Saint Marguerite School has a new principal

Intermountain Catholic

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Nancy Lorena Needham, shown with students, has been named the principal at Saint Marguerite Catholic School in Tooele as of May. IC photo/Laura Vallejo

TOOELE — Nancy Lorena Needham has been named the principal at Saint Marguerite Catholic School in Tooele.

Needham has been involved in the Diocese of Salt Lake City since she moved to Utah three years ago. She directs the Spanish choir at St. Marguerite Parish and also is a member of the diocesan Lay Ecclesial Ministry Formation Program.

"I was hoping to find a ministry in the church in which I could work full time," said Needham, who is excited and committed to this new opportunity.

She came to Utah from Iowa, but previously had served as a missionary volunteer in Alabama and Georgia, working with the migrants from Mexico and Guatemala. She retired from the U.S. Air Force after 23 years, and holds a master’s degree in pastoral ministry.

"She [Needham] is very organized and a new school can always use a little fresh organization," said Sister Catherine Kamphaus, superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools. "A very important skill Lorena has is that she is bilingual and will be able to address the needs of the Hispanic community and bring more [of that community] into the school. Lorena has a lot of life experience and has initiated many things and followed through with the projects at hand."

The only private school in Tooele County, St. Marguerite has grown from a pre-school to include grades pre-K through 8; last year, it graduated its first 8th-grade class.

"I feel that Saint Marguerite’s has many challenges as a new school, enrollment being one, and [Needham] has the energy and skills needed to meet this challenge," said Sr. Catherine.

Needham also thinks that one of her challenges will be in spreading the word that enrollment for next school year is very important.

"Our enrollment is growing, but very slowly, so I think that is our biggest challenge," said Needham. "The parents that come to this school are very dedicated. They are excited about having this type of opportunity and when I said that, I am talking about parents of all different denominations. Every one of the students is very committed and they have sought an opportunity here at Saint Marguerite."

Community is a strong aspect of Catholic schools, Sr. Catherine said.

"Lorena is a collaborative leader who can strengthen the community among faculty/staff, students, parents, and parish. This is what Saint Marguerite’s needs, as do all our Catholic schools," Sr. Catherine said.