Feilmeier Becomes Principal of Bishop Kelley
By K.J. WEBB
Editor at Large
KELSY LORIN TAYLOR for GTR Newspapers
Curt Feilmeier, Bishop Kelley High School’s new principal, has been busy at work since he and his wife arrived in Tulsa from Omaha, Neb. two months ago. Despite the move they quickly felt at home. Feilmeier says, “Tulsa is not entirely a new place for us because Tulsa and Omaha are similar in regard to size, recreational activities, the arts and athletics. There are also strong Catholic communities in both cities.”
Feilmeier was born and raised in Nebraska. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and has a masters in administration from Wayne State College. He has spent his entire 19-year career in the field of education. “I’ve worked in teaching, as well as in administration from day one. The move to Bishop Kelley has been exciting, and at the same time feels like a natural progression in my career.”
Over the course of his career Feilmeier taught business and computer courses, served as athletic director, computer network administrator, assistant principal, and principal, which is his current position as Bishop Kelley.
Feilmeier has spent all but two of his 18 years in Catholic education. His most recent administrative position was serving as presiden/princlpal of Roncalli High School in Omaha for seven years.
“My experience is in the Lasallian tradition, which was established over 300 hundred years ago by St. John the Baptist de Lasalle, the patron saint of teachers. The Lasallian tradition includes the integration of religious instruction with secular subjects, well-prepared teachers with a sense of vocation and mission, and the involvement of parents. These are key features of the Bishop Kelley education which carries on the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ by developing individuals whose hearts and minds are prepared for a purposeful life.”
Feilmeier says, “I feel privileged to be a part of Bishop Kelley’s mission, tradition and family. This is what attracted me, as well as my wife, to this position. Bishop Kelley has been very successful in carrying on the Lasallian tradition, and the Catholic education. The spiritual component is central to the Bishop Kelley experience.”
Feilmeier describes Bishop Kelley as not only an excellent college preparatory school, but also as a life preparatory school, preparing students for a changing, diverse world. “We strive to prepare our students for the world they will find themselves in after leaving school. This includes preparing our students with a foundation in technology that will enable them to maximize job opportunities.”
Feilmeier explains the importance of preparing students for a world increasingly governed by technology, “There are jobs that don’t even exist yet, but with the rapid pace of technology, they will exist by the time our students are ready to enter the work force. They need to be as prepared as possible to grasp concepts and adapt to emerging technologies that will be shaping the jobs of tomorrow.” Students have excellent resources to develop these and other skills. According to Feilmeier every class and lab has been equipped with a brand new computer with the most up-to-date software and hardware.
Feilmeier says the best part of his job is the daily interaction with students and teachers. “It’s wonderful to be able to get to know the students, and to see how they progress and achieve their goals.”
Bishop Kelley has over 800 students in grades nine through 12 coming from Tulsa and other towns such as Muskogee, Claremore, Sand Springs, Collinsville and Coweta. Bishop Kelley students go on to attend universities across the nation including Duke, Emory, Notre Dame, Princeton, Rice, Purdue, Georgetown, Stanford, Trinity, University of Oklahoma, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, University of Texas, West Point, Yale, Brown, Boston College and more.
“Bishop Kelley is an outstanding school,” he says. “I love the school and have been aware of its excellent program for quite some time.”
Feilmeier attended a Lasallian Leadership Institute in 2003, met several Bishop Kelley faculty and was very impressed. “I feel honored to be a part of the Bishop Kelley family. It’s been a natural fit and an easy transition into the mission and educational philosophy. Everyone has been very welcoming and supportive, and we’ve gotten off to a great start this year.
The official designation of Bishop Kelley is as the Diocesan Catholic High School of the Diocese of Tulsa under direction of Bishop Edward J. Slattery, Bishop Kelley President Father Brian O’Brien and Principal Curt Feilmeier.
For more information visit www.bkelleyhs.org.
Updated 10-13-2011
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