DECATUR - A retired superintendent of Mt. Zion schools is the new principal at St. Teresa High School. Kenneth C. Hendriksen starts his new job Monday, Nov. 19, as principal at the 77-year-old Catholic high school.

Lowell Brosamer has served as the school's interim principal since September, when Joe McDaniel resigned. Brosamer retired in 1999 as principal at St. Teresa.

Hendriksen was superintendent at Mt. Zion for 21 years, retiring in June 2006, at age 55. He was a principal at Mt. Zion High School and at Carrollton High School.

"I'm really looking forward to being principal at St. Teresa," said Hendriksen. "The school has a strong tradition and is known for its sound educational programs. I truly enjoyed being a high school principal.  It seemed natural when it came about that I would become a principal at a Catholic school."

Hendriksen is himself a product of a Catholic school education. He grew up in Chicago where he went to St. John Bosco Grade School and then Weber High School, an all-boys Catholic high school. He then went on to Lewis College, a Catholic institution now called Lewis University.

"My wife, Kathy, is a Carmody. She grew up in Carrollton, and went to St. John's for grade school. Her best friend growing up was Margaret Grueter," he said, referring to Sister Margaret Joanne, OP, principal of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.

The St. Teresa Board of Directors had formed a search committee to find a new principal. "We took our job of finding a new principal very seriously," said Bridget Hogan, president of the board of directors. "When the board met with the two candidates, we were just so impressed with Dr. Hendriksen's credentials, his energy, his vision for St. Teresa. It seemed like such a great fit."

Before releasing the news to the general public, the board sent letters to the parents of St. Teresa students notifying them Hendriksen had accepted their offer. In the letter Hogan thanked Brosamer for serving as the school's interim principal, and thanked faculty and staff, students and parents for their input during the search process.