St. Rose principal eager to work

Borgelt puts emphasis on interaction, helping students

St. Rose School principal Bryon Borgelt in the class room Friday in Perrysburg. St. Rose is a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school with 296 students near downtown Perrysburg.

Bryon Borgelt was sitting in his office Wednesday for the first day of school, and first day as principal of St. Rose School in Perrysburg, when he saw a young girl sitting by herself at recess.

“I got up to go see what was wrong and eight other students already went to see what was going on why she was by herself,” Mr. Borgelt said. “Those are the great things about who we are.”

Interacting and enjoying the students is what makes the principal so excited to start, and so excited to finally have students in the school after a month and a half of being the principal of an empty building.

The Perrysburg native has spent the past 15 years teaching, serving as an assistant principal, and then working as principal of the St. John Jesuit Academy in Toledo. St. Rose is a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school with 296 students near downtown Perrysburg.

His presence was felt by students on the first day last week. While enjoying recess with students. Mr. Borgelt started playing kick ball. Then students explained they were not allowed to kick the ball. That rule was changed, and Mr. Borgelt said a very sincere student came up and thanked him because for eight years he’s been wanting to kick the ball.

Change isn’t just at recess.

Barbara Jenks was principal of St. Rose for 21 years before retiring in June. Mr. Borgelt credited her help and guidance with making the transition smooth.

“Obviously Barb Jenks was here 21 years it is a major transition, but it has gone well thanks to Barb and Bryon working together this summer,” St. Rose Pastor Marvin Borger said. He officiated at the wedding of Mr. Borgelt, who is a member of St. Rose. “He came highly recommended and is very gifted, very professional, and is a Catholic educator.”

Mr. Borgelt’‍s has worked with middle school and high school students in his previous jobs and said he is looking forward to working with younger children at St. Rose.

St. Rose’s new assistant principal Keri Struckholz worked with Mr. Borgelt previously at St. John’s.

“He’s a great leader that puts kids first and is passionate about education,” she said. “He cares about the educational, but also with the emotional and social aspect, too.”

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.