ATLANTA—The Archdiocese of Atlanta named two school leaders ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Breanna Johnson-Anderson has been appointed interim principal of St. Peter Claver Regional School in Decatur. Cynthia Launay-Fallasse is the new principal of St. Mary’s Academy in Fayetteville.  

In the following Q&A, both principals discuss their path to leadership and goals for the year ahead. The following responses have been edited for length and clarity: 

Breanna Johnson-Anderson

A full-circle moment

Breanna Johnson-Anderson, an Atlanta native, attended St. Peter Claver as a preschool student before continuing at St. Thomas More and St. Pius X High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Alabama. Johnson-Anderson has served at St. Peter Claver for 10 years, teaching students in third through sixth grades. She said her passion for Catholic education was inspired by her grandmother, who taught elementary school for 35 years. 

How do you feel having the opportunity to serve as interim principal of St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School?  

It feels incredibly surreal and truly like a full-circle moment in my life. I attended St. Peter Claver for pre-K, and now, years later, I have the privilege of returning to serve the very community that helped shape who I am today. This was my first teaching position after graduating from college, so to now step into a leadership role at the school that gave me my start is an incredible honor. 

St. Peter Claver is known for its diverse student body and school community. What excites you most about leading a school where students and families come from so many different backgrounds and cultures? 

Leading a school with such rich diversity is exciting because it gives our students the opportunity to learn from one another every single day. They don’t just read about different cultures in textbooks, they build friendships, celebrate traditions and gain an appreciation for perspectives that may be different from their own. 

When you’re not at school, what are some of your favorite hobbies? 

I’m a big sports fan, especially when it comes to University of Alabama football. Fall Saturdays are often spent cheering on the Crimson Tide, and during football season you’ll also find me rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sundays. 

Who has had the greatest impact on your life as an educator, and what did you learn from them? 

Patty Childs, our current superintendent. Childs was actually my first-grade teacher many years ago. To now serve as an educational leader alongside my former teacher, who continues to guide and support me as my superintendent, is truly a full-circle moment. 

As you begin this new role, what are some of your priorities for students, families and faculty during the coming school year? 

I want every student who walks through our doors to know they are loved and have been given unique gifts and talents by God. I hope our families continue to feel that SPC is truly a partnership. I want our faculty and staff to know how much I value the incredible work they do every day. Teachers are the heart of our school, and my goal is to support them with the tools they need to continue providing an exceptional education for our students. 

Cynthia Launay-Fallasse

Serving a school that has become home

Cynthia Launay-Fallasse begins her new role after serving St. Mary’s Academy since 2002. She studied English and theology in college before serving in a L’Arche community in France. She joined SMA as an English and French teacher and has since worked as a varsity coach, theater director, director of enrollment and advancement and assistant principal. Launay-Fallasse said her experiences in Catholic education and school leadership have prepared her to continue the school’s mission and support its community.  

After spending so many years serving this community, what does this new chapter as principal mean to you personally?  

I feel a profound reconfirmation of my calling. I am humbled to serve this community. As I begin my 25th year at SMA, I am most excited to build on our strong foundation of being a community firm in faith, joyful in hope and strong in knowledge. I am optimistic about guiding this school that has truly become my home.  

As a parent of St. Mary Academy graduates, you have experienced the school both as an educator and as a parent. How has that influenced your understanding of what families are looking for in a Catholic school?  

My daughters are who they are today in large part because of the dedicated faculty, staff and peers who surrounded them. Both have chosen vocations in healthcare centered on serving others. One is completing a master’s degree in speech-language pathology at Loyola University, and the other is in her final year at Georgia Tech, currently applying to medical school. Experiencing this growth in my own children while simultaneously working at SMA has given me a distinct understanding that parents want academic rigor, but more than anything, they are yearning for an environment that forms the heart as much as the mind.  

You have seen generations of students walk through St. Mary Academy’s doors. What is something you have learned from your students over the years?  

I’ve learned unconditional joy from my pre-K and kindergarten students. I’ve learned to remain curious from my elementary school students. I’ve learned compassion from my middle school students (and gen-alpha slang). I’ve learned the power of authenticity from my high schoolers. While every age group brings a different gift, each student who walks through St. Mary Academy’s doors has left a lasting mark on me.  

What excites you about the school’s STEM initiatives, and how do you hope to continue building on that foundation?  

I can brag about our state-of-the-art STEM labs, our initiatives and our commitment to excellence in STEM, but what excites me most about St. Mary’s Academy’s program is the opportunity to teach at the natural intersection of faith and science. By confronting the difficult ethical questions surrounding new technologies, we challenge our students not only to master technical skills, but to use them with moral discernment.