GREENFIELD — Ruth Hittel has been named principal of St. Michael School in Greenfield.
“From being a classroom teacher to being a principal, to working in the suburbs and in the inner city, she has worked diligently to educate youth in faith and academics,” the Rev. Aaron Jenkins, priest at St. Michael, wrote in a letter to the parish. “I am happy to have Mrs. Hittel join our team.”
Hittel will succeed Patty Mauer, who became St. Michael principal in 2015 but is now headed for work in Terre Haute.
Hittel attended Catholic schools as a child. In a letter to the parish, she said she worked in restaurant management for many years but realized what she liked most about it was teaching new employees, so she pursued a degree in education.
She began as a teacher at St. Barnabas Catholic School, later becoming technology coordinator there. After completing her master’s degree in education at IUPUI, she became principal of St. Andrew St. Rita Catholic School, later adding Central Catholic. Most recently, she served as principal of Holy Cross Central School.
She and husband Charles have four children and eight grandchildren.
“When I introduce myself to people, I tell them I am the proud mother of 250 children …” she wrote to the parish. “I treat each of the children in my care as one of my own. I consider each child to be a beautiful gift from God who deserves to be challenged to reach his or her highest potential in faith, academics and in life.”
St. Michael students range in age from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. During the current academic year, the school has 218 students.
