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.
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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.

St. Joseph, Missouri – St. Joseph Catholic Schools announces the formation of the St. Joseph Catholic Schools Partnership Board of Directors to oversee its work to facilitate collaboration among the area’s four Catholic schools and ensure a common experience for all students.
 
Following approval by Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr., the board held its first meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 16, electing officers and ratifying the new organization.
 
"We are excited for our new Catholic school partnership and having all four of our schools collaborating together on a common mission and culture. This collaboration is a game changer for both grade and high school education in St Joseph," said Todd Meierhoffer, Partnership Board Chair.
 
This limited-jurisdiction board is tasked with overseeing the Partnership’s role in strategic planning, marketing and public relations, development and fundraising, financial review and professional development of teachers and principals.
 
“I am grateful for the continued passion and dedication of the St. Joseph community in supporting the vitality and sustainability of its Catholic schools. I look forward to the progress ahead under the guidance of the new board of directors,” said Bishop James V. Johnston, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
 
The Partnership announced several additional updates at its first board meeting, including the establishment of a common mission, “Preparing our scholars to be life-long disciples of Jesus Christ together: Family, Parish, School.” This mission is supported by the three pillars of discipleship, scholarship and stewardship.
 
Future plans for the Partnership include continued fundraising, hiring a full-time president, performing a comprehensive facilities assessment, and measuring the four schools’ long-term viability.
 
“The formation of the St. Joseph Catholic School Partnership is both an exciting and historical tipping point for the St. Joseph Catholic schools.  This is the first time the parishes and schools have developed a plan and structure to work together towards the re-vitalizing of St. Joseph schools. Working together we will form a brighter future for our Catholic schools,” said Dan Peters, superintendent of diocesan schools.
 
St. Joseph Catholic Schools Partnership announced today its board officers and members: Todd Meierhoffer (Chair), St. Joseph Cathedral; Scott Murphy (Vice Chair), Our Lady of Guadalupe; Brice Libel (Finance Committee Chair), Cathedral of St Joseph Advisory School Board Appointee; Michelle Conard (Secretary), St James; Bridget Matthias, St Francis Xavier; Fr. Christian Malewski, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Priest Appointed by Bishop; Dan Peters, Superintendent of Diocesan Schools; Dan Pfister, Cathedral of St Joseph; Darin Pollard, Principal Representative appointed by Superintendent, St Francis; Emilie Lueckenhoff, St Francis Xavier; JL Robertson, St James; Fr. Joe Miller, Pastor, St Francis Xavier; Fr. Joseph Totton, Pastor, St James; Mallary Hann, St James Advisory School Board Appointee; Sally Sanders, Bishop LeBlond Advisory School Board Appointee; Shelly Culver, St Francis Xavier Advisory School Board Appointee; Fr. Stephen Hansen, Pastor, Cathedral of St Joseph.
 
Learn more, and stay up to date on progress, at stjosephcatholicschools.com or St. Joseph Catholic Schools on Facebook.

Following extensive review and evaluation of several qualified candidates, Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr., and Fr. Don Farnan, are pleased to announce that Karen Hopson, Ed.D., has accepted the role of principal at St. Charles Borromeo Academy. Ms. Hopson has worked in Catholic education for 20 years and has served as Interim Principal at St. Charles Borromeo Academy since last May.
 
Ms. Hopson is an experienced Catholic educator and says she is “dedicated to instilling the truth, beauty and goodness of the Catholic faith while guiding students to academic excellence.” She has worked with grades Kindergarten through 12th in three different regions of the Archdiocese of Kansas City Kansas prior to coming to St. Charles Borromeo Academy, most recently as principal of Holy Cross Catholic School in Overland Park, Kansas and prior to that, principal of Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas.

Ms. Hopson feels she has bonded with the community of St. Charles since arriving last Spring and is eager to continue to instill the strong sense of cooperation and family that exists among the educators and scholars.

Please congratulate Ms. Hopson on this exciting news and join us in praying for her success.

The development of the multi-purpose community center immediately adjacent to Holy Cross Grade School in northeast Kansas City has remained a prayerful vision of Bright Futures for more than a year.

“The Holy Spirit has inspired the hearts and minds of so many of us for this exciting project,” said Jeremy Lillig, Bright Futures Executive Director. “When we began, we had no idea that the Spirit was leading us to this wonderful day.”

In one of the largest single foundation gifts to Bright Futures in its 31-year history, the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Midland, Texas has issued a $650,000 challenge grant for the construction of the Shine Brightly Neighborhood Center. Bright Futures will have one year to meet our challenge to complete funding for the Shine Brightly Neighborhood Center off the corner of St. John Avenue and Quincy.

