By Paula Day

She may be a new face at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, but Margo Wolke is an old hand at Catholic elementary education in the archdiocese.

The new principal at IHM spent the past 18 years first as a teacher, and then as principal at Christ the King School. Before that she taught six years in public school systems in New Jersey and California.

The leader of Immaculate Heart of Mary’s staff of 24 and student body of 440 believes her role as a Catholic educator is “to create a community of justice with the parents, teachers and students.”

For starters, she plans to examine the school’s written policies, making sure they offer positive ways to recognize the range of talents in the school community.

Mrs. Wolke also hopes to give parents of students opportunities to express their needs and be involved in the school.

To do this she will initiate committees which will include parents in their makeup. She also is offering parents the chance to volunteer to help in the weekly newsletter.

Because teachers are so important, Mrs. Wolke wants to enhance their leadership roles, such as being coordinators of various grade levels.

When the then Margo Miller answered the newspaper ad for a teacher 18 years ago, she had no idea she was applying for a position in a Catholic school. And when she walked in on Christ the King’s principal, Sister Mary Margaret, GNSH, dressed in jeans and a sweat shirt and dusting off tables, she thought she was encountering the janitor. The “janitor” interviewed her, hired her, and Margo Wolke hasn’t looked back.

Of the new school year in her new job she says, “I’m hopeful, and I haven’t been disappointed so far, for a year with positive spirit and high morale.”