August 1, 2020
Dear St. Joseph School,
As we are approaching a new school year I want to assure you of my prayers for you. I also want to express my gratitude for your flexibility as we adapted at the end of last year to the challenges of the global pandemic. I am amazed by the willingness of everyone to make the appropriate sacrifices to make sure that we ended the year well. Your school’s administration, faculty, and staff have not stop working in preparation for this new school year. I am confident that we have taken the necessary measures to ensure everyone’s safety when we return to school. I’m also grateful for the provisions that our school has put in place for those who choose to begin the year online.
The main purpose of my writing to you is to inform you of a change in the St. Joseph School leadership. Diane Wolfe has stepped down from her role as Head Principal of the School. She has served well these past four years and has given of herself most generously for the good of our school and community. I am grateful to her for her leadership and mentorship, because I had benefitted from her expertise that she brought with her to St. Joseph. She and I both began working here at St. Joseph in 2016 and at that point I had had no experience as a pastor of a parish with a school. She helped me to learn my role by serving her role so well. I have many memories of the good things that have happened here since she was in charge of the school. I remember that when I got here the school board was working to implement a uniform policy. We got that worked out when Diane said that all we really need is Fr. Tony’s stamp of approval and then we can move along with the policy. I said, “Boom, stamp of approval!” and on we went. I think that we have good looking students now who dress for school that says, “I belong to St. Joseph School.” Another thing that I attribute to Diane’s general love of education and the good of the students was bringing AC to the gym. Now people can enjoy watching their children and friends play volleyball and basketball without losing 20 lbs in water weight from excessive sweating! Diane has also worked hard at making sure that we had a successful start to our new St. Joseph school capital campaign.
Diane has come to the decision to step down at this time as she is prioritizing her life and deciding to spend some well-deserved retirement time with her family. I am grateful for all that she has done and I am happy that she is member of our parish.
Diane has not worked alone, and she leaves the school in very capable hands. What I have decided to do with the guidance of, Theresa Hall, the superintendent of Catholic Schools of the Diocese is to select Matt Tucker to be the interim Head Principal of the School. He continues as Middle School Principal and will serve as the head principal for the time being. He and I will work in collaboration with the St. Joseph High School principal, Teri Breeding and the St. Joseph Elementary School Principal, Courtney Pope. I believe that by God’s grace and your prayers we will continue to be the best school around.
God bless you,
Fr. Tony Robbins