“It’s always interesting to be a first,” said Mary Schenkenberg, the future principal of St. Louis University High School.
In July, Schenkenberg will become a significant “first” as she will be the first female to hold the position of principal at the Jesuit, all-boys high school.
According to Paul Sheridan, S.J., president of SLUH, Schenkenberg was hired in January because of her experience and qualifications. Sheridan cited Schenkenberg’s extensive knowledge of curriculum and expanding technology in the classroom as two of her greatest strengths. “She is the best candidate not just because of her professional qualities, but also her personal qualities,” Sheridan said.
Tim Chik, a theology teacher at SLUH, as well as an alumnus of both SLU and SLUH, and is very pleased with the review committee’s decision to hire Schenkenberg. “I think she is an excellent candidate and I am very pleased with her qualities and her past experience. I think she’ll bring a lot to the faculty and to the staff,” Chik said.
The bulk of Schenkenberg’s experience comes from her tenure at Nerinx Hall, an all-girls Catholic high school in Webster Groves. While at Nerinx, she taught English for 15 years and served as principal for 10 years. In 2000 Schenkenberg decided to take a break from the educational setting in order to spend more time with her family.
Schenkenberg admitted that she was surprised when SLUH contacted her about the opening of the principal’s position. “The more I talked to them, the more it seemed like it could be a really good fit,” Schenkenberg said. “Being female, I hope to bring a little perspective and balance to their community.”
While she realizes there will be differences in working in an all-boys school as compared to an all-girls school, Schenkenberg thinks that there will also be many similarities because she will be continuing to work in the same larger Catholic community and because students of the high school age, whether male or female, face many of the same challenges.
Schenkenberg says she is eager to become a part of the SLUH community. “SLU High is a wonderful institution, and I’ve always had a great deal of respect and admiration for the Jesuits.” All three of Schenkenberg’s adult children attended Jesuit universities, and she received her doctorate from Saint Louis University in 1992.
According to Sheridan and University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., the connection between SLUH and SLU extends well beyond a shared name. Sheridan said that approximately 40 SLUH graduates choose to attend SLU each year.
“Many of our teachers have taught there, and the high school is a precursor for the university in its origins,” Sheridan said.
According to Biondi, the high school was part of the University and the two became separate entities when the high school moved to its current location on Oakland Avenue.
“We share Jesuit values, philosophy and heritage. Our missions are education in the Catholic and Jesuit tradition . preparing our students to be persons for others,” Biondi said.
Sheridan said that about 12 percent of the current faculty and staff at SLUH are female. Chris Keys, a SLU junior and SLUH alumnus, said that while there are several women teachers at the high school, he was still surprised at the school’s decision to hire a woman for the principal’s position. “It kind of shocked me, just because SLU High is an all-boys school,” Keys said. “I don’t have a problem with it but I was surprised.”
Nick Wunderlich, another SLU sophomore and SLUH alumnus, doesn’t think that there will be any snags to Schenkenberg’s assimilation at SLUH. He said, “Given her background and accomplishments, I am sure she’ll do a fine job. She should be judged on that.”
