By Eileen Connelly, OSU

ST. MARGARET MARY DEANERY — The new regional elementary school formed to provide Catholic education for students from Assumption, St. Margaret Mary, St. Ann and Little Flower Parishes in Cincinnati now has a name – Our Lady of Grace — and a principal, veteran educator Mike Johnson.

COURTESY PHOTO

Mike Johnson

ey narrowed down to five for parishioners to rank in terms of their first, second and third choice. Our Lady of Grace School will open this fall, replacing the four parish schools.

As principal, Johnson brings to Our Lady of Grace a 16-year career at St. Catharine of Siena School in Westwood and at Summit Country Day School. He has worked as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, counselor and administrative team member.

Johnson has also served as a parish director of religious education and as a high school campus minister. He holds master’s degrees in both counseling and educational leadership. Johnson and his wife, Denise, have four young children.

The search committee for the principal was made up of two representatives from each of the four parishes. Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk approved a plan for the creation of a new regional school in December, the end result of a five-year study by parishes of St. Margaret Mary Deanery of how to best provide affordable, quality Catholic education in their area.

All four parishes involved in the new school have provided information to their parish members on an on-going basis via the C.A.R.E. (Catholics Aligning Regionally for Education) newsletter and website http://www. carenews.org.