HAYS -Thomas More Prep-Marian announced in a media release on Friday that Chad Meitner of Dodge City will become the school’s new principal beginning this summer.

Meitner will be taking over for Kathy Taylor, who has filled the role for the past two academic years as interim principal.

Meitner is a 1997 graduate of Friends University and received his MS in Education from the University of Kansas in 2001. He currently serves as principal of Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic School (PK-8) in Dodge City, a position he has held since 2010. Prior to that, Meitner served as a world language instructor and coach at Sacred Heart Jr./Sr. High School in Salina. Meitner has also taught in Orange County, Fla., and McLouth, north of Lawrence.

“My vision for every Catholic school is that it thrives and passes on its irreplaceable style of education to future leaders in our Church and community. We are stewards of this great trust and blessed to carry out its mission,” said Meitner.

TMP-Marian is an inter-parochial, Catholic, co-educational school offering grades 7-12. Located in Hays, the school was first established by Capuchin Franciscan priests in 1908. The school has undergone many changes during the last century, but has always maintained its central philosophy of a Christ-centered education.

Now under the direction of the Salina Diocese and the Heartland Parishes of Hays, Antonino, Catharine, Munjor and Schoenchen, TMP-Marian stands as the largest Catholic Jr/Sr High school in the diocese and is the only one in western Kansas.