Coming Home

When Karyn Hecker began her principalship at Immaculate Conception School it was very much like coming home.   Mrs. Hecker grew up in Belmont, graduated from I.C.S.,Carroll High School and the University of Dayton and was married in the "new" church.  In fact, Belmont had been home to her family for over fifty years by the time she took on her new role at the school.

Prior to becoming principal at I.C.S., Mrs. Hecker was principal at Dayton Catholic Elementary School for thirteen years.  During her tenure at the consolidated school, the parents, teachers, and staff engaged in a vigorous enrollment building program with the help of the Catholic Schools Office.  In one summer, the school grew with an increase in enrollment of over 60%. In addition, the school was awarded the SPICE award by the National Catholic Education Association and Boston College, was the first Catholic school in Ohio accepted as part of the State of Ohio Collaborative Problems Solving Model for Intervention Assistance Teams.  Mrs. Hecker has been a speaker at local and national conventions as well as at the diocesan level for other Catholic schools throughout Ohio and neighboring states.   

Mrs. Hecker brought to I.C.S. skills in Catholic School marketing, enrollment management, finance, and professional development as well as a strong desire to help students and staff members in their spiritual journey and grow in their relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  She feels very blessed to be able to return "home." 

Immaculate Conception School and the parish of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception are involved in planning for the future of Catholic schools in the Dayton area, joining  with the schools and parishes of Ascension, St. Luke, and St. Helen.  As partners with the Catholic Education Collaborative the four parishes and schools will spend the 2009-10 year planning and dreaming the future.