CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools welcomes two new principals for the 2017-’18 school year: Dr. Carl Semmler has been hired as principal of Christ the King High School in Huntersville, and Amy Tobergte as principal of St. Patrick School in Charlotte.
DR. CARL A. SEMMLER, CHRIST THE KING HIGH SCHOOL
Semmler joins the Christ the King High School community after serving in Catholic education for more than 20 years, most recently as the principal of Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y.
Prior to this, Semmler was an associate superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. His duties included strategic planning, principal professional development, leadership training and supervision of the Catholic grammar schools in Brooklyn West.
Semmler served in various roles at Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, N.Y., where he taught theology and directed campus ministry. He has most recently completed a doctorate in education in administrative and instructional leadership at St. John’s University. His dissertation focused on analyzing the strategic plans of Catholic dioceses undergoing similar demographic changes.
Semmler is excited to move to North Carolina, where his wife Christine grew up and where her family still lives. They have three children: Sophia, Thomas and Timothy.
“I am thrilled to be part of the community at Christ the King Catholic High School,” Semmler said. “It is such a joy to be part of a growing, enthusiastic, intelligent and spiritual Catholic school. The students that I have met are so impressive in their welcoming spirit and their love for their school.
“My aim is to continue our school’s trajectory of excellence, while still keeping the family feeling within the school.”
AMY TOBERGTE, ST. PATRICK SCHOOL
Tobergte grew up northwest of Chicago and is a graduate of Western Illinois University. She began her teaching career at a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Chicago. After moving to Charlotte in 2005, she taught in the public schools and was promoted to district-level positions.
In 2010 Tobergte obtained her N.C. School Administrator Principal’s license and became an assistant principal at Quail Hollow Middle School, where she served for two years before becoming principal of Piney Grove Elementary School in March 2013.
Tobergte traveled to Japan for two weeks this summer. She was one of 12 U.S. educators selected by Fulbright Japan to collaborate with 12 Japanese educators on helping students explore and solve issues related to Education for Sustainable Development. She spent two weeks learning about the Japanese culture, including an overnight stay with a family, and also learned about the country’s efforts to protect their environment and natural resources through ESD.
“It was truly a trip of a lifetime, and I am eager to build upon my learning and experiences with the staff and students of St. Patrick,” Tobergte said.
“Throughout all of my opportunities in public education, I found it important to live my Catholic faith through acts of service, charity and embodying our Catholic social teachings and faith in my actions and decisions,” she said.
“Having the opportunity to now join St. Patrick is a true gift, and I am looking forward to leading our school as a community of worship. St. Patrick has a history of academic excellence and a strong sense of community, and it also has a commitment to developing the spiritual health and life of our children – which I believe is critical to preserve.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Our principals
Michele Snoke
St. Gabriel School
Deborah Butler
St. Mark School
Meredith Canning
Immaculata School
Tyler Kulp
Sacred Heart School
Dr. Carl Semmler
Christ the King High School
Ann Flynt
St. Pius X School
Sheila Levesque
St. Michael School
Kathy McKinney
St. Ann School
Michael Miller
Asheville Catholic School
Amy Tobergte
St. Patrick School
Kevin O’Herron
St. Matthew School
Kathleen Miller
Our Lady of Grace School
Kevin Parks
Holy Trinity Middle School
Allana-Rae Ramkissoon
Our Lady of the Assumption School
Tracy A. Shaw
Bishop McGuinness High School
Greg Roberts
Immaculate Heart of Mary School
Sister Geri Rogers, S.S.J.
Our Lady of Mercy School
Joanne Brown
St. Leo School
Kurt Telford
Charlotte Catholic High School
CHARLOTTE — Families in the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools system enjoyed a Charlotte Knights ball game Aug. 20 to kick off the start the new school year this month.
Students from St. Gabriel School sang the National Anthem and Christ the King High School baseball player Nicholas Hodges threw out the first pitch. Families brought donations to aid the local Catholic Charities food pantry.
— Photos by Tara Heilingoetter | Catholic News Herald
