RCS Welcomes Principal Andrew Poterucha

MATT LANGSDALE, principal of St. Pius X School and St. John the Evangelist Middle School in Rochester

Rochester Catholic Schools is extremely pleased to announce that Mr. Andrew Poterucha has accepted the position of Principal at St. Francis of Assisi School.

“It is an incredible blessing for our students and families that Mr. Poterucha is assuming this leadership position at St. Francis of Assisi School,” said Dr. John Wald, Co-Chair of the RCS Board of Trustees. “He is deeply committed to the advancement of Catholic education and the mission of Rochester Catholic Schools.”

His experience in education includes several years at Holy Spirit Catholic School where he taught science and physical education in addition to embracing leadership responsibilities. Mr. Poterucha served on the school’s Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association team, was a member of the science curriculum writing committee through a partnership of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), and held the position of athletic director.

Mr. Poterucha is a graduate of RCS and has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He later continued his education at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where he earned a Graduate Certificate in secondary education and a Master of Arts degree in instruction with concentration on instructional strategies for English language learners. Mr. Poterucha then obtained a Graduate Certificate in education administration for K-12 principal after completion of an extensive administrative internship at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

“I have had the privilege of not only teaching at Rochester Catholic Schools, but also attending RCS from kindergarten through high school graduation,” said Mr. Poterucha. “I believe Catholic education develops the whole child in the image of God through teaching Christian values and cultivating spiritual growth. We as educators are preparing students to serve God’s world and those in it.”