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About

Our Mission

Rooted in Catholic tradition, Bishop Verot educates the minds and hearts of all students in an innovative and community-centered learning environment, preparing them for lives of faithful service to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Our Philosophy

Bishop Verot High School is a Catholic community of learning for young men and women sponsored by the Diocese of Venice supported by parents and the priests and people of 22 Roman Catholic parishes in the Deanery. The philosophy of Bishop Verot identifies a religious purpose and an academic purpose. Both are interrelated. We believe that the Christian commitment in service to God and neighbor is engendered by fostering the students' understanding of and respect for truth, which is evidenced in the teaching of Jesus Christ as proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church, and by upholding democratic values in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence.  The spirit of our patron, Saint Francis de Sales, in which our apostolate is carried out, is noted especially for the Christian values of charity, gentleness, and respect for the dignity, freedom, and uniqueness of each student, who is created in God’s image and blessed with gifts and talents that are to be nurtured and developed.

Therefore, education is understood by its very nature to be a spiritual activity.  The learning, growth, and development that result bring each person closer to reaching their God-given potential as human beings. The essential condition for learning is the purposeful activity, the willingness to work.  Learning is not a gift freely given, but an objective that the learner must pursue.  The faculty and staff of Bishop Verot, while recognizing the primary role of parents in the total educative process, see as their function one of instructing, motivating, directing and assisting young students through the learning process to reach their fullest Christian human potential within a favorable learning environment.

Schools are for learning. Every program we offer, whether curricular or co-curricular, holds the promise and potential for student growth. Our students are expected to learn useful knowledge and related intellectual skills. Bishop Verot admits students who are able to take advantage of the programs we offer, and who desire to meet their responsibilities as members of the student body within the context of a community of faith.  We will cooperate with each student in identifying and developing his/her particular talents and in enabling each student to achieve a full life as a mature Christian and member of the human community.

In fulfilling our educational mission, we are concerned for the spiritual, intellectual, moral, physical, and social development of each student.  By these efforts, we attempt to maintain standards of excellence in every school program in preparing students to meet the challenges of living a Christian life in the modern world.

  • Bishop Verot High School is a Catholic faith community of learning, consisting of students, teachers, administrators, and staff, as well as parents, alumni, and benefactors, all sharing in the responsibility of advancing the mission of the school.
  • Each person is created in God’s image, and therefore an atmosphere of mutual respect between students, faculty, and staff is vital to school life and the learning process.
  • The faculty, staff, and administration of Bishop Verot strive to continue the tradition of academic excellence that is a hallmark of Catholic education.
  • In addition to valuing academic achievement and co-curricular success, a fundamental priority of Bishop Verot is to challenge students to develop character and leadership skills and promote personal and spiritual growth.
  • Students are most effectively challenged to reach their potential when the spiritual, social, emotional, and academic needs of each individual are recognized as unique.
  • The Catholic mission and identity of Bishop Verot is cherished and valued while at the same time is respecting of the cultural and religious diversity within our community.
  • A welcoming, safe, and comfortable school environment promotes student learning.
  • The ultimate goal of an education at Bishop Verot is for students to be committed to lifelong growth and learning, inspired by faith to give of themselves for the betterment of others.

School Board

The School Board consists of parents and community leaders dedicated to advising the Principal on matters pertaining to school policy and planning for the continued growth and success of Bishop Verot Catholic High School.  Articles II and III of the Constitution and By-Laws of the School Board, detailing the purpose and duties of the Board, appear below. Currently, there are eleven members of the Board that meet once a month for two hours. In addition, members serve on committees that support and advise the Principal and school administrators on matters such as finance, facilities, development, staff relations, curriculum, and other areas of concern.

The Bishop Verot School Board is advisory in nature, playing a vital role in school affairs by contributing valuable experience and expertise.  Board members work to create and update a five-year strategic plan for Bishop Verot, assist in creating and approving the annual budget and tuition structure, participate in completing a comprehensive site plan for school facilities improvements, evaluated student admissions and retention strategies, and recognize teachers and staff members for excellence.  School Board planning efforts complement the daily work of the faculty and staff by lending experience in matters such as accounting, law, local civic affairs, marketing, fundraising, construction, public relations, planning, and other skills and competencies that assist the entire school community. 

Board members are not involved in the day-to-day work of running Bishop Verot High School beyond their contributions to school policy and strategic planning.  Specific concerns or questions regarding teachers and coaches, course or graduation requirements, admissions decisions, school calendar and schedules, disciplinary matters, and other day-to-day realities should be directed toward the appropriate school administrator and not to Board members.

EXCERPTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

Article II: Purpose

The School Board, whose authority is derived from the Bishop of the Diocese of Venice, is called into being by the local school Principal and given its mission to provide quality Catholic education for all students whose parents desire to take advantage of such an opportunity.

Article III: Duties

The School Board serves as an advisory council to the Principal.  Its specific areas of responsibility include:

  • Making specific policy proposals to the Administration.
  • Reacting to policy proposals initiated by the Administration.
  • Assisting in finances (budget, salary scale, tuition).
  • Recruiting students.
  • Planning and implementing public relations programs.
  • Demonstrating support for the educational program and policies of the diocese and the school.
  • Reflecting major concerns of parents.
  • Reporting valid concerns/procedures/proposals of the Board to parents.
  • Call for an evaluation by qualified persons concerning the extent and effectiveness of policy.

Areas of responsibility beyond the role of the School Board include:

  • Hiring and terminating school personnel.
  • Final curriculum design and development.
  • Evaluation and supervision of teachers.
  • Final policy decisions.

