CRANBERRY TWP — Nine weeks after Principal Kellie Abbott stepped down, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School has found a successor.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh announced Friday that Bishop David Zubik has appointed Ann C. Gaudino as the new principal. She will start on Monday, according to a news release from the diocese.

Gaudino was the assistant superintendent and director of programs for the 32 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia. Most recently she was as director of human resources in Ohio County schools, also in West Virginia.

Gaudino, a native of Pittsburgh, attended Eastern Michigan University and Wayne State University and earned a doctorate in education administration and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

She is the founder and editor of Excellence in Education Journal, a peer-reviewed online publication.

Patrice Hughes, who has been the interim principal, said she will stay with the school temporarily to help with the transition.

Zubik said in the release, “We are indeed blessed to have someone with the rich experience and expertise that Dr. Gaudino has at all levels of school administration.

“She has extensive experience with Catholic school administration. She is an educational leader who has the proven reputation of forming her staff and students to pursue intellectual excellence that is grounded in Catholic spiritual and moral values.”

Abbott had been with the school with since the summer of 2013 and resigned in October.

After being located in the Troy Hill area of Pittsburgh, the school moved this year to its new location in Cranberry.