Jul 24, 2019
Alex Solsma has a conversation with the new principal at the
Basilica School of Saint Mary, Dan Cinalli, on this edition of our
podcast.
A longtime resident of Northern Virginia, Mr. Cinalli
attended Catholic schools in the Diocese of Arlington from grades
K-12. He holds a BA in English from George Mason University and
also earned a Masters of Education Administration with a
concentration in Catholic School Leadership from Marymount
University. He most recently was the principal at Saint Michael
School in Annandale, a role he had held since July 2016. He
previously was assistant principal at Saint Timothy Catholic School
in Chantilly, the second largest parish school in our diocese, from
July 2013 to 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Cinalli served as an English
teacher at Paul VI High School in Fairfax for more than three years
and worked for Computer Sciences Corporation of Chantilly before
becoming an educator.
Founded in 1795, the Basilica of Saint Mary in Old Town Alexandria
is the first Catholic parish established in Virginia. Pope Francis
named the church a minor basilica on December 6, 2017 due to its
important role in the growth of the Catholic Church in North
America.