New St. Brendan principal seeks to weave faith into entire school
This is the second of two reports highlighting new Catholic school administrators in the diocese.
For Nicki Poindexter, the role of a principal goes beyond managing the daily operations of the school.
She feels called to cultivate a Christ-centered environment “where faith is woven into everything we do.”
“I strive to lead by example, support teachers in providing high-quality instruction, build meaningful relationships with students and families, and make decisions grounded in Catholic values,” said Mrs. Poindexter, the new principal of St. Brendan School in Mexico.
This is her 22nd year in education.
“Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of teaching at Community R-VI and St. Joseph School in Martinsburg, serving students at the elementary and middle school levels,” she said.
She and her husband live in Martinsburg with their two daughters.
Mrs. Poindexter grew up in Martinsburg and graduated high school from Community R-VI.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Columbia College and a master’s degree in educational leadership from William Woods University in Fulton.
Some of the best professional advice she’s ever received involves building relationships first.
“Spend time with students, teachers, families, parishioners and your pastor,” she recounted. “Let them know you care about them.”
Her favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”
Her favorite hymn is “Servant Song” by Richard Gillard, which includes the phrase: “We are pilgrims on a journey, we are trav’lers on the road; we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.”
She asked for prayers for God to watch over and guide her students, give her teachers patience on challenging days and wisdom in making decisions, and strengthen the partnership between families and the St. Brendan School community.
