Fr. Augustine Tolton Regional Catholic High School principal gives notice

School to get outside help in finding new leadership

Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City will engage outside help to identify and hire new leadership for Fr. Augustine Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia.

Gwenn Roche, the school’s principal, announced Wednesday that she will not renew her position for the 2020-21 school year, according to a news release from the diocese.

The school was already searching for a new president. Doug Callahan left the office Oct. 24, less than two months after accepting it.

Partners in Mission is a full-service consulting firm focused on developing excellence in Catholic school advancement and leadership, according to its website. It has provided services for more than 700 Catholic school communities and more than half of Catholic dioceses in the United States.

“It is very important to have a vibrant Catholic high school in Columbia, the largest city in our diocese,” McKnight said in the diocese’s news release. “It is a priority for me, the superintendent of Catholic schools and the leadership of our parishes in Columbia to ensure the right team is in place for Fr. Tolton Catholic High School to thrive.”