ROCKFORD—Two familiar faces have been chosen to lead the new All Saints Catholic Academy set to open for the 2019-2020 school year.  

 

Renee Payne will be head of school and James Burns will join her as principal of the new academy that consolidates the students from St. Bernadette, St. Edward, St. James and the Cathedral of St. Peter Schools. 

 

The academy will be spiritually and financially supported by the parishes of the consolidated schools as well as by four additional Rockford parishes — St. Anthony of Padua, St. Patrick, SS. Peter and Paul and St. Stanislaus Kostka.

 

Payne is the principal for St. James School. She holds a bachelor of science degree in education from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and a master of arts in educational administration from Governor’s State University, University Park. She has been a teacher and administrator in Catholic and public schools since 1981.

 

Burns is the principal of the Cathedral of St. Peter School. He holds a bachelor of science degree in sociology from St. Joseph College, Rensselear, Ind., and a master of science in education curriculum and instruction and an education specialist degree in educational administration from Northern Illinois University. Burns has been a teacher and administrator in public and Catholic education since 1976. 

 

“Given their experience and accomplishments, we feel this is the best utilization of their skills in getting All Saints Catholic Academy off the ground,” said Michael Kagan, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Rockford Diocese.

 

“This head-of-schools/principal structure will allow for more collaboration in developing the exciting programs that ASCA will be offering its students in August 2019,” Kagan added. 

 

“Both Payne and Burns will each have distinct responsibilities but will share responsibility in the areas of hiring and evaluating staff for All Saints,” he added.

 

According to the new governance model developed by the pastors and the Diocese of Rockford to guide All Saints, Payne and Burns will report directly to the executive pastor, Father Stephen St. Jules, rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter. 

 

The two will be evaluated annually by Father St. Jules and the vice executive pastor, Father Kenneth Stachyra, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish, and Kagan. 

 

Kagan added that both Payne and Burns “possess the qualities required not only to guide All Saints, but to also evolve their respective roles to fit the needs of the new academy, its faculty, students, families and the community as well.”