President & Principal Search
LCHS Leadership Transition Announcement Sept. 28, 2023 - Video
LCHS Leadership Transition Announcement Sept. 28, 2023
Dear Lancaster Catholic Community,
We are three weeks into the school year and, for many, are settling into our new routines. The beginning of a school year brings with it many opportunities for future growth as individuals, families, a community and as children of God. This school year also brings changes for Lancaster Catholic. This evening, we announced the news that Tim Hamer, LCHS President, and Terry Klugh, Principal, have prayerfully decided to retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Tim has served as president for nine years, and Terry has been principal for 10 years, serving 15 years prior as the Athletic Director and Vice Principal for Lancaster Catholic High School (LCHS). During this evening’s announcement, Tim and Terry offered these remarks:
“In retiring from Lancaster Catholic after nine years of service as President, I am filled with gratitude for the support of thousands of alumni, parents and benefactors whose unprecedented generosity made decades-long aspirations for a new stadium, state-of-the-art STEM classrooms and soon to be completed Catholic Student Commons a reality.” – Tim Hamer, LCHS President
“Throughout the past forty-five years, I have been honored to serve the Harrisburg Diocese under and with many affirming bishops, clergy, Sisters, and lay colleagues. My roles as educator, Diocesan religious education director, athletic director, and principal have brought me joy and fulfillment. I will retire as principal of Lancaster Catholic High School filled with a strong sense of honor and gratitude. I know I will always feel a part of this Crusader community.” – Terry Klugh LCHS Principal
Over the summer break, Tim and Terry, separately and unbeknownst to each other, approached me as chair of the Board with their retirement intentions. While this news may be surprising, Tim and Terry remain focused on providing the best possible leadership for Lancaster Catholic, ensuring our students, families, and faculty have a great school year. Both will continue in their positions through June 30, 2024.
I know I speak for the entire Board when I say we are very grateful for the many years of leadership both Tim and Terry have devoted to LCHS and wish them the very best during this next chapter.
With our focus on the future, a search committee is being formed to secure the next president and principal for Lancaster Catholic. This committee will work with Partners In Mission, a consulting firm focused exclusively on developing excellence in school leadership who has a strong 11 year history with the school, and the Diocese of Harrisburg in conducting a national search and vetting candidates.
As we begin this next phase in the proud 95-year history of Lancaster Catholic, I thank all of you, our Catholic High community, for your support and trust. This next phase may have its challenges, but we trust that God, our Father, will provide guidance and wisdom, leading us as we secure our next president and principal. As we move through this process, the Board will provide updates on our progress as we are able.
I pray God will be with you and will continue to bless our Lancaster Catholic family.
Sincerely,
Sean Killen
Chair, Lancaster Catholic School Board
Lancaster Catholic High School president, principal both to retire in June 2024 - LNP Article
Lancaster Catholic High School president, principal both to retire in June 2024
President Tim Hamer and Principal Terry Klugh separately alerted the school’s board of directors of their retirement over the summer, board chair Sean Killen wrote in the Thursday night release.
“I know I speak for the entire Board when I say we are very grateful for the many years of leadership both Tim and Terry have devoted to LCHS and wish them the very best during this next chapter,” Killen wrote.
Klugh was a religion teacher at Lancaster Catholic from 1979 to 1988, when he was hired as the director of religious education at Diocese of Harrisburg. He returned to Lancaster Catholic in 1999 as a philosophy teacher and athletic director. He also served as head coach for the school's softball team. He was named principal in 2015.
“I will retire as principal of Lancaster Catholic High School filled with a strong sense of honor and gratitude,” Klugh said in the release. “I know I will always feel a part of this Crusader community.”
Hamer, who has served as the high school’s president since 2015, expressed gratitude to alumni, parents and benefactors who supported a campaign to renovate the campus that includes a STEM Innovation Center that was completed in 2021. Construction is ongoing on a new cafeteria and student commons, which are slated to open in 2024.
Hamer and Klugh will remain in their positions through June 30, 2024.
