Siena Catholic Schools of Racine Names Brenda White as System’s First President
RACINE, Wis., August 7, 2017 – The Board of Directors of Siena Catholic Schools of Racine announced today that Brenda White has been named to serve as the first President of the newly formed school system.
Ms. White joins Siena Catholic Schools from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, where she has served as associate superintendent of schools since 2008. As part of this role, she began working six years ago with school and parish leaders to build support for the formation of a regional model of Catholic education in Racine and has been a driving force in bringing Siena Catholic Schools into existence.
“Establishing strong leadership is a critical step as we prepare to launch our new school system and we are fortunate to have Brenda taking on the chief leadership role,” said Daniel E. Horton, acting chairman of the Siena Catholic Schools Board of Directors. “Her established leadership in advancing Catholic education, her strong relationships with school and parish leaders and her deep commitment to the Catholic faith will help us put the Siena Catholic School system on a successful, sustainable path to serving students and their families for years to come.”
Prior to her role in the Archdiocese, Ms. White served four different Milwaukee-area schools during her 22-year tenure as a principal after beginning her career as a teacher in special education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Central Michigan University, a Master of Science in Administrative Leadership and an Education Specialist degree with a focus on the Superintendency from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
“My career in education has been rooted in my passion for serving children with diverse learning needs and backgrounds,” said Ms. White. “Through advancing the church’s mission of Catholic education in Racine, I am committed to strengthening our schools and parishes, extending our evangelization efforts and forming students who become models of service and leadership in our community.”
Ms. White will assume her responsibilities as President on September 1. She will report to the Board of Directors and have two senior leaders reporting to her – the Director of Schools and the Director of Business. Both of these roles are under active recruitment.
Recruitment for a system president began in May with the launch of a nationwide external search for qualified candidates. A search committee that included a priest, principals and several lay members with varying professional backgrounds was formed to assess and interview potential candidates. Following multiple rounds of interviews, the committee unanimously recommended Ms. White to the Board of Directors, who endorsed and forwarded the recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Upon receiving their endorsement, Ms. White’s candidacy was taken to Archbishop Jerome Listecki, who officially approved of her hiring.
About Siena Catholic Schools of Racine
Siena Catholic Schools of Racine unites the area’s five Catholic elementary schools (John Paul II Academy, Our Lady of Grace Academy, St. Joseph, St. Lucy, St. Rita) and one middle/high school (St. Catherine) in a regional model of Catholic education intended to preserve the individual identity, history and uniqueness of each school while maximizing the impact of collective strength.
The effort will be aligned in National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools that ensure a commitment to Mission and Catholic Identity, Governance and Leadership, Academic Excellence, and Operational Vitality.
In July 2017, the State of Wisconsin approved the articles of incorporation for Siena Catholic Schools of Racine, officially marking its launch as a not-for-profit corporation in Wisconsin.
More information about Siena Catholic Schools may be found at www.racinecatholicschools.org.
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