Christ the King School conducted a nationwide search for its new principal. But the best candidate was already on campus.
Rosemary Kohut had been Christ the King’s assistant principal since 2021 and a member of the school community for more than a decade.
She had first connected with Christ the King even earlier. When Kohut joined its staff as a fifth-grade teacher in 1999, she knew immediately that the Catholic school on Colgate Avenue was a perfect fit.
“I felt like I was coming home,” she said. “It was like I always belonged here.”
Kohut, who has a background in business, left Christ the King in 2003 to help her husband get a new venture off the ground.
But she understood the impact of outstanding teachers and enjoyed the experience of watching students learn concepts such as multiplication, reading, and writing.
“Seeing this bulb go off in their head makes it all worthwhile,” Kohut said.
When she called then-Christ the King principal Rosemary Seltzer about possibly returning about 15 years ago, Seltzer asked if Kohut could substitute the next week.
Kohut took on the role of interim music teacher until an English and math teaching position opened in the upper school. She accepted that position in 2011 and has been at Christ the King since.
Kohut had always wanted to broaden her impact as a principal and welcomed the opportunity to move to administration in 2018 and become Christ the King’s dean of students.
She didn’t have any doubts about her ability to serve as Christ the King’s principal when she applied for the role — and neither did the school. After a unanimous decision from the search committee, Christ the King announced in April that Kohut would be its new principal.
Pastor of Christ the King Church and School Rev. Anthony (Tony) F. Lackland explained that her new role is a natural steppingstone for Kohut. Her resume and commitment to Christ the King distinguished her as clearly best candidate.
“She knows the rhythm of life on this campus. She has prior experience and lived experience here,” Lackland said. “She can take it to the next level.”
Kohut called learning that the committee had selected her as the next principal of Christ the King one of the happiest days of her life.
“I’m excited about the gifts that she has, the gifts that she will use and bring in leadership here,” Lackland said. “She checks all the boxes for me.”
