Saint Mary’s John Tarpley to return to teaching at the end of the school year; search begins for new principal

John Tarpley, principal at Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Rome for the past five years, is leaving in late June to pursue a teaching opportunity.

Tarpley informed his staff during a Monday meeting in advance of the school year resuming on Tuesday. He also sent the following note to parents and other members of the school community:

“This coming June, I will have completed five years as principal at St Mary’s School. In that time, our enrollment has stabilized, the school is on a sounder financial footing and our students continue to perform on a very high academic level both here at SMS and in their chosen high schools in the city and county. I believe the time has come for me to leave St. Mary’s and seek opportunities closer to my home. I will remain at SMS through June 2016. It has been a very high honor for me to have worked for you and your children, and I will leave SMS with a sense of pride and with wonderful memories. Soon, the Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Atlanta will begin a search for a new principal. I will assist that person in all ways possible to ensure a smooth transition so that next August St. Mary’s will be fully ready for a new academic year. I am grateful for the outstanding support you have given St. Mary’s School and I ask you to continue that support as we prepare for our annual Gala Auction in March. Go Knights!”

Deacon Stuart Neslin, Interim Administrator of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, indicated that the search for a new principal would begin immediately, coordinated by Neslin and Dr. Diane Starkovich, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. “I want to thank John for his five years of dedicated service to St. Mary’s Catholic School,” Neslin said. “I look forward to continuing to work with him for the remainder of this academic year, and all of us wish him all the best in his future pursuits.”

Tarpley, a veteran educator who also practiced law, was principal at Pinecrest Academy in Cumming before joining Saint Mary’s. He replaced Alex Porto, who continues as principal of St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School in Lilburn.

Saint Mary’s School, at 401 E. Seventh St. in Rome, serves students from grades Pre-K3 through eighth grade. The student mix is 55 percent Catholic and 45 percent from other denominations. Students from more than two dozen local churches attend Saint Mary’s. For information about the 2016-17 school year, please contact Christa Jackson at [email protected] or call 706-234-4953. Please visit the school Facebook page for additional updates.