Jim Tawney is the new interim principal at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron and Charmayne Polen is the interim assistant principal.
Tawney most recently served as director at Our Lady of the Elms Lower School in Akron. He also is an adjunct professor in the math department at Walsh University.
Polen was chief operating officer and career tech administrator at Bio-Med Science Academy. Tawney and Polen, along with Mark Butterworth, interim president and chief operating officer, and Assistant Principal Amie Hale, comprise the new leadership team for STVM.
Tawney started his teaching career at St. Paul’s Elementary School. He spent the next three decades at Lake High School in Uniontown teaching math and later served as assistant principal before spending the next eight years as principal. Upon retirement from Lake, Tawney returned to Catholic education as the principal at St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School. Last school year, he led the Lower School at Elms. His wife, Chris, is a 1964 graduate of St. Vincent High School.
“I am excited to become a part of the STVM community. With the help of the faculty, staff and trust in God’s direction, I am confident that STVM will continue to move forward in a positive direction,” Tawney said.
Polen is a longtime educator who has worked as a teacher and an administrator. She won multiple awards and is an adjunct professor at Hiram College.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join STVM this fall, and I am grateful for the warm welcome I've received from the community,” Polen said. “I am looking forward to collaborating with the dedicated staff, students and the entire STVM family to advance the school's mission and uphold its cherished traditions. Together, we will create an environment that fosters the growth of students as both learners and leaders," she added.
For additional information, contact Butterworth, at mbutterworth@stvm.com or 330-253-9113 Ext. 153.
St. Vincent-St. Mary is a four-year, coeducational, college preparatory, Marianist-sponsored and STEM-designated Catholic high school that has been part of the Akron community for more than 125 years. There are more than 17,000 STVM alumni.
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