, beginning in 1993 at Northridge Preparatory School in Niles, Illinois. He taught history, geometry, pre-algebra, English, earth and physical science, conceptual physics, sacred scripture, Latin and a mini course on Catholic social teaching.

Peppiatt has been working with children from preschool age to higher education in private and public schools for more than 25 years. He has taught second, third, fourth and fifth grades, as well as technology for grades kindergarten to eight. He has been a school administrator since 2009. Most of his experience was with Loudoun County (Virginia) Public Schools, where he began as a teacher and moved into administration. He also served as a school principal at a school in the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh (North Carolina) serving grades prekindergarten to eight.

Peppiatt holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from Siena University, a master's degree in elementary education from Iona University and an endorsement in pre-K to 12th grade education administration and supervision from George Mason University.

Sladky earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California, and a master’s degree in church history and a Ph.D. in modern European church history from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Peppiatt wants to keep the momentum going at Saint Joseph School, where enrollment has increased by 150 students since Byrd became principal in July 2022. The school is currently receiving the highest volume of applications since she took the helm.

He also wants to maintain the focus on faith that is the cornerstone of Catholic education.

“Catholic identity is always in the forefront of what we’re doing,” Peppiatt said, adding that he strives to create a “joyful climate” in which to promote that.

Sladky also takes faith formation seriously. He taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) and sacred history classes, through which he encouraged students to receive penance and Holy Communion regularly to acquire the grace to live well.

“In addition, I spurred them on to follow the Ten Commandments, which should not be viewed by them as chains restricting their freedom, but rather as guides leading them along the path of genuine freedom and happiness,” Sladky said. “As the principal of the high school, I will continue this important work at a higher and more influential level.”

Peppiatt has been married to his wife, Christine, for 26 years. They have one son and six daughters ranging in age from 10 (twin girls) to 23.

Sladky and his wife of 31 years, Jeanette, have four sons and four daughters ages 13 to 31.

Being fathers, they know the importance of families to children and a school community.

“I look forward to partnering with the parents,” Sladky said. “As we know, they are the primary educators of their children and we need to respect that. It is important to get to know the parents early on, to develop regular and clear communication channels with them and to collaborate with them in the education of their children.”

Byrd will transition from being principal of the elementary and middle/high schools to head of schools. Abby Hjort-Michel will continue in her role as prekindergarten director.