New Orleans native and Mount Carmel Academy graduate, Mrs. Haydel, has been named principal at St. Angela Merici School. She began her career by earning her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southeastern Louisiana University. After graduating, she was selected to teach fourth grade at St. Margaret Mary in Slidell, Louisiana under then assistant principal, Paige Bennett. During this time, Mrs. Haydel valued Mrs. Bennett’s leadership and identified strongly with her philosophy to deliver an education that reaches beyond the classroom. After several successful years, she was awarded an opportunity to continue her career as an elementary educator at St. Angela Merici School in Metairie, Louisiana under Mrs. Bennett who was now serving as principal.
While teaching at St. Angela Merici, Mrs. Haydel enrolled at the University of Holy Cross to attend graduate school in an effort to continue her own education and development. She graduated earning her master’s degree in Instructional Leadership along with a specialty in reading. With her graduate credentials and successful track record in the classroom, she was promoted to the Dean of Lower School at St. Angela Merici and shortly thereafter was named Assistant Principal.
In her tenure as Assistant Principal, one of Mrs. Haydel’s proudest accomplishments was her opportunity to be a part of the leadership team for the school’s Cognia accreditation process. Through her and her team’s efforts, the school not only earned their accreditation but was also awarded Cognia’s highest honor as being named a School of Distinction in 2022. This achievement affirms St. Angela Merici’s commitment to continuous improvement by delivering a high-quality education, effective leadership, and a healthy school community.
Currently, in an effort to continue her education and to grow in her faith, Mrs. Haydel enrolled in Loyola University’s master’s program in Pastoral Studies. She is expected to complete this program in the Fall of 2025.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Haydel has focused on creating and encouraging a culture of strong faith and hands-on learning. She hopes to continue to successfully guide students to strengthen their faith, achieve excellence in academics, nurture their leadership abilities, and develop a commitment and love for service. Given St. Angela Merici’s charism is Serviam (Latin for “I will serve”), Mrs. Haydel wants St. Angela students to feel empowered to reach their own personal excellence and focus on how they can accomplish goals through service to others. In a world that has so many possibilities, St. Angela Merici strives to educate the whole child by enabling students to be their authentic selves through Christ. As St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action.” Mrs. Haydel is excited and blessed to continue St. Angela’s mission in finding ways to serve her school, her community, and her church.