PONTIAC, Mich. (May 7, 2010)Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy announced today that it has named Jill M. Mistretta principal of the schools middle division, effective July 1, 2010. Mistretta replaces Sandra J. Favrow, who is retiring after 15 years as division principal.

Jill is wonderfully suited to succeed Sandy Favrow, who has toiled here as founding principal of both our middle and lower divisions, said Fr. Leon Olszamowski, s.m., president of NDPMA. We wish Sandy and her husband our best as they move into retirement and look forward to Jill continuing Sandys great work at our middle division. I am sure Jill will work tirelessly alongside the rest of our faculty and administration in helping our students become Christian people, upright citizens, and academic scholars.

Mistretta, who was the first faculty member hired when NDs Marist Academy first opened in 1996, has served as both a science and literature teacher at the school and was named vice principal in 2006. She was instrumental in helping the middle division earn International Baccalaureate World School status in August of last year.

A resident of Davisburg, Mich., Mistretta holds a bachelors degree in secondary education from Western Michigan University and a masters degree in public administration from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Jills talents will serve us well as we continue our work toward the schools strategic goals, Olszamowski added. She has been an outstanding leader at NDMA and will continue to be a strong advocate for academic excellence.

About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy: Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a Catholic, independent, coeducational day school. Notre Dame Preparatory School, an International Baccalaureate World School, enrolls students in grades nine through twelve. Notre Dame Marist Academy enrolls students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. NDMAs middle division is an IB World School and its lower division is an IB candidate school. NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit www.ndpma.org.