Judy Julian retires as Blessed Sacrament School principal

photo courtesy of Blessed Sacrament School

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Judy and Ned Julian pose with the plaque that designates a garden at Blessed Sacrament School as the Julian Garden.

SANDY - Since Blessed Sacrament School opened 22 years ago, Judy Julian has been a fixture on campus, first as a second-grade teacher, then as a vice principal, and for the past seven years as the principal. Now, as the 2009-10 school year ends, she plans to close her career.

"For 22 years she's just given her heart and soul to the school," said Matt DeVoll, the school's assistant principal.

The school's success is due in large part to Julian, said Msgr. Robert Servatius, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish. "As a classroom teacher she was just super. Her teaching ability and her teaching techniques were very highly respected."

As principal, Julian oversaw expansion of programs at school, including new technology classes, he said. "She has just continually added to the offerings that are present in the school."

In addition, she helped build the new fine arts addition that now houses the science, Spanish and music programs, and successfully saw the school through accreditation by both Western Catholic Educational Association and the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, Msgr. Servatius said. "She has always shown her love to the school. I think next to her family and her church this is the closest to her heart."

As a token of the school community's appreciation, the garden around the school's new wing has been dedicated to both Judy and her husband, Ned, who has been the maintenance man there for several years. "It's just going to be a really nice finish to the new addition, and we call it the Julian Garden in honor of all the service and dedication that both Ned and Judy have put toward the school," said DeVoll, who has been named Blessed Sacrament's new principal.

He plans no major changes when he takes the reins, he said. "I want to continue the strong Catholic identity at the school here. We just came off a solid accreditation, so ... we just want to keep going with that momentum, and that was in large part due to Judy and all the work she's done at the school."