Seven diocesan schools have new principals

By Tim Puet
Catholic Times
 
Seven diocesan schools have new principals for the 2017-18 school year. Sarah Sciarretti was hired as principal at New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School. Elementary schools with new principals are: Columbus Holy Spirit, Amy Chessler; Coshocton Sacred Heart, Mary Kobel; Portsmouth Notre Dame, Josh McMakin; Columbus Trinity, Kimber Moehrman; Logan St. John, Andrew Potter; and  Reynoldsburg St. Pius X, Darren Smith.

These educators come from a variety of backgrounds, but all expressed great enthusiasm for Catholic education when asked their reasons for seeking the position of principal and their goals for the academic year.

“Our children are our most valuable assets. Catholic education is the best gift that we could be giving them,” Sciarretti said. She and her husband have four children, ages three to nine, all of whom attend Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary in Dover. “It is an investment not only in their education, but also in the future of our church. Knowing that they are able to spend their day in an environment that not only fosters, but encourages their open relationship with God is such a blessing.”

She grew up in Granville and received a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Ashland University and a master’s in teaching and learning from The Ohio State University. She taught kindergarten in Heath for three years and second and third grade in Dover for two years and is returning to education after staying home for the past nine years to raise her children.

“I would like for our school to be a viable option for all students in our county who seek it,” she said. “We offer a small-school atmosphere with big results. Our school is more than bricks and mortar. It is a family. We are affordable and we are open to all.”
Chessler is from the Canton area and also received a bachelor’s degree from Ashland and a master’s from Ohio State. She taught for seven years in south Florida, three years in a Columbus charter school, and two years at Holy Spirit School before becoming its principal. She has taught third and fourth grades, as well as middle school math, and has been an assistant principal.

“I have chosen to be in Catholic education because of the faith and values instilled in me from my family all through my life,” she said. “I want to be able to share my faith with others, especially children, because they are the heart of it all. My goals are to continue the education and traditions at Holy Spirit School. I want to see the school grow in faith, scholarship, and community.”

The school has three new teachers, two of whom are graduates of Columbus diocesan schools, and is beginning a service learning project, led by Student Council members, to bring clean water to an area of Kenya.

The selection of Kobel as principal at Sacred Heart School adds to a tradition that is its third generation. Her mother attended the school, as did Kobel, her seven brothers and sisters, and Kobel’s three children, one of whom is a fourth-grader there. She has taught at the school since 2007. Before teaching, she was a social worker for more than a decade. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology at Walsh University and a master’s in education at Muskingum University, and continues to work in adoption services.

“I firmly believe that Catholic education provides a solid spiritual foundation, as well as academics,” she said. “Catholic schools are founded in faith, helping students realize the full potential of their God-given abilities. Catholic education is special: the high standards, the moral foundation, and the positive, compassionate energy are things our society needs now more than ever. Our schools challenge students and teachers to go above and beyond to meet and exceed expectations.”

Her school has five new teachers and new cafeteria staff members. It also is continuing a jump rope club and starting a running club, basketball, and family literacy nights.
McMakin said he chose to be part of Notre Dame Elementary School “because of its history of academic and spiritual stature. Also, my children attend Notre Dame. I want to bring a talented staff closer together, which I believe also will unify our student body to work toward common goals of excellence in the classroom, spiritual growth, and a higher sensed of humility and charity.”

He grew up at Franklin Furnace in Scioto County and has been a teacher for 17 years, the last 10 of them at CAPE, a behavioral alternative school in the county. He also has taught at Franklin Montessori School, which is a part of the Dayton school system, and in Wadesboro, North Carolina. His bachelor’s degree is from Morehead State University and his master’s is from Xavier University.

Moehrman becomes principal at Trinity after teaching fifth grade and coaching there for the past 15 years. She also has taught at Belleville Clear Fork High School and Columbus St. Leo School and was interim principal at Columbus St. Thomas School. She grew up in Columbus and has an education degree from OSU and her master’s in education from the University of Dayton at Capital. Her two children are Trinity graduates.

“I wasn’t actively seeking to be a principal, but God had other plans,” she said. “I feel blessed to have this opportunity, and I have high hopes for the future of Trinity Catholic. The summer kept us busy as we cleaned and remodeled key work spaces.

“We added a second Chromebook cart to our upper grades and have a 3-D printer fired up and ready to go. We will begin to build a STEM program, establish family groups, begin student goal setting and student-led conferencing, kick off a 4-H club, and begin grade band collaboration.”

Potter has spent 32 years in education as a music teacher, technology coordinator, elementary school principal, and technology teacher. He came to Logan in the fall of 1991 and was employed by the Logan-Hocking public schools from then until this summer. He also has been a pastoral musician at St. John Church for all of his 26 years in Logan.
He worked in the Steubenville city schools from 1986-91 and taught music at a seminary in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and a parochial school in Mingo Junction. He also was a pastoral assistant at Athens Christ the King Church. His wife, Karen, teaches art at St. John School. They have four grown children. He is from Belpre and has a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s in educational administration.

“I have chosen Catholic education because each one of us has to follow Our Lord Jesus and his quiet call,” he said. I’m following his call and, at the same time, receiving his enormous blessings in my new vocation.” His goals for the school include becoming a Google G-Suite for Education school this fall, increasing the use of the diocesan student information program SchoolSpeak, and continuing the mission of evangelization in the context of a Catholic school by becoming a “channel of peace.”

Smith was assistant principal at St. Pius X last year. “I am excited to continue the school’s great tradition of academic excellence and am empowered by the staff, which combined has more than 378 years of teaching experience,” he said.

He and his six siblings graduated from Columbus Immaculate Conception School and Columbus Bishop Watterson High School, as did his parents. He has a master’s degree from Ohio Dominican University, taught at Columbus St. James the Less School, and coached basketball at Columbus St. Francis DeSales High School. His wife teaches at Trinity, and his father owns Smith’s Deli in Columbus’ Clintonville neighborhood
.
The school’s theme for 2017-18 is “Be the Best Version of YOU!” The school has purchased new SMART boards, Chromebooks for all third-through eighth-graders, and a 3-D printer. Proceeds from the Home and School Association’s annual “Night in Green” fundraiser were used for whiteboards, which replace the school’s chalkboards; new wiring to support technology; a curriculum coach; and the Tynker computer program, which teaches computer programming to students.