According to Killen, a search committee will work with the consulting firm Partners In Mission and the Diocese of Harrisburg to find candidates to replace Hamer and Klugh.
Originally published at LancasterOnline
Lancaster Catholic High School Begins Search for Next Leadership Team - Diocesan Publication
Lancaster Catholic High School Begins Search for Next Leadership Team
LANCASTER, Pa. – On Thursday, September 28, Lancaster Catholic High School President, Tim Hamer, and Principal, Terry Klugh, announced their plans to retire at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. Hamer has served as president for nine years. Klugh has been principal for 10 years, serving 14 years prior as the Athletic Director and one year as Vice Principal for Lancaster Catholic High School (LCHS).
“In retiring from Lancaster Catholic after nine years of service as President, I am filled with gratitude for the support of thousands of alumni, parents and benefactors whose unprecedented generosity made decades-long aspirations for a new stadium, state-of-the-art STEM classrooms and soon to be completed Catholic Student Commons a reality,” said Hamer.
“Throughout the past forty-five years, I have been honored to serve the Harrisburg Diocese under and with many affirming bishops, clergy, Sisters, and lay colleagues. My roles as educator, Diocesan religious education director, athletic director, and principal have brought me joy and fulfillment. I will retire as principal of Lancaster Catholic High School filled with a strong sense of honor and gratitude. I know I will always feel a part of this Crusader community,” added Klugh.
“Tim and Terry are two great examples of stewards of Catholic education who have given generously of their time and talents to Catholic High. I have much gratitude and appreciation for their hard work and dedication to providing our students with a great place to learn, grow, and become the best-version-of themselves,” said Sean Killen, chair of the LCHS Board.
“Lancaster Catholic High School has built its foundation on Jesus Christ; Mr. Hammer and Mr. Klugh have strengthened and built upon that firm foundation. Their zeal for the Gospel has made them true Lancaster Catholic Crusaders. We are excited to carry their legacy of faith into the future,” said Fr. Matthew Morelli, vice chair for LCHS Board.
Over the summer, Hamer and Klugh, separately and unbeknownst to each other, approached Killen with their retirement intentions. Both will continue in their positions through June 30, 2024.
During his time as president, Hamer noted some of his greatest accomplishments have been:
- Leading the design and construction of school’s $5 million Capital Campaign for the new Athletic Stadium, which opened September 29, 2017
- Initiating and leading the Comprehensive 5-year Strategic Planning process in 2017, resulting in Future Vision, Unity and Excellence in 2022
- Developing and securing Diocesan approval in 2017 for a Campus Facilities Master Plan, designing the total renovation of the campus in pay-as-you-go phases
- Leading design for Campus Master Plan Phase 1 elements ($12 million projected total cost) including STEM Innovation Center, Catholic Student Life Center and Auditorium
- Worked with Terry to equip the school to provide remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and re-open of the school in September 2020
- Securing over $32 million in total gift revenue for Lancaster Catholic from 2015 – 2022, including the two Capital Campaigns
During his tenure as principal, Klugh also has a number of notable accomplishments, including:
- Implementing the One-to-One student technology plan in Fall 2014, where each student has a Chromebook
- Transitioning to a Collegiate-Style schedule in the 2017 – 2018 school year
- Assisted in secure Dual Enrollment with Millersville, Alvernia, Pitt, and Immaculata universities
- Leading Lancaster Catholic to be one of only three high schools in Pennsylvania to earn Cardinal Newman Society Status in 2019
- Worked with Tim through the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and successfully and safely re-opening the school in September 2020 for in person learning
The Board is grateful for the many years of leadership both Hamer and Klugh have devoted to LCHS and wish them the very best during this next chapter.
A search committee is being formed to secure the next president and principal for Lancaster Catholic. This committee will work with Partners In Mission, a consulting firm focused exclusively on developing excellence in school leadership who has a strong 11 year history with the school, and the Diocese of Harrisburg in conducting a national search and vetting candidates.