This past week, we celebrated Catholic Schools Week in our Diocesan schools. Each day we focused on aspects that make our schools unique: parish, community, students, nation, vocations, faculty/staff/volunteers, and families.

Sunday, we kicked off the week by celebrating our parish communities.  Our schools benefit from the religious guidance, prayers, and support the parishes provide.  The next day, we celebrated our communities.  A central aspect of Catholic education is learning the importance of service to our communities and others.   When students are engaged in service to others, they demonstrate the values and faith gained through Catholic education.   On Tuesday, we celebrated the success of our students; learning, serving, and leading.  Our schools participated in dress-down days, dodgeball tournaments, and scavenger hunts.  On Wednesday, our schools celebrated our nation by praying for our government leaders and those who serve.  The next day, we celebrated vocations.  By focusing on the themes of learning, serving, and leading, Catholic schools prepare children to succeed in their God-given talents.  On Friday, we celebrated our teachers, staff, and volunteers for their dedicated service to their vocations.  On Saturday, we acknowledged the role of the families as partners in Catholic education and celebrated their contributions to the success of our schools.

Thank you to everyone that made this year's Catholic Schools Week a success!  

Passing on the faith is a family affair with Stephanie and Joe Hollo; a mother and son.  Stephanie's passion for Catholic education started when her husband and her husband made the choice of Catholic education for our oldest son 22 years ago, after experiencing the family-like atmosphere and faith-based curriculum.  Stephanie is the principal at Nativity of Mary Catholic School in Independence.  And Joe teaches Latin, theology, and small-engine repair at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Lee's Summit.  

Find out more about this amazing family by reading the article found below in the Catholic Key.  

​Dr. Hopson started her career in education 31 years ago with the desire to help people.  Dr. Hopson was drawn to Catholic Education when her daughter was going to start Kindergarten.  She wanted to make sure her daughter was surrounded by people who had similar values and morals, so she decided to make the switch to Catholic Education for both her and her daughter.

A day in the life of an Associate Superintendent is different each day.  One day Dr. Hopson is visiting schools, another she is meeting with principals and on another, she is working in the office on the next project.  Dr. Hopson's goal this year is to be a support to all the principals and schools!

When Dr. Hopson is not at work you will find her crafting for others or watching a Chiefs game.  Dr. Hopson is passionate about Catholic Education, as she believes everyone should have a Catholic Education to help them to be the best human, he/she can be!  Dr. Hopson is also a strong supporter of Children’s Mercy Hospital where her daughter received excellent care when she was younger. 

One day, Dr. Hopson would love to go to Rome, Italy, and visit the Vatican.  When asked who she would like to meet in history, Dr. Hopson said Mother Theresa.  I would like the chance to talk with her and learn from her.  That would be a blessing!  

Kansas City - The Bright Futures Fund is pleased to announce the awarding of the first 100 scholarships in the new MOScholars program. Scholarships have been awarded to students attending 26 qualifying Catholic schools in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
 
The Bright Futures Fund was one of the six Educational Assistance Organizations certified by the Missouri State Treasurer’s office to administer the MOScholars program. These 100 scholarships are concurrent with fundraising generated from individuals and companies purchasing Missouri State Income Tax Credits. 
 
“We are excited to begin to fund these scholarships and to further our mission with the MOScholars program, giving families the best tool to succeed: a high-quality education,”  said Jeremy Lillig, Executive Director of the Bright Futures Fund. 
 
To date, the Bright Futures Fund has generated more than $1 million in Missouri State income Tax Credits with more pledged. To donate, or to learn more, please visit www.brightfuturesfund.org.  Individuals and Corporations can receive a 100% tax credit for 50% of their annual State Income Tax obligation.

Who are the people in the Chancery?

A typical day in the office looks like….
Most days you will find me meeting with school leaders, special educators and classroom teachers to support their work with students with exceptionalities. I also provide support, education and advocacy for our schools as they access federal programs like Title I for reading and math remediation and Covid relief funds. When I’m not in our schools, I am working closely with our amazing Catholic Schools Office team – Dr. Karen Kroh, Pat Burbach, LeAnn Lakin and Kerry Eckert to support school leaders with the resources they need. In my downtime, I research best practices, funding opportunities and legislation that would benefit our school communities.  
Over the last year, I am most proud of the work that our educators have done in our learning communities as they support the mental and physical health of their students while continuing spiritual and academic growth and creating some sense of normalcy. Teachers and school leaders have been tireless in their work, stepping up and stepping in as they take on more and more tasks and responsibilities, all the while keeping students at the center of all they do. Their work inspires me, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to support them in their mission as Catholic school leaders. 
This year, with Dr. Kroh as our new Superintendent, our Schools Office team has focused our energy on supporting our school leaders and educators with the tools they need to keep their doors open while understanding the tremendous toll Covid is taking on their mental and physical health. One of my focuses has been on federal relief assistance. Schools have utilized Covid relief funds to update their technology, curriculum materials and professional development. These investments will have long lasting impacts in our schools and I am so proud of our joint efforts to access and utilize these programs.  
We might cross paths at my home parish – St. Therese. My daughters have attended St. Therese school and our family has been involved in church ministries there for over a decade. You’ll also find me on the soccer field or volleyball court! I have three wonderful daughters who love playing soccer and volleyball. My husband and I spend lots of nights and weekend cheering them on. We also love supporting our local NWSL team – the Kansas City Currents! 

