Students, Parents Call On Malden Catholic To Bring Back Principal

MALDEN, MA — Members of the Malden Catholic community have rallied around an administrator who was let go as the school moves to the single-principal model. The school said last week it named Rose Maria Redman principal of Malden Catholic, replacing Girls' Division Principal Lisa Cenca and Boys' Division Principal Thomas Puccio, who will remain at Malden Catholic High School as the director of Mission Integration.

"The shift will allow us to unite the school under one principal, and we are delighted to have Mrs. Redman, a veteran in Catholic education, join our team. Rose is a seasoned and high respected educator who has experience in integrating organizations," Headmaster John Thornburg said. "She will be supported by a seasoned team of education professionals including Boys Division Leader, Robert Bucchino, Girls Division Leader Jeff Smith and James Grocki who will be our new Assistant Principal of Student Life."

But some members of the MCHS community said they are "troubled" by Cenca's removal from the girls' program.

"The idea of a single principal to lead the school does sound like a good idea, but we don't see a way forward for the Girls' Division without Ms. Cenca at the helm," a petition to bring back Cenca states. "It was her vision that first drew us to the school and her successful implementation of that vision which convinced us that MC would be the right place for our daughters."

The petition received nearly 700 signatures as of Tuesday. It has a goal of 1,000 signatures.

Petitioners identify themselves as "parents, students and friends of the Malden Catholic community." Cenca spearheaded the development of the Girls' Division, and her "new energy and fresh ideas" made it successful, they wrote.

Malden Catholic is one of just three co-divisional schools in the country, meaning it holds single-gender academics during the school day and integrated, social extracurricular opportunities after school. While the schools will unite under one principal, the co-divisional model will remain the same.

Last fall, the school began a six-month strategic planning process that began with a survey of constituents, including students, parents, staff/faculty and alumni. The survey showed a need for organizational streamlining to "ensure the future growth of the institution," according to a statement from the school.

"Headmaster John K. Thornburg has a bold vision for the school and knows how to get us there," MC Board Chairman Jim Donovan said in a statement. "The school needs to have a single principal model to create greater cohesion and collaboration for all of the students in the Boys and Girls Divisions and respond to the gaps and needs identified in the survey."

Despite the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic, the administration said Malden Catholic had a successful year and it is confident that moving forward with a single-principal model will ensure the school is "built to last."

In its statement, Malden Catholic acknowledged Cenca's success in starting the Girls' Division. Petitioners feel that isn't enough, and are calling on the administration to bring Cenca back as principal of Malden Catholic.

"You had it; you had lightning in a bottle and you let it go," petitioners said.