Development
Mrs. Josephine Cunningham, Development Director, joined the Saint Rita staff in January 2008.
The Development Director’s primary responsibility is promoting St. Rita School and the benefits of Catholic Education. This is accomplished through Open Houses and visiting other Catholic Parishes that do not have schools. By informing more parents of all the great things going on at St. Rita School, we believe we will see an increase in the number of children and families that want to become part of our school community.
The Development Director also works closely with the faculty, staff, and the Parent Teacher Organization to improve the lines of communication with the alumni, the parish, and the local community. In addition, the Development Director assists the faculty and the Parent Teacher Organization in soliciting grants that will benefit the school.
Mrs. Cunningham has been a part of the St Rita family for six years serving on the Parent Teacher Organization board for two years and has been an active fundraiser for the school during this time. She has two daughters. Sarah, who is entering fifth grade and Niamh entering Third grade. Josephine was born and educated in Ireland and emigrated to the United States in 1985. She has worked as a nanny in her early years in New York City before moving to Virginia in 1990. During the next five years she worked in the hospitality industry while starting an Upholstery/Decorating business, which she still operates. She spent two years as a treatment foster parent with Fairfax County before joining the Adoption Opportunities Grant at the Department of Family Services to work with children with Reactive Attachment Disorder. Josephine is working closely with the Saint Rita school and Parish community to spread the good news about our school She is also working with our very active Parent Teacher Organization and Alumni groups to secure additional funding to support our many upgrades and scholarship program. As a parent, volunteer and now a staff member at St. Rita School she truly believes that we can achieve great things if we work together with one goal which is to “Prepare our children for this world and the next”.