George Valadie, president of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga is set to arrive in July. He will join the school in July for the 2013-14 academic year.
Bishop Richard F. Stika of the Diocese of Knoxville, officially announced the appointment after introducing the Notre Dame High School alumnus to faculty, staff and students on March 25.
In addition to being a Notre Dame graduate, Mr. Valadie is a former teacher, coach, development director and vice principal at the school. He will fill a newly-created administrative position that will encompass curriculum and instruction oversight, strategic planning and development as well as day-to-day operations now overseen by Principal Perry Storey.
Mr. Storey will be leaving Notre Dame following the current school year to pursue other opportunities.
Mr. Valadie has been principal at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School in Cordova, Tn., for 14 years, leading the West Tennessee school to strong enrollment growth while overseeing construction of a $25 million high school campus. He is a past recipient of the Notre Dame High School Distinguished Alumni Award and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame.
He also earned a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga.
Mr. Valadie served as principal at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School from 1985-1988 and also taught and coached at Soddy Daisy High School from 1979-1981.
He and his wife, Nancy, who is a Notre Dame High School graduate, have three grown daughters and two grandchildren.
‘’Nancy and I are very excited to be returning to our hometown and our alma mater. It has provided so much to our family. I hope I can be of service in some similar way,” Mr. Valadie said. “Amazingly, Notre Dame is celebrating a 137-year history—and an equally long future. This is because of the unending work of its students and the incredible support of its parents and alumni. I look forward to being a part of all that.”
Bishop Stika said Mr. Valadie was selected for the new position after an extensive search that followed an assessment of the school’s operating model.
“A few months ago, I made the decision to change the administrative model at Notre Dame High School to the President-Principal Model. The decision was made after much prayer, contemplation and the results of an independent review of the business model and practices at Notre Dame. After a thorough search, our search committee made a clear recommendation for our school’s first president. Mr. George Valadie is the first president of Notre Dame High School, and I am convinced of his dedication to his faith and his family as well as his ability to provide and execute a vision that will move Notre Dame High School into the future,” Bishop Stika said.
Diocese of Knoxville Schools Superintendent Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, said Mr. Valadie will continue the success Notre Dame has achieved through its history, especially in recent years.
“I believe Mr. Valadie will build upon much of what Mr. Storey has built on during his long 18-year tenure. These are exciting times for our Catholic schools, especially in the Chattanooga area,” Sister Mary Marta Abbott said.