St. Joseph Catholic Academy Interim President Appointed

Kenosha, WI -- Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki has appointed Matthew Rizzo, currently the middle school principal, to the role of Interim President of St. Joseph Catholic Academy (SJCA) in Kenosha. Rizzo will begin in the new role Thursday, January 20, 2022. 

“I thank God for bringing me into the St. Joseph Catholic Academy community, and the long list of amazing experiences and treasured relationships I have already been given,” said Matt Rizzo, M.Ed, Interim President. “I am thankful for the archdiocese’s trust and confidence in me to lead the academy into a future holding exciting possibilities, goals and achievements for us all to take great pride in, bringing us even closer as a community.” 

Rizzo will be supported and mentored in the role by the Board of Counselors through its delegate, Bruce Varick, Associate Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  The Board of Counselors is a group delegated by the archbishop to oversee, guide and support all the Archdiocese of Milwaukee high schools. 

In light of the change, academic leadership of the middle school will temporarily be handled by Bridget Bartholomew, in addition to her current role as SJCA High School Principal.

Fr. Paul Hartmann had been temporarily serving as part-time interim president since October, in addition to his duties as pastor of both St. Eugene Parish in Fox Point and St. Monica Parish in Whitefish Bay. Fr. Hartmann recognized that a full-time interim president is needed during the search for a new president.

“I’d like to express, on behalf of the Archbishop and the Board of Counselors, thankfulness to, and confidence in, both Mr. Rizzo and Mrs. Bartholomew as they take on these new and important roles for the next few months,” said Fr. Hartmann. “Their dedication and example of servant leadership should be appreciated by all.”

During the interim period, Archbishop Listecki will also appoint a Transitional Board of Directors for SJCA.  The Very Reverend James Lobacz (SJCA ’70), Vicar General for this region of the Archdiocese, will chair the board. The purpose of the board will be to support the interim president and to manage the search process for a permanent appointee.

The previous Board of Directors was disbanded in October when the previous school president was placed on administrative leave.

St. Joseph Catholic Academy is a comprehensive 3K through grade 12 Catholic college preparatory school, comprised of two academic campuses, designed to educate the whole child.