After more than two decades under its founding principal, Bishop John Snyder High School will begin a new chapter this fall – one that builds on a strong foundation while looking ahead to the future of Catholic education.

The next school year will mark the first time the school will be led by someone other than Deacon David Yazdiya, who has served as principal since Bishop Snyder opened in 2002.

That leadership will pass to Dr. Arsenio “Archie” Yumul, currently principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School in Jacksonville. He brings years of experience in Catholic education and a personal connection to Bishop Snyder, where his children graduated, giving him a unique understanding of the school’s mission and community.

“I think one of my strengths is building good relationships,” Yumul said. He looks forward to being present to students and making himself accessible when they need support, both in and out of the classroom.

Yumul is already familiar with the campus. While his children attended Bishop Snyder, he volunteered regularly, supporting athletics, working the chain gang at football games alongside Deacon Yazdiya and assisting with science fairs. Those experiences, he said, gave him an appreciation for the school’s culture and the relationships that define it.

“When eighth-grade students visit, their tour begins in the chapel,” he said. “Deacon David reminds them that it’s where their first day starts and their final day ends. It becomes a bookend to their Catholic identity.”

He said he hopes to build on the strong foundation Deacon Yazdiya established, especially the emphasis on evangelization and forming students who live their faith beyond the classroom and into their daily lives.

“We want to build a foundation for spreading the faith,” Yumul said. “Service shouldn’t be something done just to fulfill hours. It should grow into a genuine desire to help others.”

Born in Ohio, Yumul moved with his family to Tuscaloosa, Ala., at age 2 and was raised there. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham before pursuing medical school in the Philippines.

There, he received his doctorate and met his wife, who was also a student.

“I did genetic research for a couple of years,” he said. “It’s funny because as an undergraduate, I said I didn’t want to teach or do research. The Lord had other plans.”

Yumul and his family moved to Jacksonville in 2005 and have been parishioners at Sacred Heart Catholic Church since that time. His path in education began at Ribault Middle School. Three years later, Mercy Sister Josephine O’Leary, the founding principal at Sacred Heart Catholic School, invited him to join the faculty, and he has been there since 2008.

During his time at Sacred Heart, Yumul taught science, served as a diocesan science fair coordinator and received a teacher of the year award from the Air Force Association.

He has served as principal for the past five years, leading facility improvements and helping develop a STREAM program with Florida Catholic Conference accreditation, an effort aimed at strengthening both academic excellence and faith formation.

“We’re always working to strengthen both academics and Catholic identity,” he said. “We can’t separate the two.”

Looking ahead, Yumul said emerging challenges such as social media and artificial intelligence require thoughtful guidance rooted in faith and a clear understanding of human dignity.

“We have to help students stay grounded in our Catholic faith when it comes to social media,” he said. “AI is a tool, not the primary way to complete assignments, but they still need to understand how to use it responsibly.”

As students move into college and the workforce, he added, familiarity with these tools will be important. Educators must help them develop both skill and discernment, preparing them not only for careers but for lives rooted in faith and purpose.

Yumul also hopes to draw on his medical background to support Bishop Snyder’s Allied Health program.

“That’s one of the things that really excited me,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with that program in a meaningful way.”

He said his Catholic faith remains central to his leadership.

“I enjoy being an active member of the Sacred Heart community,” he said. “Of everything I’m involved in, being a Eucharistic minister is the most fulfilling.”

He also pointed to adoration as a source of guidance in his life.

“Whenever I need help,” he said, “I know exactly where to go.”

Forming Students for Success – In the Classroom, on the Field and Beyond

Diocese of St. Augustine High Schools – By the Numbers

• 581 graduates
• 37 colleges and universities attended
• 38 athletic scholarships earned
• $15.6 million in scholarships awarded
• 7 National Merit finalists
• 25% earned Bright Futures scholarships