|
|
|
PITTSBURG —
St. Mary’s schools are entering the 2012-13 semester with a whole new administrative body, but officials say the semester is starting out smoothly.
Father Chad Arnold, who is starting his third year at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, is the new president of schools, taking over for John Krause, who left for Colorado. Tom Compton also takes over for Krause, who assumed the dual-role of principal of St. Mary’s Colgan High School and St. Mary’s Elementary School in 2010. Nancy Hicks was promoted from assistant principal to principal for St. Mary’s Elementary.
Arnold was not available for comment at press time, but Compton, who has been an educator for St. Mary’s schools for 30 years, said the administration was optimistic about the coming year.
“There’s a learning curve for all of us, but Nancy and I have been in education for a long time,” Compton said. “In title, Nancy was just an assistant, but she carried a lot of the duties of principal. And we’re both graduates of St. Mary’s, so we know what we’re all about.”
Compton said pastors are usually transferred after their first two-year assignment, but that Wichita Diocese Bishop Michael O. Jackels had other ideas.
“He decided Father Chad was a good fit,” Compton said.
There will be challenges going from being a member of the staff, where he was a direct colleague with the rest of the teachers, to running the whole show.
“As a teacher, I could deal with the staff as colleagues,” Compton said. “As principal, I have to be able to provide what they need and learn when I’m needed and when to stay out of the way.”
Compton said St. Mary’s has a strong group of kids this year. Enrollment is down by about 10 kids, but he won’t know for sure how many there are until the official Sept. 20 count date.
Another challenge will be adapting to the state’s new core curriculum, Compton said, adding that it will be an exciting challenge.
“Some of us old dogs are going to have to change the way we teach,” Compton said with a grin. “But it will be fun because we have to challenge the kids to think, not just learn and regurgitate information. And it will take more cross-curriculum exchanges between staff.”
Colgan doesn’t have the same budget issues other schools do because it is funded by the diocese and through tithing, not by the state. But typically, Compton said, the schools do OK.
“They probably have to rely a little less on faith than we do,” Compton said. “But that’s what we’re all about, so that’s appropriate.”
St. Mary’s schools are entering the 2012-13 semester with a whole new administrative body, but officials say the semester is starting out smoothly.
Father Chad Arnold, who is starting his third year at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, is the new president of schools, taking over for John Krause, who left for Colorado. Tom Compton also takes over for Krause, who assumed the dual-role of principal of St. Mary’s Colgan High School and St. Mary’s Elementary School in 2010. Nancy Hicks was promoted from assistant principal to principal for St. Mary’s Elementary.
Arnold was not available for comment at press time, but Compton, who has been an educator for St. Mary’s schools for 30 years, said the administration was optimistic about the coming year.
“There’s a learning curve for all of us, but Nancy and I have been in education for a long time,” Compton said. “In title, Nancy was just an assistant, but she carried a lot of the duties of principal. And we’re both graduates of St. Mary’s, so we know what we’re all about.”
Compton said pastors are usually transferred after their first two-year assignment, but that Wichita Diocese Bishop Michael O. Jackels had other ideas.
“He decided Father Chad was a good fit,” Compton said.
There will be challenges going from being a member of the staff, where he was a direct colleague with the rest of the teachers, to running the whole show.
“As a teacher, I could deal with the staff as colleagues,” Compton said. “As principal, I have to be able to provide what they need and learn when I’m needed and when to stay out of the way.”
Compton said St. Mary’s has a strong group of kids this year. Enrollment is down by about 10 kids, but he won’t know for sure how many there are until the official Sept. 20 count date.
Another challenge will be adapting to the state’s new core curriculum, Compton said, adding that it will be an exciting challenge.
“Some of us old dogs are going to have to change the way we teach,” Compton said with a grin. “But it will be fun because we have to challenge the kids to think, not just learn and regurgitate information. And it will take more cross-curriculum exchanges between staff.”
Colgan doesn’t have the same budget issues other schools do because it is funded by the diocese and through tithing, not by the state. But typically, Compton said, the schools do OK.
“They probably have to rely a little less on faith than we do,” Compton said. “But that’s what we’re all about, so that’s appropriate.”
