Catholic academy to replace St. Theresa School

By Kathryn Reed

St. Theresa School is being reincarnated into Lake Tahoe Catholic Academy when it opens Sept. 2.

“The diocese will not control the direct day-to-day operation of LTCA, but instead we’ll focus on maintaining a Catholic identity within the school, as well as our adherence to the principles of Catholic education,” Malin Kennedy, spokeswoman for the academy, told Lake Tahoe News.

Lake Tahoe News first reported in June that St. Theresa would be closing. Declining enrollment at the K-8 South Lake Tahoe school has been an issue for years. There were just more than 50 students last school year.

St. Theresa Catholic Church will continue to have a school operating next door.

The academy, like St. Theresa’s, will be preschool-8. It will operate in the same buildings. Differences are that it will not be overseen by Sacramento Diocese and it will not be an official Catholic school.

“STS simply was not successful as defined by the Sacramento Diocese enrollment numbers and financial stability model,” Kennedy said. “But STS was consistently successful in its mission to educate successful, well-rounded students. High school valedictorians and community leaders have graduated from STS.”

Anne Flice, who had been principal at St. Theresa, will be the interim principal at the academy as well as director of education. Allison Monroe is president of the academy. There is also a board of directors.

“Many duties of the principal will be co-managed with the president – specifically, curriculum development, recruitment and fundraising, and public relations,” Kennedy said.

The division of labor will have Flice being responsible for improved academics, with a focus on science and math, while Monroe’s job is more about fundraising and recruitment.

“We still believe that a small private faith-based school is critical to the South Lake Tahoe education community. We have a dedicated group of parents and educators, a Catholic parish, and an entire community that will support our goals,” Kennedy said.

The academy came about from parents and teachers not wanting to let the Catholic school model die. They, with other community members, created Lake Tahoe Catholic Academy.

“I truly believe in this school and I’m an atheist. It not only was a strong positive influence on my son’s life, but it made quite a positive impact on me and my ex-wife as well,” Toogee Sielsch told Lake Tahoe News. “I volunteered on average 200 to 300 hours a year when Ian was a student and I still help out where I can.”

All faiths are welcome.

Enrollment applications will be available in the next week. Lake Tahoe Catholic Academy may be reached at 530.208.7657.