Cardinal Roger Mahony has appointed Father Sabato "Sal" Pilato as Superintendent for Secondary Schools for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, effective July 1, 2008.

Father Pilato is currently principal of Junípero Serra High School in Gardena, having served in that capacity since 1996. He will succeed Nancy Coonis, who has served as Superintendent for Secondary Schools since 2000, and will become president of Notre Dame Academy Elementary and Secondary Schools in West Los Angeles next July.

A native of San Pedro, Father Pilato grew up attending Mary Star of the Sea Church and graduated from San Pedro High School. He earned three teaching credentials and a Master of Arts degree in school administration from Cal State Dominguez Hills before attending St. John's Seminary. He received his Master of Divinity and was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Mahony in 1992.

The cardinal appointed Father Pilato to the Archdiocesan Catholic Life Issues Commission in 2000. He also serves on the advisory council of secondary principals, the executive committee of the Catholic Athletic Association, and the Priests' Personnel Board.

Father Pilato holds membership in the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the National Council of Social Studies. He is a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and a Papal Knight in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.

Coonis served for 17 years as principal of St. Matthias High School, Downey, prior to becoming Superintendent for Secondary Schools. Under her leadership as Superintendent, the enrollment of Catholic secondary schools in the archdiocese has remained constant. She serves on the Cathedral High School Board, Loyola Marymount University Board of Visitors, and CAPSO.

She is a member of the California Conference of Catholic Bishops Education Committee, and has worked with the Jewish Federation to implement the "Holy Land Democracy Project" in the high schools and with the Anti-Defamation league to jointly sponsor the annual "bearing Witness" Institute.

Actively involved with the school accreditation process, Coonis has chaired more than 15 visiting committees for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, including visits to schools in Hawaii, Hong Kong and Thailand.

"The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is most grateful to Nancy for her leadership and years of commitment to Catholic education," said Msgr. Royale Vadakin, moderator of the curia and vicar general. "We welcome Father Sal and the experience and leadership skills he will bring to his new position."