St. Joseph, Missouri – The St. Joseph Catholic Schools Partnership announced a key decision today following two years of evaluation, research and visioning about the future of St. Joseph Catholic Schools. Effective July 1, 2022, five St. Joseph Catholic Schools will align under one entity called St. Joseph Catholic Academy (SJCA).
 
“The St. Joseph Catholic Schools Partnership was formed to facilitate collaboration among the area’s Catholic schools and ensure a common experience for all students. We have laid an important foundation for that work with the decision to establish St. Joseph Catholic Academy,” said Ann Lachowitzer, president of the St. Joseph Catholic Schools Partnership. “We are excited and inspired by the opportunities that this new alignment offers to the students, families, teachers and staff of our St. Joseph Catholic Schools.”
 
All five schools will continue to operate as individual campuses within the SJCA structure: St. Gianna Early Childhood Center, Cathedral School, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, St. James Catholic School and Bishop LeBlond High School. A centralized administrative team is to include Pastoral Coordinator Father Christian Malewski, pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish; St. Joseph Catholic Schools Partnership President Ann Lachowitzer; and Head of Schools Catherine Neumayr. The administrative team will work closely with Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Kroh and Bishop James Johnston.
 
“This next step will better facilitate living out a unified vision and mission among our Catholic schools in St. Joseph.,” said Father Malewski. “It’s vitally important that we all know what we’re about and our ultimate goal. The mission and vision was already given by Jesus Himself: “Go make disciples . . .” While we want to educate our youth to be successful in the work world, we also want to help form them to be true disciples of Jesus who will continue to live their faith out in the world and build up the Church as a whole. It is a blessing and an honor to be a part of this hopeful future for our Catholic community.”
 
Benefits of the single entity structure of St. Joseph Catholic Academy include Catholic liberal arts opportunities such as foreign languages and fine arts, advanced technology, STEAM, robotics, and other diverse electives; expanded professional development opportunities for teachers and staff; consistency in curriculum that is engaging, builds foundational skills and develops disciplined thinkers; and centralized administration.

“Catholic schools are dependent upon the people, the communities and the vision that make them up: students, families, teachers, coaches, leaders and administrators,” said Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop James Johnston. “I am proud to see how the people of St. Joseph never lose sight of the unique mission of its Catholic schools and continue to be passionate about fulfilling it.”
 
Next steps in establishing St. Joseph Catholic Academy include continued communication with teachers, staff, parents, parishioners and the St. Joseph community; researching similar systems across the country to get a firm grounding and ensure the best possible system for St. Joseph; fostering teacher preparation; studying curriculum options; pursuing new funding; as well as branding for St. Joseph Catholic Academy and marketing strategy.  

“I am proud to see St. Joseph Catholic Schools continue to make history in the way they are approaching the spiritual and academic needs of their students,” said Karen Kroh, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. 
 
Learn more, and stay up to date on progress, at stjosephcatholicschools.com or St. Joseph Catholic Schools on Facebook.

The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph announced today that Ann Wright will join St. Michael the Archangel High School (SMA) as assistant principal next fall. Ann will finish the 2020-21 school year in her current role as principal at St. John LaLande Catholic School.
 
In her farewell letter to the St. John LaLande community, Ann shared that she has accepted a part-time position as assistant principal at St. Michael the Archangel where will continue to embrace the St. John LaLande family but in a different role, as part of the administrative team at SMA.  She will join Jodi Briggs, principal, and several former students and colleagues at SMA and she is looking forward to the challenge. 

Ann closed her letter, saying, “I will be always and forever grateful for the warm welcome extended to me and for the people who I have come to cherish and will call forever, friends. I especially want to thank the staff of St. John LaLande. We have some of the best teachers and support staff in our diocese and your children have always, and will continue to always be, their first and most important priority.”
 
Please congratulate Ms. Wright on this news and join us in praying for her success.

The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph welcomes Dr. Karen Kroh as superintendent of Catholic diocesan and parish schools following a national search. Kroh will step into the role as the diocese bids farewell to Dr. Dan Peters, who will retire after 15 years in Catholic education and more than a decade as superintendent of KCSJ Catholic schools. 

"Dr. Kroh immediately stood out to us as an ideal candidate to lead our diocesan and parish schools with her experience, reputation and strong commitment to the Catholic faith and the mission of Catholic Schools," said Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. "We are eager for Karen to join our team and know that she will have a positive and lasting impact on the students, families, teachers and staff across the diocese."

