May 27, 2011
Karie Craney is new middle/high school principal in Washington
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Karie Craney has been named principal at Washington Catho-lic Middle School and High School for the 2011-2012 school year, according to Father Gor-don Mann, pastor at Our Lady of Hope in Washington.
Gerry Adams has been serving as interim principal of the school for the present school year.
Craney attended Washington Catholic schools for 13 years and is a 1994 graduate of Wash-ington Catholic High School. She has over 10 years of experience in the school system.
Since 2008, she has served as Dean of Students and counselor at Washington Catholic Middle/High School.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Southern Indiana, and has completed graduate level course work at Indiana State University.
Craney, who also has three children attending the Wash-ington Catholic schools, said, “I am excited about the future of Washington Catholic Middle and High School.
“I am blessed for the education that I received at Washing-ton Catholic and am honored to pass on this rich faith-based educational opportunity for future generations to come.
“I feel that a Catholic education is the greatest gift we can give our children.”
Father Mann said, “We provide an environment where our students not only receive an excellent academic education, but they also receive an education regarding how to be good, moral citizens in society.
“Mrs. Craney is a great ex-ample of how these two components come together and how well she has integrated them into her life.”
Father Mann said that Jeanne Heltzel will return as Washington Catholic Elementary School principal next school year. During the 2010-2011 school year, she served as interim principal there.
Father Mann said, “She brings with her a wealth of wisdom and experience. Together our two principals will provide a school environment where children can learn how to be good people as well as good students.”
Daryl Hagan, diocesan superintendent of schools, has made the following announcement about principals in the Diocese of Evansville.
• Char Bennett, principal at St. John the Baptist School in Newburgh, “will serve one more year and retire at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Char will have led the school community in Newburgh for 27 years”
• Flaget Elementary School in Vincennes is in the process of interviewing candidates. Janice Jones is currently the principal at both Flaget and Rivet Middle School and High School, with Lori Wissel as lead teacher at Flaget.
• Gwen Godsey, currently the principal at Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville, has accepted the position of principal at Christ the King School, Evansville, for the 2011-2012 school year.
The position at Reitz Memorial has just been posted, according to Hagan.