ORLANDO | Six new principals joined fellow administrators at the annual leadership meeting for Diocese of Orlando Catholic schools, July 23, 2026.
STEPHEN BARNABY
Stephen Barnaby is a U.S. Army veteran and principal at St. Teresa Catholic School, Titusville. Barnaby’s 10-year experience as a teacher spanned middle, high school and university level courses. Those years included time spent teaching at St. Charles Borromeo as a middle school S.T.E.M. teacher and robotics instructor, as a junior ROTC senior Army instructor in North Carolina, and as an assistant professor of military science at East Carolina University Army ROTC. He has a master’s degree in teaching, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Barnaby said what draws him to serve Catholic schools is “the opportunity to make a difference that extends far beyond academics. Catholic education is about forming hearts as well as minds, helping young people discover their God-given gifts, and creating a community where faith, excellence, and service are lived each day. One of the greatest blessings of serving in Catholic schools is witnessing the genuine goodness in our students. While every child is unique and still growing, there is a spirit of kindness, respect, generosity, and openness to faith that is both inspiring and humbling. I have seen students readily care for one another, respond with compassion to those in need, and embrace opportunities to serve others. Those daily moments remind me that Catholic education is not only teaching knowledge, but also cultivating character rooted in the love of Christ.” He added he hopes “to foster a school culture where we seek first to love God and one another, choosing kindness, generosity, and compassion in our daily interactions.”
ALLAN CHROMY
Allan Chromy joins the staff of St. Peter Catholic School in DeLand as principal. Chromy comes to St. Peter from Sacred Heart School in Warner Robbins, Georgia, where he served as principal since 2016. While serving Sacred Heart he established a Catholic culture, improving faith teaching through spiritual programs, retreats and study of the Bible and catechism at all grade levels. He also obtained a multi-million-dollar grant ensuring addition of security measures, STEM labs, and more.
Prior to that he served as director of admissions and outreach for Corpus Christi School in Colorado Springs. He is a veteran, serving in the U.S. Air Force 25 years. He received his master’s degree from University of Notre Dame, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota.
Chromy said he is “passionate about being a leader in Catholic education to share the love of Christ with our entire community. There is no better place to share the ‘Good News’ with so many students, families and staff in a loving, safe environment.”
DANA JOHNSTON
Dana Johnston is the new interim principal at Melbourne Central Catholic High School where she taught AP English, served as the curriculum coordinator, taught broadcast journalism, and guided students on yearbook production and social media for the past two years.
Prior to that she served at Paraclete High School in Lancaster, California, as executive director of student support, English department chair, dean of students, and more. She has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Grand Canyon University, Arizona, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas.
“I believe Catholic education provides a foundation not only for academic success but also for helping students experience the transformative power of Christ firsthand,” Johnston said. “Through the example of dedicated classroom teachers and the inspiration of faith-filled peers, students witness Christian values lived out each day. A Catholic school has the unique opportunity to educate the whole person by nurturing knowledge, strengthening faith, and fostering a lifelong commitment to love and service.”
Noting the Church is celebrating the Year of St. Francis, she said, “MCC is based in the charisms of St. Francis, so by embracing his values, I hope to keep our focus on what matters most: our relationship with Christ, our commitment to generosity, integrity, inclusivity and humility through acts of kindness, stewardship of God’s creation, and opportunities for prayer and service.”
DONNA POTOMSKI
The new principal at Ascension Catholic School in Melbourne is Donna Potomski, a graduate of the school.
“I feel that God has led me here. My family joined Ascension Parish in 1983 when I was a 1-year-old and it seems like God had a plan in place. I attended Ascension School from pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade and then went on to Melbourne Central Catholic,” she said. “From there I attended Florida State University, and upon graduation I was contacted by Sister Joseph Barden to teach second grade at Ascension. It was like coming back home. Fast forward 20 years, and I am honored to serve as principal and continue the legacy that the Sisters of Mercy started almost 65 years ago.”
“Catholic schools prepare children to become people of faith and service, while maintaining high academic standards,” Potomski continued. “They educate and mold our children to use their knowledge to contribute positively to society, while maintaining a heart of service. They instill in children the need for inclusivity, compassion, mercy, justice, and love. In a society where our children are heavily influenced by social media, a strong Catholic education rooted in the Gospel values is imperative.”
Potomski had an opportunity this summer to visit the Sisters of Mercy in Ireland, to pray with them and receive their blessing as she goes forward carrying the torch of their significant legacy.
BONNIE SOLINSKY
St. John Vianney Catholic School will also welcome a new principal. Solinsky served the Pinellas County school board as director of charter schools and home education. She is the founding principal of Pinellas Gulf Coast Academy in Clearwater, an alternative high school. Previously she served as school administrator of New Alternative Education High School of Pinellas County, Inc., in Largo where she assisted in the transition from a management company to a governance board managed high school.
Her experience as a magnet school teacher and administrator began in 1986 in New York. Her extensive experience in administration includes serving at Sacred Heart School in Warner Robbins, Georgia, early in her career. There she was the diocesan chair for the curriculum committee. She later supervised the development and construction of the new Espirtu Santo Catholic School in Safety Harbor. At Espiritu Santo, she established the foundation of a Christ-centered school community, managed a multi-million-dollar budget, authored handbooks, and developed and implemented professional development, marketing, and recruitment programs.
RAYMOND THOMPSON
Raymond V. Thompson, is the new interim principal at Santa Fe Catholic High School in Lakeland. He served as assistant principal for academics for the past six years. Prior to that he was principal of Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Pensacola, and spent 27 years as an elementary, then middle school teacher between St. Joseph Academy in Lakeland, St. Joseph Catholic School in Winter Haven, and All Souls School in Sanford. He served another six years in Polk County public schools.
A previous Teacher of the Year award recipient, Thompson, has a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies, and a doctorate in education, in curriculum and assessment.
“My faith and relationship with Jesus Christ are at the center of who I am, and that is what draws me to Catholic education,” he shared. “I view serving in a Catholic school not simply as a profession, but as a vocation and a calling. Catholic schools provide a unique opportunity to integrate faith, learning, and service, allowing me to witness Christ’s presence in the lives of students and colleagues each day. I am drawn to this environment because it enables me to serve Him more fully by helping to form both the minds and hearts of young people while living out my faith in a meaningful way.”