KERNERSVILLE — A veteran educator with roots in the Triad has been appointed the new leader of Bishop McGuinness High School.
Dr. Jared Rashford will start as head of school in June, succeeding George Boschini, who has served as interim principal for the 2020-’21 school year.
Rashford has more than 20 years of experience in both independent and public schools as a teacher, researcher and administrator – a career that began in the Triad. While pursuing his master’s degree in education at Wake Forest University, Rashford completed his student teaching at Mt. Tabor High School in Winston-Salem.
Dr. Gregory Monroe, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Charlotte, welcomed Rashford in an announcement March 13: “His evident commitment to his faith, award-winning career, energy and success in leading Catholic, public and independent education programs made it clear he is the right leader to carry forward the excellent traditions of our storied school and elevate Bishop McGuinness to the next level.”
Rashford returns to North Carolina after serving most recently as associate headmaster at St. Louis Priory School, a Catholic school for boys in St. Louis, Missouri. There he oversaw the school’s program of study and offices of admissions, athletics, college counseling, communications and technology. Over seven years, he also served as the school’s dean of academics and principal.
Rashford said he and his wife Amanda are thrilled to be returning to the Triad, where they began their family life together 22 years ago. The couple, who have five children, were members of St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem and served as core team members for the parish’s youth ministry program.
“I am humbled and grateful to serve as the next head of school at Bishop McGuinness,” Rashford said. “From the moment I walked on campus and throughout my visit, I experienced the school’s deep sense of community and continued commitment to excellence. Bishop is known for its strong tradition of providing an outstanding education in the areas of academics, athletics, the arts, and numerous extracurricular opportunities.”
In recent months, Rashford has been working as a consultant in educational design, management and curriculum. Previously, he was science department chair and a faculty member at Winchester Thurston School, an independent college preparatory school in Pittsburgh. He also worked as a teacher of science and gifted-and-talented programs at public schools in Atlanta.
He holds a doctorate in teaching and learning from Georgia State University, as well as bachelor’s degrees in biology and Spanish from Duke University.
Rashford was selected after a rigorous national search led by a committee of parents, pastors, education leaders, an alumnus and a long-time benefactor, and guided by Carney Sandoe & Associates, a national company specializing in recruiting Catholic school leaders.
Bishop McGuinness is one of three high schools in the diocese’s Catholic Schools system. The regional high school, which serves multiple parishes in the Triad, has 422 students this year – up more than 12 percent from two years ago.
“With Bishop being the region’s only Catholic secondary school,” Rashford said, “I am excited to work collaboratively with the Catholic Schools Office, Bishop (Peter) Jugis’ leadership team, faculty and staff, and the alumni community to advance its mission of developing students holistically and equipping them to live and serve our world in a spirit of peace, love and justice.”
— Catholic News Herald