By Kelley Kepler
Catholic Herald

Timothy Johnson new head of Cathedral School

SUPERIOR -- This year there is a new face in the principal's office at Cathedral School. Timothy Johnson, the former principal at St. Rose Catholic School in Proctor, Minn., replaces Paul Uhren who was principal the past two years.

Johnson said he specifically wanted to work at a Catholic school because he believes firmly in Catholic education and values.

"It's important to teach value systems in a society that lowers the bar in so many ways," said Johnson, citing that popular culture continually sends out the troubling message: "It is what you have and look like that make you valuable."

"We have to balance that out with a healthy message," he said. Catholic schools do this by addressing the whole child and emphasizing spirituality and service to others. They teach students to form healthy relationships based on honesty, trust and respect, he said.

In addition, "Catholic schools are accepting of all kids," Catholic or not, and strive to provide a safe and positive learning experience for them, said Johnson.

He said parents who send their children to Catholic schools "have made a commitment, not just to academics, but to values and a sense of God in their lives."

A native of Yonkers, N.Y., Johnson has lived in Duluth, Minn., since 1975. He and his wife Alice belong to St. John Parish in the Woodland area of Duluth. They have three children: Jarrod, 30, Brooke, 22, and Ty, 19.

Johnson has a master's degree in education from The College of St. Scholastica. He was principal at St. Rose School during the last three school years, an experience that taught him much about the accreditation process.

Prior to that, Johnson taught in the Operation Aware program for 11 years. Operation Aware, he said, is "an itinerate counseling program" for kindergarten through eighth grade students. Johnson traveled among the public and private schools in Duluth, teaching sixth graders how to deal with peer pressure, make good decisions and avoid drugs.

Johnson said he is looking forward to working with the Cathedral students and the dedicated staff and parents. He hopes to build on past efforts made by Uhren, the staff and community to continue to improve the education at Cathedral School.

Specifically, his goals are to increase enrollment, expand technology and continue to strengthen Catholic identity at the school. Johnson also hopes to make the school more visible in the community and strengthen its ties to all the parishes in Superior.

Last year Cathedral School had an enrollment of 334 prekindergarten through eighth graders. It will hold an open house on Sept. 2, and classes will begin on Sept. 3.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2003