Kroh brings more than 25 years of experience in all levels of education from early-childhood through college, and a consistent record of achievement in positions of leadership, instruction, curriculum, faith formation, special education and professional development. She has earned a bachelor's degree in family and child development as well as a master's degree in special education, both from Auburn University. Karen has also received an English as a New Language endorsement from Notre Dame and a Doctorate in School Leadership from St. Louis University.

"The selection committee was immediately impressed with Karen's commitment to Catholic education, her strong faith and the great energy she will bring to the role," said Jodi Briggs, principal at St. Michael the Archangel High School, and a member of the selection committee chosen to evaluate the candidates for KCSJ Catholic Schools superintendent. "She has earned great respect from the communities that she has served through her work and leadership and presents herself as a strong servant leader."

Kroh most recently served in the role of associate superintendent for student services in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas Office of Catholic Schools, which she has held since 2004. Kroh's experience includes more than a decade as adjunct faculty member at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. She is also published in the Journal of Catholic Education.
​
Kroh is honored to be chosen as KCSJ Schools superintendent, saying "Working with Catholic schools and leaders in the Archdiocese of Kansas City and other Catholic school superintendents and leaders across the country has allowed me to develop a holistic vision of the critical role Catholic schools play for our students, families and our Church."

Following extensive review and evaluation of several qualified candidates, Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr., and Superintendent Dr. Dan Peters, are pleased to announce that Shelley Henn has accepted the role of principal at Holy Cross School. Ms. Henn has been a teacher at Holy Cross for 29 years and holds a master’s degree in educational leadership. 
 
Ms. Henn is a devoted Catholic educator and community advocate, and describes herself as “passionate, enthusiastic and dedicated … centered on building relationships with the community, empowering teachers by cultivating leadership skills, implementing technology-based instructional programs for effective data-driven decision making, creating a collaborative and inclusive learning environment, and developing new and innovative strategies to meet the goals and vision of the school.”
 
Ms. Henn has had a positive impact on our community outside of the classroom through creating and maintaining partnerships with various organizations including Upper Room, Kansas City Community Gardens, Mattie Rhodes Center, Rockhurst University, and the University of Missouri.
 
Please congratulate Ms. Henn on this exciting news and join us in praying for her success.

St. Joseph, Missouri – The St. Joseph Catholic Schools Partnership announces that Ann Lachowitzer will be its first president beginning July 1, 2021. Lachowitzer has 25 years of experience in education including more than 10 years in Catholic school leadership, most recently as principal of Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph.

“As a connector and visionary leader, I’m excited about the opportunity to lead the important work of the St. Joseph Catholic Schools Partnership, including guiding our schools in carrying out the Partnership’s mission of preparing our scholars to be lifelong followers of Jesus Christ,” said Lachowitzer.

The St. Joseph Catholic Schools Partnership exists to facilitate collaboration among the area’s four Catholic schools and ensure a common experience for all students. The group announced the development of its board of directors in December 2020, with one of its first tasks being the hiring of a full-time president.

Todd Meierhoffer, Partnership Board Chair, said, "We are excited to have Ann as the President of our organization. She meets all the criteria our board was looking for. She has a strong love of our Catholic faith with a passion and commitment to academic excellence. She brings an enormous amount of energy and experience to our organization, with a business-minded approach to managing our schools. The fact that she has become well established in the St. Joseph Catholic community with her role at Bishop LeBlond, allowing her to make an immediate impact as President, was a plus.”

Lachowitzer has held several leadership roles at Catholic schools in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph including as Early Childhood Director at St. Therese Early Education Center, Elementary School Principal at Borromeo Academy in addition to her current position as Principal at Bishop LeBlond High School.  She has led initiatives to increase enrollment and reinvigorate school identity.

“It is encouraging to see continued progress toward the vision of the St. Joseph Catholic Schools Partnership.  I am confident that Ms. Lachowitzer is the right leader for the important work ahead.  She brings experience, leadership and a deep commitment to see Catholic education thrive in the St. Joseph community to this new and important position,” said Bishop James V. Johnston, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

Lachowitzer is considered a transformational leader focused on creating change in people and culture that leads to innovation and growth. She is a dedicated professional experienced in organization and analysis to evaluate school effectiveness, marketing, development, and rebranding.

Future plans for the Partnership include continued fundraising, performing a comprehensive facilities assessment, and measuring the four schools’ long-term viability.

“Ann is a strong leader with a proven track record in several of our diocesan Catholic schools,” said Dan Peters, superintendent of diocesan schools. “She is absolutely the right person at the right time to bring the St. Joseph Catholic Schools together to form a brighter future.”

Lachowitzer will step down as principal of Bishop LeBlond High School at the end of June. While she will no longer be in charge of daily operations, she will still be a part of the LeBlond community. She plans to keep an office at LeBlond and work closely with the new principal when he/she is hired. There is not an announcement to make regarding Ann’s replacement at this time.

Learn more, and stay up to date on progress, at stjosephcatholicschools.com or St. Joseph Catholic Schools on Facebook.