News Archive
St. John Catholic School Announces New Principal
The St John Catholic School Principal Selection Committee is pleased to announce that Mrs. Kendall Fountain McKee has accepted the position of Principal beginning July 1, 2010. Mrs. McKee comes to Panama City from St Benedict Catholic School in Elberta, Alabama where she has served as principal since 2005. She has a proven record of increasing enrollment and is a proven educational and fiscal leader, especially important in this environment of increased competition for dollars and students.
Our current principal, Dr. Kathy Kidd came out of retirement to help chart a positive course for the school during a critical economic time. During her two year tenure as Principal enrollment increased. Dr. Kidd’s active role with teachers, students, Pastors and parents has helped maintain the academic excellence the school is noted for having. A Special Farewell reception for Dr. Kidd will be held June 3rd. We thank her for putting her retirement on hold to help our school. She will be greatly missed but replaced by another highly qualified Principal.
Pricipal Selection Process
In January the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Mr. Kevin Vickery, traveled to Panama City to brief the St John School Advisory Council about the school principal selection process in our Diocese. Subsequently, parishioners representing St John the Evangelist, St Dominic, and St Bernadette were appointed as the Principal Selection Committee, together with the Very Reverend Peter Zalewski and Reverend George Zieba, CR, Pastor of St John the Evangelist Parish.
The Diocesan Catholic Schools Office advertised the position vacancy in several publications, including the National Catholic Education Association website. Applicants submitted employment packages directly to the Diocesan Catholic Schools Office staff, which vetted the applications before submitting them to the Committee for review. Mr. Vickery met with our Faculty and the Principal Selection Committee several more times in the ensuing months to determine the skills, set requirements, formally review applications, interview candidates, and finally recommend a candidate to the Pastor.
After receiving the Committee’s recommendation of Mrs. Kendall McKee, Fr George concurred with the recommendation and forwarded his selection to the Superintendent. In turn, Mr. Vickery sought and received approval from Bishop John Ricard, SSJ to offer the position to Mrs. McKee.
Principal Selection Committee:
Rev Jerzy Zieba CR Very Rev Peter Zalewski
Celeste Benson William Haupt
James McCalister Jay Quave Cathy Vaden
About our new Principal
Kendall Fountain McKee was born and raised in Monroeville, Alabama and went to Monroe County High School. She received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Alabama. After teaching in the elementary grades for 17 years, her first assignment as principal of a Catholic school was in Mobile, Alabama. In 2005, following Hurricane Katrina, she became the principal at St. Benedict School, in Elberta, Alabama. She has over 30 years experience as an educator, all but three years in parochial education.
Mrs McKee’s pride and joy are her two grown children, Eli and Jennie. Both were fortunate to have received Catholic educations from preschool through the 12th grade. Eli received his bachelor’s degree in Business from Auburn University and Jennie received her degree in Business from the University of South Alabama.
As a child, Mrs. McKee’s family would vacation along Florida’s Emerald Coast because her father liked to fish. She has fond memories of our area and looks forward to returning here.
Looking Back... 50 Years and Counting
On September 15th, 2008, St.John Catholic School celebrated a Golden Anniversary. The celebration continued throughout the 2008-09 school year and culminated with a reunion in April. > read more
St.John Students Welcome Pope Benedict
Pope Benedict XVI received a welcoming message from St. John Catholic School Students during his first visit to America.
Bishop John Ricard chose the culturally diverse group of students to represent the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallhassee, Florida in a 90-second video message. The students ranging from Kindergarten to 8th grade sent greetings and appreciation to the Church’s Shepherd in different languages. Every Catholic Diocese was asked to send a welcoming video to Washington to be shown as part of an expanded video prior to the Pope celebrating Mass with thousands of people in Washington DC.
The historical visit during April 2008 coincided with Pope Benedict’s 81st birthday. Watch Video...
