Debra Sullivan is a name that everyone at Charleston Catholic has heard. Whether they know about her amazing accomplishments while being principal at the school for 28 years, her family members who have gone through the school, or the basketball court named after her at our very own Athletic Facility, the name Debra Sullivan will forever go down in history at Charleston Catholic. Mrs. Sullivan became principal in 1986. She knew the school’s reputation of excellence and success, but on her first day, she knew the school was going to need a lot of work to get back to that. She immediately said to herself “what have I done?” After much hard work and time Mrs. Sullivan molded the school back into the shape that everyone knew and expected. During her time at Charleston Catholic a new wing was added to the school to house the commons, science department, and social studies classes. The basement was also converted from the cafeteria to classrooms. She set high expectations for not only the students, but also the staff and even the surrounding community. Mrs. Sullivan simply said that she was trying to “build on history and success,” when she took over the principal position. She wanted the school to be focused, organized, successful, and a happy place to work and attend. When Mrs. Sullivan was asked to reflect on the current community of Charleston Catholic her words were, “I am so satisfied and thrilled with the school today. It has grown into exactly what I imagined it to be.” The current principal at Charleston Catholic, Colleen Hoyer, was a student at CCHS when Mrs. Sullivan was the principal. From the day that Mrs. Hoyer expressed to Mrs. Sullivan that she wanted to be an educator, Mrs. Sullivan dreamed of Mrs. Hoyer being her successor. She knew that Mrs. Hoyer would be a perfect fit for the job and she is “not surprised with the success at all.” Mrs. Sullivan says that her time at Charleston Catholic was a “remarkable journey” and was some of the best moments in her life. She refers to all of her hard work as “labor of love and passion” and this is a statement that truly encompasses what it means to be a part of Charleston Catholic. Mrs. Sullivan ended her time at Charleston Catholic in 2014. She was appointed to the West Virginia Board of Education to serve a nine year term that just ended in November, 2025. Now she still serves in the community by being a part of the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Board of Trustees, the State Library Commission, and the West Virginia Juvenile Justice Commission. Now many of Mrs. Sullivan’s family members have gone through or are going through the school that she rebuilt. Her legacy will forever be left at Charleston Catholic and the surrounding community. Written by Ilyauna Evans