June 11, 2018
Initial President Search Committee Announcement
Dear STA Community,

My name is Kevin Connor and I am excited to announce that St. Teresa’s Academy is officially launching its new President search process this month. As most of you know STA President Nan Bone announced this spring that she would be retiring at the end of the 2018-2019 academic year. Nan has led STA with tremendous vision and enthusiasm for 12 years now and it is painful to let her go. We appreciate her service, her ongoing legacy and the fact that she gave the Board of Directors ample time to find a replacement while keeping the school strong in the meantime.

I am chairing the search committee of four directors and four STA community members, including faculty member Jo Weller, that will find a great candidate to replace Nan as President of STA. A short biography of each of the committee members is referenced below. We have been very busy this spring and have done much of the legwork for the search process. We will launch the search later this month and select a candidate in the fall before the end of the calendar year. The full board will approve the appointment of STA’s new President, as will the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

We are anxious to get the word out that we are starting the process. A description of the position is posted on the STA website . Please share it with whomever you think might have interest in the role. There is no substitute for word of mouth recruiting, particularly in our own sphere of influence right here in Kansas City where STA has thousands of alumnae. We are very excited to hire a great leader. With hard work we know the new President will find great joy and satisfaction, in Bishop Johnston’s recent words to the student body, “forming these young women to be not just smart and successful, but wise and good”.

To better prepare for the search the committee is issuing a survey to get a better feel for what alumnae, parents, teachers, staff and students would look for in a new President. We would be very grateful if you would take the time to complete the survey to help us along our way. The survey will be confidential, and we will take your responses very seriously in our search for a new STA President. You will receive a second message with survey details via email tomorrow. 

Please feel free to call any of us with thoughts or questions as well. We know there will be many great candidates to build on Nan’s legacy at STA, and the many great Presidents that preceded her, and to lead the school to even greater heights. Your input in the process is quite welcome, so share thoughts with us one way or another.

Please keep us in your prayers as well. This is an important function that we undertake with humility. We have great faith and hope in identifying and recruiting the best successor, but it never hurts to have your support and prayers. Thanks for all that you do to form these young women’s hearts and minds and to make STA a great educational institution.

Sincerely,

Kevin Connor
Chairman, President Search Committee
President Search Committee
Kevin Connor, Chairman
SVP & General Counsel, AMC Entertainment
Parent of 3 recent STA graduates
Incoming Board Chairperson

Beth Haden
Associate, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
STA Alumna, Class of 2002

Kathy Teahan Jantsch
Financial Planning & Analysis, American Century Investments
St. Teresa’s Class of 1976
Parent of 2004 and 2007 STA Graduates
Daughter of JoAnn Judy Teahan who graduated from College of St. Teresa
Sister of 1992 STA Graduate

Sister Rose McLarney, CSJ
Graduate of College of St. Teresa’s Class of 1962
Sister of St. Joseph for over 50 years
Board Member St. Teresa’s Academy, 6 years
Founded Journey to New Life Inc., 2013 Board Chair
Board Member and Charter Member Missouri Restorative Justice Coalition
Board Member Center for Conflict Resolution
Served on Leadership Team, Sisters of St Joseph
Ann Tierney Prochnow
Freelance Writer, Editor, worldtravelscout.com
St. Teresa’s Class of 1984
Parent of Sophia, Class of 2016
Incoming Board Vice-Chairperson

Mark Thompson
President, CCB Financial Corporation
Chairman, Country Club Trust Company
Taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph at Visitation Catholic School
Married to Amy Wiedeman Thompson, (‘85)
Parent of Current Student (‘19) and Alumna (‘11) and future student (‘26)
Brother to four sisters who attended STA
Son of Jeanne Collins Thompson who graduated from College of St. Teresa
Currently on the Board of Trustees at Avila University

Jo Weller
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
St. Teresa's Academy
Math teacher of 18 years

Michelle Wimes. Esq.
Chief Diversity and Professional Development Officer, Ogletree Deakins Law Firm
Parent of 2 recent STA graduates and 1 incoming freshman
Outgoing Board Chairperson