APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The interim president of the Xavier Catholic School System has resigned, just weeks after the system’s superintendent and high school principal were fired.
FOX 11 obtained a copy of the letter that was sent to staff, students and families Wednesday from Bob Ellis, chairman of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System Board of Trustees.
Ellis announced that Katie Heim — who was serving as the school system’s interim president under a temporary contract through Dec. 31 — has decided to resign early from her role.
Heim’s resignation is the latest in a series of shake-ups in the system’s leadership roles.
In mid-November, Mike Mauthe was terminated from his job as Xavier High School principal following an investigation by the Green Bay Diocese Safe Environment Office, which was launched after it received a complaint against Mauthe.
Shortly after Mauthe’s firing, Xavier Catholic School System superintendent, Dr. John Ravizza, was also terminated. A statement from Heim said Razza was “identified as having violated policy by failing to meet reporting requirements in connection with the ongoing investigation of Mr. Mike Mauthe.”
The letter says the school system hopes to fill its presidential position no later than July, with interviews beginning in the coming weeks. In the interim, Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools Becky Walker will provide necessary leadership, Ellis said.
Read the full letter below:
December 4, 2024
Dear Xavier Catholic Schools Faculty, Staff, and Community,
On behalf of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System Board of Trustees, I would like to provide several updates, to invite you to share our commitment to healing, and to participate in our ongoing work to strengthen our great schools.
First, I want to inform you that Katie Heim, who was working under a temporary contract through December 31, 2024, has elected to resign her role as Interim President of the Xavier Catholic School System early. We have accepted her resignation and thank Katie for her service to our System.
In recent weeks, questions have been raised regarding the role the Board of Trustees plays in Xavier Catholic Schools. The Board oversees the President, approves the long-term strategy, provides operational governance, and fiduciary oversight.
A large part of our work is selecting, coaching and developing a President that will lead our system on a day-to-day basis while building a thriving future for generations to come. When our President role was vacated this summer, we immediately hired a top recruiting firm that is narrowing our national search to a few candidates. We will not compromise on this role. The vetting of our new leader will be driven by the search team with input across the Xavier Community during an on-site interview process in coming weeks. We expect to have that position filled by July or sooner. In the interim, Dr. Becky Walker, Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools, will provide necessary leadership and support of our staff and students.
Xavier Board of Trustees does not manage the day-to-day operations of our system. Activities such as personnel issues and the execution of our strategic plans are the responsibility of Xavier Catholic School System leadership team. The recent terminations due to Our Promise to Protect policy violations were non-negotiable. All who engage with our students, or supervise those who do, are held to the standards of Our Promise to Protect policy.
The Xavier community has had an extremely difficult several weeks. We have heard strong points of view from many of you regarding the future of our system. We value your perspectives. We encourage you to get involved and help shape this future. It will take all of us, working together, to ensure the thriving system we all want for the future of our youth, staff, families, and communities. Anyone on the Board of Trustees or System Leadership team can help you get involved where your passions, time, talent, and treasures can make a difference.
As a Board of Trustees, we are extremely proud of our faculty and staff. We will work tirelessly to support their efforts. We have a terrific long term strategic plan focused on Catholic identity, educational excellence, supporting teachers, student opportunities, and facilities improvement. We will hire an outstanding leader to guide our system. We are confident Xavier is, and will continue to be, the best school choice in the Fox Valley. We welcome your involvement.
As we begin this Advent season and our preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ, may the peace and the joy of His coming be with each of you and your families.
Sincerely,
Bob Ellis
Chairman, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System Board of Trustees
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