Como High: Former principal says goodbye

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Mr. Morris

A leadership change has occurred at Como Park High School. Stacy Theien-Collins resigned from her position as Como’s principal and accepted the principal’s job at Richfield High School.

Kirk Morris has been selected as the new principal for Como Park High School. Morris has served St. Paul students as a classroom teacher, coach, assistant principal, and has been the principal of Benjamin E. Mayes IB World School since 2014. He is transitioning into his new role and is looking forward to working with the Como community.

For Ms. Theien-Collins, departing St. Paul is difficult. She spent seven years as a principal within the school district’s “Area E” neighborhood secondary schools (five years as principal of Murray Middle School and two years leading Como).

To share more perspective about the change, Ms. Theien-Collins responded to the following questions.

Why are you taking the Richfield High School principal position?

It is important for the community to know that this was absolutely not a push out of Como. I expected to finish my career staying a part of this strong school community. A community with supportive families, professional staff and top-notch students. I have very personal reasons that I have accepted the next challenge in my career and will grieve the loss of my Area E family. I do truly believe we created a community, both at Murray and at Como that feels like a family and the next principal will continue the important work for our students.

What have you enjoyed about your time as principal of Como?

There is much in my career that I am proud to have been a part of and I can honestly say that being a small part of Como has been a highlight of my career so far. It is a school community that focuses on students, goes above and beyond to support students with programming inside and outside the classroom at the highest quality levels - a student wants to try something new and there is an adult in our community that will support it - every single time. I have been in education for 30 years, and I can honestly say, that the students and staff at Como are among the best. They will change the world. I cannot wait to hear about the continued success.

What does the Como and Murray community mean to you and what are its strengths?

The strengths are many. What rises to the top is students are welcomed for who they are and where they are. There is definitely work to do, but I really believe that the opportunities for students are within the walls of Como and Murray because of the caring staff and the supportive community. I want to express my gratitude to the community for supporting me for seven years and more importantly sharing your children with us. It truly has been an honor.

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