Title: Vice Principal
Company: St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Location: Plantation, Florida, United States
Jillian M. Fackenthal, EdS, Vice Principal at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in Private School Education.
Ms. Fackenthal currently serves as the vice principal of academics at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, a private Catholic school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Since 2025, she has been overseeing the curriculum, introducing new classes and programs, managing department chairs and directing student placement. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to maximizing student outcomes and ensuring equitable access to education for all students. Embracing her school’s mission, Ms. Fackenthal has expanded her advocacy for students, furthering her dedication to educational excellence.
Before being named vice president of academics, Ms. Fackenthal served as the director of guidance at St. Thomas Aquinas High School from 2021 to 2025. During this period, she developed expertise in managing student behavior and mental health, implementing strategies that reduced negative behaviors and fostered positive outcomes. Ms. Fackenthal’s work in guidance was instrumental in shaping a supportive environment for students and staff alike.
Pivoting from public school education, Ms. Fackenthal spent her previous years with Broward County Public Schools. Between 2016 and 2021, she was a school counseling director at Piper High School in Sunrise, Florida. There, she led initiatives focused on student well-being and academic achievement, drawing on her deep understanding of counseling practices to support both individual students and the broader school community. Ms. Fackenthal was initially hired as a school counselor at Piper High School in 2015, providing direct support to approximately 2,500 students, including at-risk students, addressing their academic and personal development needs while collaborating with educators and families to promote student success.
Ms. Fackenthal came from the Northeast, where she worked as a high school counselor in the Ringgold School District in Washington, Pennsylvania, from 2014 to 2015. Earlier, she served as a varsity cheerleading coach for the Upper St. Clair School District in Pittsburgh between 2012 and 2014, where she demonstrated her leadership and commitment to student engagement beyond the classroom.
In preparation for her career, Ms. Fackenthal earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010. She also received a Master of Education in counselor education with a focus on school counseling and guidance services from Duquesne University in 2013 and an Educational Specialist Degree in educational leadership and administration from Florida State University in 2024. Ms. Fackenthal’s professional credentials also include national board certification as a counselor, reflecting her commitment to holistic student development.
Ms. Fackenthal is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Florida School Counselor Association and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Beyond her professional affiliations, she has contributed as a cheerleading coach and has volunteered with the March of Dimes, demonstrating her dedication to civic engagement and youth development.
Throughout her career, Ms. Fackenthal has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to education and counseling. She was the recipient of the College Board Counselor Recognition in both 2018 and 2019, was named Florida State Counselor of the Year by the Florida School Counselor Association in 2019, received the title of High School Counselor of the Year from Broward County Public Schools in 2019 and, among other accolades, was named School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association in 2021.
Ms. Fackenthal’s expertise in curriculum development, academics and student behavior management has established her as a respected leader in her field. Raised in Pittsburgh by parents who are small-business owners, she credits her upbringing for instilling a strong work ethic and perseverance. Looking ahead, Ms. Fackenthal aims to become the best possible educator she can be while seeking fulfillment both professionally and personally. Her openness to new opportunities ensures that she will continue making meaningful contributions to education wherever her path may lead.
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