BY MATT LINDSEY
North Country This Week

CANTON — St. Mary’s School has a new interim principal.

Michele Lallier replaced Michele Meyers on July 1 and will oversee the approximately 50 students at the Catholic school, according to Rev. Bryan Stitt, pastor of St. Mary’s Church.

She is also the principal at St. James School in Gouverneur and will split her time between the two.

Lallier’s hiring came following an unsuccessful search to find a permanent replacement.

A handful of applicants applied, but none were qualified, Rev. Stitt said.

“There are certain standards to meet … academically, experience and you also have to be Catholic,” he said.

Some who applied were not Catholic and others did not have enough experience, he said.

Rev. Stitt, in speaking with Father Lynch at St. James School in Gouverneur, had conversations about sharing a principal, and in the end that is what happened.

Lallier has been principal at the Gouverneur Catholic school for about two years.

Rev. Stitt sees advantages to sharing a principal with St. James School. “It’s a win-win,” he said.

“Our teachers can network in an organic way,” Rev. Stitt said.

He added that staff development days may be a bit more productive now that teachers can speak with a teacher in the same grade level from another school.

“We’re excited to have her on board,” Rev. Stitt said. “This is a big challenge we are asking of her. She has a great presence and will be a perfect fit with out parents, staff and parish.”

In related news, long-time school employee Terry Feuka was appointed as vice principal. She began her new duties July 1.