New leaders at local Catholic schools

Bishop David Toups announced new principals at two Catholic schools on July 21 in advance of the 2022-23 school year.

Patricia Rios is now the principal at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School, Port Arthur. Juan Davila is the interim principal at St. Mary Catholic School in Orange.

Rios has taught for almost two decades in the local public schools. She received a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2006 and her master’s degree in Administration in 2017, both from Lamar University. She began her career at Travis Elementary in Port Arthur, then moved to Fletcher Elementary in Beaumont where she taught bilingual students. Rios has written curriculum, as well as created and translated district exams, the Catholic Diocese shared.

Davila received his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University in 2006 and a master’s from Lamar University in 2013. He has worked as a tutoring coordinator, teacher’s assistant, supplemental instructor, and a graduate assistant focused on providing services for students with disabilities.

After graduate school, Davila began working at a local children’s advocacy center where he educated and advocated for the families and child victims of abuse. He then went on to work as the Program Development Director at Mental Health America, a local nonprofit focusing on community mental health needs.