Two new leaders named at Notre Dame High Dr. Eric Schexnaildre is appointed head of school and Melissa Wolff dean of academics
WILL MUSTO (2)
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otre Dame High School and Diocese of Knoxville superintendent of Catholic schools Mary Ann Deschaine on April 18 announced two leadership appointments at the Chattanooga school. Eric Schexnaildre, Ed.D., of the Notre Dame High School class of 1996, has been appointed the new head of school at Notre Dame, effective July 1. In addition to Dr. Schexnaildre, Melissa Wolff has been appointed dean of academics for Notre Dame. This promotion also is effective July 1. Dr. Schexnaildre returns to Vermont Avenue after having spent the mid-1990s as a student at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga and Notre Dame. “I love Notre Dame High School,” Dr. Schexnaildre said of his new role. “That place is very, very important to me. This is not a job for me but absolutely a calling home, and I cannot wait to help revitalize my alma mater that did so much for me.” Dr. Schexnaildre has served with Catoosa County (Ga.) Schools, most recently as assistant principal and athletics director at Heritage High School in Ringgold. During his tenure at Heritage, Dr. Schexnaildre also oversaw the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education program for the school. He obtained his doctor of education degree from Georgia Southern University in 2011, having stud-
Dr. Eric Schexnaildre
Melissa Wolff
ied educational leadership and administration. “I look forward to a continuation of the faith-filled environment at Notre Dame High School under the watch of Dr. Schexnaildre,” Mrs. Deschaine said. “He is a God-fearing man who loves Notre Dame High School and has a great vision for the future direction of this incredible institution. The diocese is excited to have an individual at the helm of the school with a long-term vision and plan to push the school to the next level and beyond.” Dr. Schexnaildre was born in Louisiana and raised in Catholic schools. His family relocated to Chattanooga, where he attended OLPH in eighth grade and then attended and graduated from Notre Dame. Known for a persis-
tent work ethic, Dr. Schexnaildre is motivated to unite the alumni community alongside him behind their alma mater. Notre Dame High School, founded in 1876, has more than 7,000 alumni nationwide. As a student at Notre Dame, Dr. Schexnaildre starred for both the football and baseball teams, playing as a four-year starter at quarterback and lettering four years in baseball. For more than two years, Deacon Hicks Armor has served as interim head of school for Notre Dame while the Diocese of Knoxville searched for the person for its head of school position. “We thank Deacon Armor and his selflessness as he has guided Notre Dame High School these last two years,” Mrs. Deschaine said. “It is not easy being an interim
By Dan McWilliams
leader, and the deacon carried the baton in a manner in which he, and the school community, should be proud.” Dr. Schexnaildre wrote a note to the school community: “Dear Notre Dame students, families, and alumni, “I am deeply honored and blessed to accept the head of school position at Notre Dame High School. I am extremely grateful to the interview committee for placing their trust in me to lead Notre Dame High School moving forward. “The Notre Dame High School mission: ‘to share the Catholic faith in an environment which fosters spiritual growth and academic excellence and embraces religious, academic, cultural, and economic diversity’ was at the core of my experience as a student nearly 30 years ago. As a proud alumnus, I am forever indebted to the Notre Dame High School community for the invaluable experiences, teachings, and relationships I acquired as a student. “As head of school, I look forward to leading the efforts in uniting our alumni and the entire Notre Dame community to jointly create a vision for the current and future students attending Notre Dame High School. Relentlessly, we will work together to further our mission and create a strategic plan to move forward. “The future is bright for Notre Notre Dame continued on page B2
Youth inspired by science of STAR EX program Those attending camp at St. John Neumann learn about astronomy, rocketry, robotics, and more
By Bill Brewer
BILL BREWER
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s a young girl, Tara Cotten loved to recite the nursery rhyme “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are!” Now, Dr. Tara Cotten, a professor with a Ph.D. in astronomy and physics, teaches her two young sons a new version of the popular rhyme: “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, now I know just what you are!” Dr. Cotten, who will be teaching at St. John Neumann School in Farragut for the 2024-25 academic year, loves to share her interest in space with students. And she did just that when she was one of several experts who spoke to students participating in the STAR EX program at St. John Neumann. The first STAR EX camp for middle school and high school students was held on Saturday, March 23, at St. John Neumann School. The camp was presented by the Tennessee Civil Air Patrol and featured talks by astronauts Don Thomas and John Shoffner. Topics covered during the oneday camp included space exploration, telescopes, and astronomy as well as rocketry, robotics, satellites, rovers, and drones in space. There were 30 students and 27 Civil Air Patrol cadets taking part. CAP cadets range in age from 12 to 21. Dr. Cotten’s husband, Dr. David Cotten, who is a scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, also spoke to groups of young Civil Air Patrol cadets and Diocese of Knoxville students. Father Joe Reed, pastor of St. John Neumann Parish and School, worked with Dave Wells, who served as mission coordinator for
Ready for their close-up Students taking part in the STAR EX program hone their scientific skills as part of the daylong STEM retreat March 23 at St. John Neumann School. STAR EX and is a volunteer with the Civil Air Patrol, in putting on the program. “Dave Wells has always been one of the best educators I’ve known in the diocese, and he has a huge passion for science and space and just a passion for education. He was involved in Civil Air Patrol when he was a kid,” Father Reed explained, noting that he wished he had been exposed to the Civil Air Patrol when he was young. “Dave said, ‘Hey, we have this great chance. You have a great
school. We can really capitalize on the wonder and all the great resources here in the Knoxville area.’ He started working with some scientists, the Civil Air Patrol, and got in touch with astronauts, and it all just came together. We had some of our teachers certified as Civil Air Patrol educators,” Father Reed said. “STAR EX is great. I have a nephew who went through it, and he loved it. He had a phenomenal day. A whole lot of people from a whole lot of backgrounds came together to have a great experience and make
use of all the incredible things we have here in East Tennessee.” Father Reed was enthusiastic about enhancing St. John Neumann School’s curriculum with the science and technology aspects of STAR EX. “It really is making use of the unique place that East Tennessee has in science, and what a perfect intersection where you have wonder and creation, and caring for that, and also this wonder that wants to look into creation and unSTAR EX continued on page B2