Kelly High, SEMO grad to lead St. Vincent Perryville schools

Sarah Cato, a 2006 Kelly High School graduate, will become head of schools and high school principal of St. Vincent dePaul in Perryville, Missouri, on July 1.

Cato succeeds Jennifer Streiler, who has served as St. Vincent’s interim leader since Deacon Rob Huff vacated the position nearly eight months ago.

Huff, who at one time was chief financial officer of the Cape Girardeau School District, left St. Vincent last summer to become superintendent of Catholic schools for the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese.

Streiler, who had 16 years’ experience as a public school principal at Perryville Elementary, came out of retirement to fill the job after Huff’s departure.

“I’m thrilled St. Vincent is getting Sarah, and as for me, I was happy to serve and I’ll be equally happy to drop the keys on the desk when she arrives,” Streiler said.

Background

A Chaffee, Missouri, native, Cato received her undergraduate degree in secondary English from Southeast Missouri State University and went on to earn a master’s degree at William Woods University, in Fulton, Missouri.

Cato, currently a Cape Girardeau resident, taught English at Jackson High School for six years and has served as principal of St. Augustine School in Kelso, Missouri, the past four years.

“I’m excited about this opportunity even though it is bittersweet to leave St. Augustine,” Cato said.

Cato explained she will have a dual position at St. Vincent dePaul: she will be principal of the high school (grades seven through 12) and acting as head of schools, the elementary principal (pre-K through sixth grade) will report to her.

What’s ahead

Funding, Cato acknowledges, is an ongoing issue for all schools — public or private.

“The real challenge is allocating resources that allows all children to have what they need,” Cato said, adding, “Leaders must be creative rather than be absorbed with fighting fiscal battles.”

In reference to diocesan schooling, the educator praised the vital support of parishes.

“Churches and schools are moving mountains,” Cato said, adding she is walking into a solid educational situation.

“St. Vincent already has a strong, faith-based school and I want to continue those traditions and help it grow in any way I can,” she added.

Kelso’s St. Augustine Elementary has 174 students.

St. Vincent dePaul in Perryville has 250 students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and 256 students in grades seven through 12.