The Diocese of Jefferson City announced Monday that Helias Catholic High School's principal will also serve as the interim superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese, starting July 1.
Helias Principal Kenya Fuemmeler will continue to serve as principal of the high school, too, as she serves for up to a year in the appointment by Bishop Shawn McKnight as interim superintendent, according to a news release from Helen Osman, director of Diocesan communications.
Osman said Sisters Elizabeth Youngs and Julie Brandt were both leaving their positions - Youngs as superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese, and Brandt as associate superintendent.
Osman did not know where Youngs or Brandt were going or what their plans were.
"We're looking forward to (a) new era for Catholic education," Osman said when asked why both were leaving at the same time.
"I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve as associate superintendent these past four years," Brandt said in the diocese's news release.
"It has been my privilege to support our principals and pastors in their leadership as they strive to provide a quality Catholic education to the students in each of our schools," she added.
Osman said both positions would probably be filled in the future, but that would ultimately be up to the new superintendent.
"There's different models out there," she said.
While Fuemmeler serves as the interim superintendent, a search committee will be led by diocesan vicar general Msgr. Robert Kurwicki in a national search for a new superintendent.
With other members to be announced, the committee will include: Cheryl Hertfelder, diocesan director of human resources; Father Michael Quinn, pastor of Holy Family in Hannibal; Debbie Reinkemeyer, principal of Holy Family School in Freeburg and Sacred Heart School in Rich Fountain; and Aaron Vitt of St. Piux X Parish in Moberly. An executive search firm has been hired to assist in the national search, according to the news release.
"This process is based on the results and recommendations of an in-depth study by consultants with deep experience in Catholic education," Bishop McKnight said in the news release. "It is an important step forward in our commitment to high-quality Catholic education for our children.
"Ms. Fuemmeler's strong Catholic faith, her experience as principal of Helias High School and in other school systems, as well as the fact that she is a product of our own Catholic school system, will provide us with the right leadership for this transition," McKnight said.
Fuemmeler has been Helias' principal since 2015, and prior to that had been an assistant principal at Moberly High School.
She attended St. Joseph elementary school in Salisbury and is a member of St. Peter Parish in Jefferson City. She also holds an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame and a master's degree in education from the University of Missouri.
"I look forward to assisting Bishop McKnight and our Catholic community in taking our Catholic schools to the next level of excellence, bringing to our students and their families an experience of quality academic and spiritual formation," Fuemmeler said in the news release.
She said she is "eager to build on the good foundation" built by the current administration of the diocesan Catholic Schools Office, Youngs and Brandt.
Osman said Fuemmeler would not be the first person without a religious or cleric title to be superintendent of schools for the diocese.
The Diocese of Jefferson City includes 38 counties in central and northeastern Missouri. Approximately 82,000 Catholics live in the diocese, worshipping and serving in 114 parishes. The diocese includes three high schools and 37 elementary schools, with a total enrollment of approximately 7,000 students, according to the news release.