To date the Shine Brightly Campaign has raised more than $1.9 million toward a $3.2 million goal to build these new facilities that will include an expanded Early Childhood Development Center, community meeting and social services space, multi-purpose athletic facility and exterior playground. Connected to Holy Cross Grade School, this 13,000 square foot extension is meant to be used by the entire community during after school and weekends year around.

“This center will not only allow Holy Cross needed facilities during school hours, but will be a great boost to other neighborhood social services with whom we currently partner like Mattie Rhodes,” comments Lamar Hunt, Jr., board member and campaign leader. “We are so thrilled by Mabee’s decision as these new spaces will allow us and our partners to offer numerous programs, not only to our 400 Bright Futures students, but hundreds of other at-risk youth and their families throughout the northeast urban core.”

Officially begun less than a year ago, the Shine Brightly Campaign has already provided benefits in upgrades to its two flagship PreK-8 inner city schools: Holy Cross and Our Lady of Hope. Beyond capital construction the campaign is working to grow the program’s endowment called the Matthew McCullough Endowment Fund, which as of this writing has raised $470,000.

Bright Futures Fund thanks Bishop Johnston for his leadership, its board of directors for their vision, the Campaign Cabinet for their commitment and to all the early donors who have shown their faith and been moved as we all have by the Holy Spirit.

For more information on Bright Futures and the Shine Bright Campaign, including how you can help us raise the funds for the Center to complete Mabee's challenge, visit the links below:

• Donate directly to the Bright Futures Shine Brightly Capital Campaign Here
• Watch Videos on the Shine Brightly Campaign Here
• ​See a birds-eye view map of where everything will be here!

You don't need superpowers to be a superhero: apply to be a substitute teacher at KCSJ Catholic Schools and you could save the day for a teacher in need of temporary support.

​KCSJ Catholic Schools is now hiring substitute teachers for all grade levels. Requirements include a high school diploma and completion of a 20-hour training module, in addition to satisfactory background check, signed Ethics and Integrity in Ministry form, and Protecting God’s Children training.
 
If you are not yet certified as a substitute teacher, the full requirements and training module can be found on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website here.

A list of our Catholic schools, high schools and early education centers in need of substitutes can be found below; please contact the school directly to inquire about current openings and be added to a school’s substitute teacher list.​​

St. Joseph, Missouri – As Catholic schools prepare to reopen across the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, a new plan to revitalize Catholic education in St. Joseph, Missouri has been officially approved.

Following a 12-month process involving a 50-person steering committee, more than two dozen listening sessions and input from more than 300 stakeholders in the St. Joseph community, St. Joseph Catholic Schools is today officially kicking off its Vitality in Catholic Education plan with the start of the 2020-21 school year.

A team of parish pastors, school principals, and other lay leaders, will continue meeting to discuss the recommendations from the plan with the intent to establish a full roll out in the 2021-2022 school year.

“Our Catholic schools are treasures which offer a unique partnership with our families, helping to raise happy, holy, healthy children that are wise and good and prepared to meet the challenges of life,” said Bishop James V. Johnston, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. “Our schools are not only about educating the mind but also the heart, forming the whole person, helping our children to become who God wants them to be, and we do that in a wholesome, religious environment. We are obligated to do all we can to ensure the vitality of Catholic education in our diocese and I’m so proud to see this renewed focus in the St. Joseph area.”

The Vitality in Catholic Education plan emphasizes the development of the whole student in Catholic teachings and values and seeks to stabilize, and eventually increase, enrollment to reach more students across the St. Joseph area.

“I am grateful for the many members of the committee who put a lot of time and effort into forming a workable plan. Collaboration is truly messy work involving a wide variety of people who are passionate about their ideals and hopes, and I am so proud that even with all the challenges and setbacks, they persevered,” said Fr. Christian Malewski, pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in St. Joseph. “I am most passionate about the possibility of forming a unified vision and mission among our Catholic schools.  It’s vitally important that we all know what we’re about and what our ultimate goal is – to help form young people to be true disciples of Jesus who will continue to live their faith out in the world and continue to build up the Church as a whole.”

