Helias High School will have a new assistant principal this fall.
The school recently hired Dwayne Clingman for the job. Clingman will come to Helias from the Gasconade County R-2 School District, where he has been since 2005.
He's served in the Gasconade district as athletic director and A+ coordinator at Owensville High School since 2014. He has also been a driver's education teacher and head coach for girls' volleyball and basketball.
"Mr. Clingman brings a wealth of experience in both teaching and school administration," Helias President the Rev. Stephen Jones said in a news release. "We are enthusiastic about welcoming him to our school community."
Clingman is a 1982 Helias graduate. His daughter, Elizabeth Twyman, works at Helias as accommodations coordinator, assistant volleyball coach and Student Council advisor; he said he's excited to be able to work with her.
He is married to Julie Clingman, principal of St. George School in Hermann. He said for now they won't move from Hermann but will make that decision next April. They moved to Hermann from Jefferson City 21 years ago.
Clingman's official start date is July 1, but he has visited Helias already and will be there weekly for the next couple months. He was introduced to the staff last Tuesday, celebrated Mass with them and talked with students.
"It's a feeling of home," he said. "It's also a feeling of 'I'm going to be allowed to go with my religious beliefs with kids who understand what we're talking about.'"
His family still lives in Jefferson City, and he has nephews and nieces who attend Helias.
Clingman will take on the assistant principal position currently held by Sister Jean Dietrich.
Dietrich won't be going too far, though; she said she'll still have a role at Helias, though she isn't sure what exactly it will entail.
"I'll have more direct contact with students in a positive role, as opposed to being a disciplinarian," she said, adding meeting students when they've caused trouble is not the most pleasant way to become involved with their lives. Whatever her specific duties end up being, she said she'll be "more involved with (students) having a good experience at Helias and helping them get to their potential."
She said she wasn't on the committee that hired Clingman but thinks he's a wonderful choice and looks forward to working with him.
Dietrich said her new duties might include running a morning study hall for students and helping with the A+ program coming to Helias. She will probably retain lunch supervision duties and continue working to develop teachers' schedules.
She has been assistant principal for two years and was principal before that.