By RICKY KERR
Hays Post
Thomas More Prep-Marian has a new principal, Chad Meitner, who replaces two-year interim principle Kathy Taylor. Meitner’s contract with the private Catholic school began July 1, and he hopes to “continue to educate the whole person, body, mind and spirit.”
“It’s important never to just become an academic prep academy or just an athletic factory, but it needs to be all three of those things, academics, spiritual and the physical,” Meitner said. “Just like God’s love is infinite, so is our ability as learners to become the best we can be in every area.”
Meitner served as principal of Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic School (kindergarten through eighth grade) in Dodge City before taking the position at TMP. His personal experience living with host families during his collegiate career gave him a positive view of the new changes to the school, which has shut down its boarding program in favor of a host-family system for international and out-of-town students.
“I speak Spanish and I learned Spanish in college and by visiting countries and living with host families. … A big part of the students who come from other countries or even just commute in will be living with host families,” he said, “I’m a big proponent of the value in that — to not only get to know a school, but also a culture and a community, and the best way to do that is through being a part of a family.”
Meitner said he is excited to be a partner with families of all the students who are a part of the school.
“I think it will be paramount for our success,” Meitner said. “Any school — public, private, Catholic, Christian — it’s going to have to have strong family support.”
With various changes underway for TMP, including reduction of faculty, Meitner said the ultimate goal is doing what is best for the students who attend the school.
“I feel like that coming in as a first-year administrator I need to be a learner and I need to come in and observe and listen to the people that have been here and find out as much as i can about TMP, the current situation, but also about its traditions, the culture,” he said. “I haven’t got a sense at all of negativity.”
Meitner said his biggest challenge will be maintaining and facilitating communications with everyone holding a stake in the school’s future, including faculty, alumni, donors, students and parents.