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by Kathi Stearns
ATLANTA—Archbishop John F. Donoghue has replaced Msgr. Terry
W. Young as Secretary for Education with Donald T. Sasso, principal of St. Pius
X High School, Atlanta. His appointment was effective April 10.
Msgr. Young served the archdiocese as Secretary for Education from
Dec. 31, 1998-April 9, 2000.
“I am grateful to Msgr. Young for what he did as Secretary
for Education,” Archbishop Donoghue said, adding that Msgr. Young took on
the position “at a time when a lot was being considered.”
“His focus was always on what was good for the schools and
for the church in the archdiocese,” the archbishop said. “Although we
may have a different vision, even if we didn’t always see eye -to-eye, I
knew he was offering me what he thought was his best judgment and it was up to
me to accept or reject his judgment.”
Archbishop Donoghue has allowed Msgr. Young to take a one-year
sabbatical. At the completion of the sabbatical, Msgr. Young is expected to
accept a new assignment. He could not be reached for comment.
Ruth McCullough, dean of studies at St. Pius, has been named
acting principal of St. Pius until a search committee selects a new principal.
“I am pleased to have Don Sasso accept this
appointment,” Archbishop Donoghue said. “I am impressed with the way
Don has served the St. Pius community for the past nine years and I am
confident that he will bring a high level of professionalism, dedication and
commitment as he ministers to all of our Catholic schools and parishes.”
Sasso is enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve the
archdiocese in this new capacity.
“Archbishop Donoghue has presented me with a tremendous
opportunity for professional growth in my appointment as Secretary for
Education,” Sasso said. “Our Catholic educational system in North
Georgia consists of a vibrant and expanding group of schools. We have talented
and committed administrators and teachers who are doing a terrific job of
delivering quality Catholic education in our schools. In addition, our parish
schools of religion serve the needs of thousands of our young people as they
grow in their faith. To be placed in the position of leadership of this large
educational system is an honor and affirmation of the work that I have done
during the past nine years at St. Pius.”
Sasso’s appointment comes after the Office of Education asked
Queen of Angels School, Roswell, and Holy Redeemer School, Alpharetta, to
reduce their expenses by approximately $300,000 for the upcoming year and to
make significant reductions in their expenditures through the 2004-2005 budget.
Sister Patricia Clune, CSJ, principal of Queen of Angels, announced her
resignation in early March citing a lack of confidence in the Office of
Education. Her resignation goes into effect June 30.
Sasso says that working with the principals of these schools to
find a solution to these financial concerns will be one of his first areas to
address.
“My hope is that we can all work through this together,”
Sasso said.
Sasso said that the Office of Education will need to provide
responsible administrative oversight regarding general policies and practice,
but he believes that the day-to-day operation of the schools should be the
responsibility of each principal.
“From a theoretical and practical standpoint, I believe in
the concept of site-based management,” Sasso said. “We have
outstanding leadership in our schools, and we need to let these talented
individuals be empowered to do their jobs in a manner which is responsive to
the needs of their local communities. I plan to examine the issues concerning
site-based and centralized management as they are operative within our schools.
I hope to arrive at a point where both the local school communities are truly
empowered and there is also appropriate central office oversight and management
so that the needs of both these interests are served.”
Sasso, who had served as principal of St. Pius since July 1991,
has spent 28 years of his career in Catholic education. He said that he hopes
to bring the sensitivity and perspective that he has learned as a principal to
his new central office leadership role.
“Our school administrators, faculties and staffs need to feel
that their day-to-day efforts and ministry on behalf of our young people are
understood and appreciated,” Sasso said. “Just as we are one body in
Christ, we are one team in Catholic education working together to provide the
very best in educational programs infused with Catholic values; these form the
heart of our schools and programs.”
In addition to working with the schools, Sasso said he is looking
forward to the additional responsibility of working with the priests and lay
directors of religious education programs in the archdiocese.
“Since most of my experience has revolved around schools, it
will be particularly interesting to work to familiarize myself with the great
work being done in parishes through their religious education programs,”
he said.
Sasso, 50, is a 1971 graduate of Holy Cross College, Worcester,
Mass., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and Spanish. He was
awarded his master’s degree in educational administration in 1977 from
Fairfield University, Fairfield, Conn.
He taught high school in Waterbury, Conn., and Torremolinos,
Spain, before he was named vice-principal of South Catholic High School,
Hartford, Conn., in 1979. In 1985 Sasso was named principal of South Catholic
where he served a diverse population of students from varied ethnic and
socio-economic backgrounds. Sasso succeeded Msgr. Young at St. Pius in 1991,
where he was the first lay principal of the school community.
Sasso and his wife, Janice, the finance manager at St. John
Neumann Regional Catholic School, Lilburn, have two children: Their son, Bart,
age 19, a 1998 graduate of St. Pius X, is a sophomore at the Georgia Institute
of Technology and daughter, Becky, 15, is a sophomore at St. Pius.
“My nine years as principal of St. Pius have provided
wonderful opportunities for personal and professional growth,” Sasso said.
“My colleagues in Catholic education at St. Pius produce excellence every
day, and it has been a privilege to serve as principal there. I would like to
note that my feelings really come from a double perspective. First of all, from
the point of view of the educational leader of St. Pius, and secondly, as a
very satisfied customer whose children have received a first-rate Catholic
college preparatory education at the school.”
The Secretary for Education oversees the 16 Catholic grade schools
and three Catholic high schools of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Our Lady of
Mercy High School, Fairburn, and Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell, are
scheduled to open in the fall of 2000. The Secretary for Education is also
responsible for overseeing the religious education that is taught in the
archdiocese’s 100 parishes and missions and for overseeing Catholic campus
ministries. |
