For the City-Times

Pacelli Catholic High School, part of Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools (SPACS), has announced that Lawrence “Larry” Theiss has accepted the position of principal. 

Theiss will be succeeding Jeff Brengman, who announced his retirement after serving SPACS for five years.

Theiss has experience in both public and private school administrative settings and is certified as a Pre-K to 12 principal, 9-12 English teacher and department chair. He has had principal experience while serving Newman Catholic High School in Wausau and Cedar Grove-Belgium High School in Cedar Grove WI. Larry was an associate principal at Merrill High School and English teacher at Kaukauna High School.

“Larry brings a great depth and breadth of quality educational experience to our Catholic Schools”, said Todd Kuckkahn, President of SPACS. “He has a strong faith and exceptional leadership background. All of his references spoke very highly of the quality person and educator he is and the impact he will have on the teachers, staff and students in our system.”

The search and screen committee that brought Larry’s candidacy forward was chaired by Gregg Hansel, Lead Principal for SPACS, and included representation from students, teachers, administrators, parents, parishes and SPACS Commission members.  Father Tom Lindner, Stevens Point Deanery Dean, and Todd Kuckkahn, President, were part of the final interview process.  Both the Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Bishop supported Larry’s hiring.

Larry’s experiences also include summer program director for Global Outreach International Servant Leader Program.  Pacelli Catholic High School is part of this program bringing international Catholics from seven former communist countries to the states.  He has also been a part of AdvancED as a reviewer of schools and assisting with school improvement recommendations.  SPACS recently completed a review and is in the process of implementing changes.

Larry will be working closely with the new chaplain who has been assigned to the Catholic Schools, more specifically to work at the high school and middle school.  He was very involved in working with the chaplain at Newman Catholic High School.

Larry resides in Mosinee, WI with his wife and three daughters. They are members at St. Paul Catholic Church in Mosinee. He will officially begin on June 30, 2014 in his new role.