Andrea Wirgau Steps into Principal Role at St. Patrick School

A familiar face at St. Patrick School will be roaming the halls in a new capacity this fall. Andrea Wirgau was selected to serve as the school ministry leader – aka principal – starting on July 1, 2025. 

That doesn’t mean Scott Czarnopys is going anywhere though. The longtime leader of St. Pat’s School is now the head of education ministry, a new role that will have him overseeing both the school’s academic offerings and the parish’s faith formation programs.

“It’s more a team approach,” Andrea explains.

The new model of leadership will provide more unity between parish and school activities. Students will continue to see Mr. Czarnopys in the building, but daily operations of the school will be run by Mrs. Wirgau.

Deep Roots in Parnell

Andrea needs no introduction to many people in Parnell. Growing up as a Richmond, she is a member of a family whose roots at St. Patrick Parish go back three generations.

Her grandmother was a teacher at the school, and her dad graduated from St. Patrick High School in 1954. By the time Andrea was enrolled, the high school was gone, but she graduated from 8^th grade in 1990 as part of a class of 11. Her classmates included many faces you currently see at church and in the community, including Lowell Police Chief Dennis Albert.

After spending some time out of state, Andrea and her husband returned to the area. 

“I knew I really wanted to raise a family in Michigan,” she says. 

More specifically, Andrea wanted to raise her family near Parnell, the location of so many fond childhood memories. She and her husband have five children, and when it came time for them to be enrolled in school, there was nowhere she wanted them to be other than St. Pat’s. 

This fall, her children will be in 1^st-8^th grade, and throughout the years, Andrea has been a regular at school and parish activities. Willing to help however needed, many students know her well as one of the coaches for the school’s Girls on the Run program.

Impressive Background in Education

Andrea’s deep roots in Parnell are certainly a plus, but that isn’t the only reason she was invited to be the school’s next principal. She also has an impressive background in education.

While always interested in education, she graduated from Aquinas College with an undergraduate degree in communications. However, she quickly found herself working with an outdoor learning program that catered to people from all walks of life.

Later, she went back to school and earned a master’s degree in leadership from Aurora University. She also has an Ed.D in higher education, meaning that she is technically Dr. Wirgau.

Throughout her career, Andrea has held roles at the College of DuPage in Illinois, Ferris State University in Big Rapids and Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. For the past decade, she has worked with the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools, serving as its executive director.

However, Andrea says none of these roles compare to working at St. Pat’s.

“Scott approached me with this opportunity, and I’m still pinching myself,” she says. “I’m literally in the space where I made all my sacraments. I could not ask for more.”  

Looking Forward to a Sustainable Future

Asked about what the future holds for St. Patrick School, Andrea doesn’t anticipate that students or parents will notice any change in daily operations this fall. She notes the school operates well now, and she will only be looking to build on the current path of excellence.

“I wouldn’t want to lead this school differently,” she says. “I have absolutely no agenda other than to lead these kids to a springboard to a great life.”

Long-term, Andrea hopes to embrace the school’s rural location with a focus on sustainability. “It’s not common anymore, but we’re located in the heart of the countryside. Why not lean into the farmland?” she asks.

What that might look like remains to be seen, but in the meantime, Andrea is clear that becoming principal of St. Patrick School is not a career move for her. She doesn’t see it as a stepping stone to another job or a highlight to add to her resume. Rather, it is an opportunity to do something she loves around people she loves.

“I care for these kids as I do my family,” she says.  

We don’t need to welcome Andrea Wirgau to the St. Patrick community because she has already been a part of our school and parish family for years. However, we wish her well as she steps into this new role and thank her for sharing her time and talents as the new school ministry leader. We are excited to see what the future holds.