For the past 56 years, Kuemper Catholic School Systems Activity Director, Tim Fitzpatrick says he has been eating school lunches, and is proud that he still maintains a pretty “svelte” figure after all these years. Fitzpatrick announced at Wednesday night’s board of director’s meeting that this lunchtime reign was going to come to an end with his retirement effective June 30, 2017. Kuemper President, John Steffes, says he is leaving behind some very big shoes to fill.
Fitzpatrick has spent nearly 39 years in Catholic education, having come to work for the St. Lawrence school district as a seventh-grade and physical education teacher and as the school’s athletic director after his graduation from Briar Cliff University in 1978. He then worked as principle of Holy Trinity Schools in the Halbur, Roselle and Templeton Parishes, before returning as fourth and fifth grade principal for the newly formed Kuemper Catholic School System in 2003. Fitzpatrick became Activity Director in May of 2005, a position that Steffes says covers a broad range of extra-curricular activities.
Fitzpatrick has also served as a coach over the years, working with students from St. Lawrence, Glidden-Ralston, Holy Trinity and Kuemper, leading the girls’ basketball team to the state tournament in 2005. Steffes said the board of directors will be getting to work right away with advertising to fill the position, but Fitzpatrick’s years spent in education have touched many lives and he will be greatly missed.
Steffes added that they cannot thank Tim enough for his leadership, and how he has been an example to everyone about dedication, hard work and how his extra efforts have worked to help make Kuemper the school system it is today.
