Longtime Educator Carrie Lovell Named New Principal of St. Paul School in Odell
DWIGHT, IL — St. Paul Catholic School in Odell has named longtime educator and “Teacher of Distinction” Carrie Lovell as its new principal for the upcoming school year.Lovell will balance her new administrative leadership duties while continuing to teach fifth through eighth-grade Reading, Language, and Social Sciences at the school.
A Legacy of Local Education
Lovell brings over two decades of academic expertise to her new role.
- 2001: Earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Illinois State University, with endorsements in Middle School English and Social Studies.
- 2006: Began her tenure at St. Paul School.
- 2015: Received a Learning Behavior Specialist endorsement from the University of St. Francis.
- Current: Completing a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership through Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Over her extensive career, Lovell has taught every subject across the fifth through eighth grades, briefly stepping away for two years to specialize in public school special education before returning to St. Paul. Her exceptional classroom impact was recognized statewide this past school year when she placed in the top 30 out of more than 500 applicants in the prestigious Illinois Golden Apple teaching competition, earning the official title of “Teacher of Distinction.”
Vision for Growth and Community
Stepping into the dual role of teacher and principal, Lovell’s immediate priority is maintaining St. Paul’s high academic standards while actively growing enrollment.
“My number one priority is continuing to offer the same level of education to our students, to bring in more families to our St. Paul family to grow our school so it can serve Dwight, Odell, and surrounding towns like it has over the years,” Lovell stated.
Operating a small, rural Catholic school comes with distinct financial hurdles, particularly matching the salary capabilities of larger public school districts. St. Paul relies heavily on the ongoing generosity of alumni, the church parish, local communities, and private donors to fund its operations and support its staff.
For Lovell, the true measure of the school’s impact is visible in its alumni. Former students have built successful careers in nursing, law, criminal justice, art, education, and skilled trades.
“I consider seeing students go on from our school to excel in higher education, grow families of their own, and live happy lives to be the greatest sign of success,” Lovell said.
Deep Roots and Faith
The appointment marks a deeply personal milestone for Lovell, who raised her five children—Randy, Jack, Joey, Thomas, and Maggie—alongside her husband, Mike, in the local area.
“I am deeply honored and blessed to step into the role of Principal at St. Paul School,” Lovell expressed. “Having grown up in the Dwight community, this area has always been my home. Since 2006, I’ve had the joy of teaching grades 5–8 here at St. Paul, and my love for our school family has only grown with every passing year… I am fully committed to nurturing our students and spreading the Catholic faith throughout Odell, Dwight, and our surrounding communities for many years to come.”
