Fall, 2011 - Stephen T. Badin High School

Principal’s Letter Cover Story Spotlight StudentsPendergest ’90‘honored’ totake the helm atBadinNew members of the leadership team at Badin High School include, fromleft, Principal Brian Pendergest ’90, Dean of Students Sid Imhoff ’88,Director of Finance Jennifer Fabry, and Executive Director ofInstitutional Advancement Kelli Verdin Kurtz ’88.Photo courtesy of The Hamilton JournalNews.Pendergest excited about newmembers of leadership teamNew Badin Principal Brian Pendergest ’90 was proud toannounce key additions to the BHS leadership team over thecourse of the summer.“When you have good people in important spots, it reallyenhances your ability to accomplish things both big andsmall,’’ Pendergest said. “We have a great group in placeand that will help ensure the ongoing success of Badin HighSchool.”Those newly named include:• Sid Imhoff ’88, assistant principal and dean of students.• Kelli Verdin Kurtz ’88, executive director of institutionaladvancement• Jennifer Fabry, director of financeTeresa Heinrich remains the dean of academics.“Teresa is a leader at Badin and she is tremendous towork with,’’ Pendergest said. “She does a great job in thisvery important role.”Imhoff and Kurtz were both happy to return to Badin. ForKurtz, it’s déjà vu all over again as she served seven yearsin the Development Office before being named a vice presidentat the Hamilton Community Foundation in 2006.“As a Badin grad and the former development director, thisis like coming home to me,’’ Kurtz said. “I’m thrilled to beback and play a role in mapping out the school’s future – afuture that’s never been brighter.”“The opportunity to return to my alma mater was veryenticing,’’ said Imhoff, who was an assistant principal atHamilton High School for the past four years. “I’m lookingforward to continuing the outstanding tradition of Badin andmaking the school even better.”Fabry, a certified public accountant, served most recentlyas the controller for an internet service provider inPittsburgh. She is a graduate of the University of NorthCarolina-Wilmington, with a degree in accounting.“I love it,’’ Fabry said of joining the staff at Badin. “It’s anice challenge in a new environment. … I enjoy knowing thatmy work will actually benefit students’ educations.”“We’ve had a terrific start to the school year and we’realready moving forward with new ideas and projects,’’Pendergest said. “These are very exciting times to be a partof Badin High School.”Brian Pendergest ’90 called it“an honor” to be named BadinHigh School’s 8 th principal bythe Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He officially took thehelm on July 1, with the retirement of Frank Margello.“Badin is a very special place,’’ Pendergest said.“The community support the school receives isoutstanding. Badin High School has a tremendouspast and a very bright future.”Pendergest’s appointment was announced in Aprilby Dr. Jim Rigg, the superintendent of schools forthe Archdiocese. In making the announcement, Riggcalled Pendergest “a man of great energy and vision.He possesses a great talent for academic leadershipand a love of working with young people. He is adevoted Catholic, and will continue to guide Badin’scommitment to providing a vibrant Christ-centeredenvironment.”Pendergest, who has undergraduate and master’sdegrees from Xavier University, taught at Badinfor three years and served a total of six years asassistant principal, sandwiched around two years asthe principal at McNicholas High School in Cincinnatifrom 2007-2009.“I enjoyed my time at McNicholas,’’ Pendergestsaid. “There’s nothing that prepares you more forbeing a principal than on-the-job training. The biggestbenefit was seeing other ways of doing things. I’ll beable to bring some of that back to Badin.”Pendergest returned to Badin in order to be closerto his family. He and his wife, the former KathleenMcFarland ’90, live two blocks from Badin in Hamiltonwith their five children. It’s been a family affair –Brian’s parents, the late Pat and Laurel HambergPendergest, attended Hamilton Catholic and NotreDame high schools, respectively. Those two schoolsmerged to open Badin High School in the fall of 1966.“I’m sure Brian will do an outstanding job asprincipal,’’ said outgoing Principal Frank Margello.“I’m really excited that he is being given theopportunity to take Badin to new heights.”6