Mount St. Mary Academy names Angie Collins principal

Published: November 21, 2014

Angie Collins

Angie Collins was named the new principal for Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock Nov. 21, effective immediately.

Collins has been serving in the position on an interim basis since August following the resignation of Diane Wolfe

Karen Flake, president/CEO of Mount St. Mary Academy, made the announcement Nov. 21 to the school’s students, faculty and staff. Mount St. Mary parents were notified about the selection of Collins through an e-mail communication sent by Flake the same day.

Collins has been active in education for 22 years. She has been recongized with the Stephens Teaching Award and the Bauxite School District Teacher of the Year Award. Prior to her role as assistant principal at Mount St. Mary Academy starting in 2013, she served from 2010 to 2013 as a science teacher at the all-girls Catholic school. Collins’ experience in secondary education also includes teaching at Bauxite High School, Wynne High School and high schools in Louisiana, and she has served as a program advisor for the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education.

A Louisiana native, Collins received a bachelor's degree in agricultural education from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and a master's degree in administration/leadership from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

“Mrs. Collins’ history of educational excellence, her dedication to the Mercy values and her spirit of collaboration make her the perfect fit for this position, and she has shown tremendous leadership in her current position,” Flake said. “I have every confidence that with the addition of Mrs. Collins as principal, Mount St. Mary Academy will sustain the valued traditions and mission upon which the school was founded while aspiring to achieve the best results for our students’ academic and spiritual growth. I look forward to working together as she assumes this new role.”

The principal serves as the chief operational officer of the school and is responsible for all the academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular programs, as well as the day-to-day operation of the school. Both the president and the principal share the roles of spiritual leadership and promoting the mission of the Mount St. Mary Academy.

Debbie Blough, chairwoman of the Mount St. Mary Academy board of directors, said, “The board of directors fully supports Mrs. Flake’s decision in hiring Mrs. Collins as the new principal. The level of commitment and energy that Mrs. Collins brings to the leadership team is a great asset to the school. Her passion for Mercy education and her background of experience in educational leadership will allow us to build upon the foundation of excellence established at Mount St. Mary Academy.”

According to Vernell Bowen, superintendent of Catholic Schools of Arkansas, Collins brings a wide range of abilities to the table.

“Mrs. Collins has a very collaborative working relationship with the principals in the diocese, and she provides insightful comments on curriculum and organizational issues. I have found her to be very organized and attuned to details. Her help was instrumental this year in assisting the Office of Catholic Schools with planning for the Annual Professional Day, hosted by Mount St. Mary for 575 teachers in the diocese. I appreciate everything Mrs. Collins does for the students and staff at Mount St. Mary Academy, and I look forward to working with her in the future.”

In regard to her new position as principal, Collins said, “I look forward to continuing the traditions of excellence that Mount St. Mary Academy students, parents, faculty and community members have come to expect. I will be working with all of our stakeholders to ensure that this school and its graduates continue to thrive in the future. One of the most important jobs that I have as principal is enriching our students’ lives and supporting them as they develop their relationships with God. I am proud to be a part of the school’s mission of preparing our students to meet the challenges of the future as women of wisdom, compassion and integrity, and I look forward to sharing the good news about Mount St. Mary Academy going forward. Thank you to all those who support our great institution and may God continue to bless us all.”

Collins and her husband Charles “Coo” Collins are members of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Benton and Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock, and have two children, Darcey, an 11th grader, and Charley, a fourth grader at Holy Souls School.