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Sister Poitras Appointed Superintendent of Catholic Schools |
 WHEELING, W.Va.—Sister Elaine Poitras, CSC, Ph.D., has been appointed superintendent of the Department of Catholic schools of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston by Most Reverend Michael J. Bransfield, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, effective July 1.
Sister Poitras previously served as superintendent of Catholic schools of the Diocese of Rochester in New York from 2006-2008 and associate superintendent of Catholic schools of the Diocese of Manchester, N.H., from 2001-2006. She has replaced John Yelenic, who left this position in May.
“I am so pleased that Sister Poitras has joined our staff as superintendent of Catholic schools,” Bishop Bransfield said. “She is an accomplished academic leader and, considering her outstanding administrative skills and dedication to Catholic education, I am confident that our schools are poised for even greater success in the future.”
“The success of our Catholic schools is very important to me,” Bishop Bransfield said. “As the Holy Father reminded us during his visit to the United States this spring, Catholic schools are the soul of our nation and we have made extensive commitments to further strengthen the spiritual and academic programs, infrastructure and financial standing of our schools. I look forward to working with Sister Poitras to advance the mission and impact of these wonderful schools.”
Having earned a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame College in Manchester, N.H. in 1973, Sister Poitras went on to complete her master’s in history at Assumption College in Worcester, Mass., in 1979. She earned a doctorate in education administration at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass., in 2002 and is certified in advanced education.
Sister Poitras has been involved with Catholic school education as a teacher and administrator since 1970. She served as teacher, principal and associate superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Norwich, Conn., for more than 20 years and served four years as director of curriculum and testing and as regional director of elementary schools for the Archdiocese of Boston.
At the January 2004 Centennial Symposium, held in Washington, D.C., Sister Poitras was selected as one of the 250 delegates to draft a plan for the future of Catholic education. Currently, she is working on a project dedicated to creating a Catholic school model that will respond to the needs of a 21st century Church, which is entitled “Creating the 21st Century Catholic School: If you Build It, Will They Come.”
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