Submitted
Holy Family Elementary has announced the addition of Gene Flax as assistant principal in preparation for the 2021-22 academic year.
As the largest school in the Salina Diocese, Holy Family Elementary is home to approximately 370 students from preschool through 6th grade. In the role of assistant principal, Flax will assist principal, Rachel Wentling with administrative and supervisory duties including leading the Foundations team and CARE committee. These committees oversee the climate and culture of the school as well as focusing on student intervention as it affects the social/emotional needs of students.
The Flax family history with Hays Catholic Schools is deeply rooted. Flax’s wife, Theresa taught second grade at Holy Family Elementary and Flax served at TMP-Marian for 20 years as teacher, dean of discipline and athletic director under various leadership. Many of those years were spent working directly with the then TMP-M dean of academics, Rachel Wentling.
“Gene and I were colleagues at TMP-Marian for 12 years, and for five of those years we both served as assistants to the principal and shared an office. It was during that time that I gained an appreciation for his deep faith in God, integrity, work ethic, and passion for the formation of students. Gene played an integral role in shaping me into the educator and administrator that I am today, and it is a great privilege and pleasure to get the team back together to serve the students, families and staff of Holy Family Elementary,” Wentling said.
Following his tenure with TMP-Marian, Flax joined Russell High School, Russell, as assistant principal and athletic director for two years and most recently stepped in as Activities Director in Ulysses, after the unexpected passing of Jason Kenny in 2018.
Located in Hays, Kan., the Hays Catholic Schools, Thomas More Prep-Marian and Holy Family Elementary, is a Catholic school system serving grades PK-12. Students come from Hays, the surrounding region, and from countries around the world. Under the direction of the Diocese of Salina, the Hays Catholic Schools are supported by the Catholic churches of Hays, Catharine, Antonino, Schoenchen and Munjor. At Holy Family Elementary, we are Christ to one another. For over a century, Thomas More Prep-Marian has served young people in the traditions of spiritual growth, academic excellence, and leadership formation.