The plan presents six values and operational recommendations for implementation beginning with the 2021-22 school year and into the next several years:
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1. Focus on our mission to create disciples in Jesus Christ by educating the whole person, mind and heart, to become who God wants them to be in a wholesome, religious environment and by aligning school culture to this mission.
2. Improve academic performance through best practice and innovative teaching, including incorporating Classical Education practices.
3. Inspire our students into a living relationship with Jesus, feeling loved, safe, and with a sense of belonging in God's family, with a focus on what is true, good, and beautiful.
4. Implement an innovative and ambitious marketing and enrollment growth plan to inspire parents and students to become partners in our mission of helping our students to be disciples of Jesus Christ and become the person God wants them to be.
5. Operate our schools as a system that ensures long term viability and collaboration including establishment of a system board and President.
6. Align our resources, including our teachers and staff, our facilities, and finances, to ensure the most effective and long-term achievement of our mission.

Pat Modlin, implementation director for St. Joseph Catholic Schools Vitality Plan, said, "St. Joseph has had Catholic schools for over 120 years. This plan, endorsed by Bishop Johnston and the Pastors of our schools, is innovative and will transform how Catholic education is delivered, ensuring we'll have Catholic schools here for another 100 years. Having a vibrant and exceptional educational choice available to the St. Joseph community is important for our Catholic families and also non-Catholics who want more options for their children."

Modlin will lead the ongoing work of the Implementation Steering Committee, made up of the Diocesan Schools Office plus the pastors and principals of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, St Francis Xavier Church, and St. James Catholic Church, along with these members of the core team:

• Mission & Catholic Identity - Fr Christian Malewski
• Governance - Sally Sanders
• Academic Excellence - Ann Lachowitzer
• Operational Vitality - Tom Roetto
• Student Experience - Michelle Conard
• Facilities - Todd Meierhoffer
• Marketing - Kristi Bailey
• Communications - Mary Ann Didde

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Learn more, including how to enroll, at stjosephcatholicschools.com or St. Joseph Catholic Schools on Facebook.

Vital to the mission of the Catholic Church, the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic School System works in partnership with our communities and especially our parents, who are the primary educators of their children, to educate the whole person through unique attention to academic, human and spiritual formation based on Jesus Christ and His Gospel. 
 
The COVID-19 pandemic presents the most serious public health crisis the world has experienced in generations. Looking forward to the 2020-21 school year and beyond, the Kansas City-St. Joseph (KCSJ) Diocesan schools/centers are resolved to do everything we can to reopen our campuses safely with the health and well-being of our entire community in mind. 
 
Kansas City-St. Joseph (KCSJ) Diocesan schools/centers will re-open with in-person instruction in August.
 
Recommended start date: Week of August 24
 
The following recommendations are based on the assumption that a vaccine will not be available for 12-18 months, which means each KCSJ Diocesan school/center needs to be able to respond quickly to circumstances in its own school/center community as well as to conditions in surrounding municipalities.  Individual schools/centers will follow the direction of the local health department and/or civil authorities. Even as we plan to reopen our campuses in August, we know we may need to close them again with very little advance warning. This means the KCSJ schools/centers will be prepared to toggle between different learning models designed to fit a variety of circumstances and drivers.  This plan is based on the following principles:

1. Whenever safe, we prefer in-person learning over remote learning.
2. The health, safety, and well being of the students and faculty are our highest priority.
3. We will promote practices and policies to reduce risk of virus transmission and support our capacity to be responsive and agile when facing changing health circumstances. 

 
The principal and pastor of each KCSJ Diocesan school/center will base the selection of a learning model on their assessment of health risk based on local health departments and local civil authorities’ recommendations.
 
Three Models for Learning 
In anticipation of ongoing and changing challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic, the KCSJ Diocesan school/centers have developed three learning models.

• In-Person Learning Model: a traditional school/center experience where students attend school/center five days a week.
• Distance Learning Model: our campuses are closed and the school/center remains open through remote learning experiences.
• Hybrid Learning Model: combines in-person learning with coordinated online experiences.

 
Daily Routine Recommendations
The following routines are based on current CDC recommendations and local pediatricians.

• In general, students should be kept in small cohort groups, not making contact with other groups within the school,
• maintain physical distancing,
• and wear masks when physical distancing is not possible or when transitioning back into school, between classrooms, in large areas, or in the hallway.

 
Pediatricians discourage gathering a large number of students in a large room and recommend maintaining cohort groups within schools to minimize exposure to others and limit the spread of COVID-19.  Exposure is defined by the Centers for Disease Control as contact that lasts more than 15 minutes with less than 6 feet of distance, whether masked or unmasked.  
 
There is not much evidence that masking alone is effective without physical distancing. It is also important that students and teachers not touch their own faces as this can assist the transmission of the virus. When masks are required, students with special medical, sensory or other conditions are not required to wear masks, but must take extra precautions to prevent transmission of COVID-19 by physical distancing or other means. 
 
Visit our School Locations page for available individual school learning plans.