Interim president of the Xavier Catholic School System Katie Heim has resigned, only months after assuming the position. This is the third major Xavier administration change in the last three weeks.
Heim’s resignation follows Xavier High School’s firing of its longtime principal, Mike Mauthe, on Nov. 14 and the system’s firing of superintendent John Ravizza on Nov. 22. Both were fired for allegedly violating the Diocese of Green Bay’s “Our Promise to Protect” policy, which regulates conduct with minors and individuals at risk, as well as reporting sexual abuse or misconduct.
Heim has held the position since Sept. 13, when she was appointed to the interim position as the system works through its presidential search. Becky Walker, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, will temporarily fill the role in Heim’s place, according to a letter sent to families on Wednesday from chairman of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System Board of Trustees, Bob Ellis, obtained by multiple media outlets.
It’s unclear why Heim resigned; however, Tom Nelson, Heim’s brother-in-law and Outagamie County Executive posted on his personal Facebook page that she was “unfairly scapegoated” for following diocese policy, and that Xavier community members spread hateful comments about Heim and her daughter.
“To see a community of supposed Christians unleash such visceral hate towards my wife, Katie, and many of whom become such hypocrites has been difficult and gut-wrenching,” JP Heim, Katie Heim’s husband, wrote on Facebook.
An online petition called for Heim’s termination after Mauthe and Ravizza were fired. The petition appears to have since been taken down.
The presidential search process will continue, and the system said it expects to have a candidate selected by the first quarter of 2025.
Neither Heim nor the Xavier school system responded to request for comment by the time this article was published.
Contact Green Bay education reporter Nadia Scharf at nscharf@gannett.com or on X at @nadiaascharf.