Meet the School Board

The Bishop Verot School Board is comprised of current and past parents, alumni, and community leaders brining years of person, professional, and educational experience to this advisory board. The School Board works with administration, specifically the Principal, in an advisory role on matters pertaining to school policy and planning for the continued growth and success of Bishop Verot. In addition to the School Board responsibilities, some of the members also serve on area-specific committees including the Finance Committee, Academic Affairs Committee, Development Committee and the Marketing Committee. 

School Board Members

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Lisa Muench | Chair
Lisa Muench | Chair

Lisa Muench (Chair) is serving her fifth year on the Bishop Verot Board of Directors. She is proud to serve on the Executive Board as this year's chair. In the past, she served as chair of the Marketing and Academic Affairs/Curriculum committees. Lisa was a parent liaison member of the Accreditation Process and the Strategic Planning team here at Verot. Her son and daughter are both BVHS graduates and her youngest son attends St. Francis Xavier. She received her Education degree from the University of Central Florida and has served on several boards throughout our community. 

Frank Aloia | Member
Frank Aloia | Member

Frank Aloia is a third-generation native of Fort Myers and a senior partner at Aloia, Roland, Lubell & Morgan, PLLC. He has been practicing law in his hometown since his admission to the Florida Bar in 1996, following his service as an Assistant State Attorney from 1996 to 1998.

A proud graduate of St. Francis Xavier School (Class of 1985) and Bishop Verot High School (Class of 1989), Mr. Aloia went on to earn both his B.S. (1993) and J.D. (1996) from Florida State University.

Deeply committed to serving his community, Mr. Aloia currently serves on the Board of Directors for Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc. and the Board of Directors for the Bobby Nichols–Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation. He is a former President and six-year member of the Board of Directors of Fiddlesticks Country Club, and previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates, Inc., where he held a leadership role since the board's inception. He is also a former member of the Edison-Ford Winter Estates Foundation.

Mr. Aloia is a member of the Lee County Bar Association, and a past member of the Attorney’s Title Fund Services Circuit Advisory Council and the Calusa Inn of Court.

A practicing Catholic, Mr. Aloia is an active parishioner at The Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord. He is currently serving in his sixth year on the Bishop Verot High School Advisory Board and is a former member of the Advisory Board for St. Francis Xavier School.

He and his wife Nancy have two daughters: Ava, a graduate of St. Francis Xavier (Class of 2020) and Bishop Verot (Class of 2024), currently attending Florida State University; and Addison, a St. Francis Xavier graduate (Class of 2023) and current Bishop Verot student (Class of 2027).

 

Eric Baxmann | Member
Eric Baxmann | Member

Eric Baxmann and his wife, Patti, moved to Fort Myers from the Detroit area in 1998 as he started his career in dentistry and together they started a family. All four of his children have graduated from St. Francis Xavier and attended Bishop Verot. Alivia, Class of ’18, Carter, Class of ’20, and Lucy, Class of ’22 are graduates, while the youngest, Brody, is presently a member of the Class of 2027.

Dr. Baxmann opened his own dental practice in 2001. He has always been active in organized dentistry as a member of the American Dental Association and its local affiliate, the Lee County Dental Society.

Eric is honored to serve on the school board and excited to give back to the Verot community which has done so much for his family.

Fr. Robert Tatman | Member
Fr. Robert Tatman | Member

Fr. Robert Tatman was born in Champaign, Illinois, to the late Nancy and Robert L. Tatman Sr., and has three siblings, Debra, Daniel and Susan. He attended St. Thomas University in Miami; Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, and Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York.

He was ordained as a priest on October 25th, 2004 at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, and currently is assigned as Parochial Vicar to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

Before coming to the Diocese of Venice, he was a monk and member of the religious Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists) for over five years.

Suzie O'Grady | Principal
Suzie O'Grady | Principal

Suzie O’Grady began at Bishop Verot in 1996 teaching Sophomore English and World History. She spent the next 15 years in the Social Studies Department teaching a variety of courses, including AP European History, U.S. Government Honors, Law Studies, and AP Comparative Government. She later moved into administration, serving as Dean of Students, Assistant Principal for Curriculum, and Assistant Principal for Administration, before becoming Principal in 2019. Suzie loves Verot and truly “bleeds Black and Gold.”

She and her husband, Patrick, have three children—Devon (’14), Megan (’20), and Colin (’25). They love to travel and recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Ireland. Away from school, Suzie enjoys time with family and their three dogs: Rocco, Ginger, and Phoebe.

David Kennedy | Vice Chair
David Kennedy | Vice Chair

David Kennedy (Vice Chair) was born and raised in Fort Myers, FL attended Bishop Verot High School (‘97) and the University of Florida (’01).  He and his wife Debbie (’97) have three children, Kinsey (’25), Andrew (’27) and Jackson (’33). Mr. Kennedy is a Vice President with Olin Hill & Associates, an independent insurance agency. David has served as Officer for the Rotary Club of Fort Myers, Lee County Association of Independent Insurance Agents, and Coastal Conservation Association.  He is currently on the Bishop Verot Executive Board and the Chair of the Curriculum and Academic Affairs committee. In his spare time enjoys coaching youth sports, fishing, and cheering on the Gators. s

Sean Kellum | Member
Sean Kellum | Member

Sean Kellum is a third generation resident of Fort Myers and a 1987 graduate of Bishop Verot High School. Mr. Kellum graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management and had a 25 year career in database and direct marketing. Career highlights have included speaking at the US Postal Forum and a guest speaker to Visa credit card services. He is currently employed by Gartner Inc.

Mr. Kellum has been married to his wife Jodi for 19 years and their son, Caden, is currently a senior at Bishop Verot High School. Sean and Jodi have both been members of The Church of the Resurrection Our Lord Catholic Church since childhood which build a foundation for strong beliefs in the value of Catholic education.

Mary Snell | Member
Mary Snell | Member

Mary Vlasak Snell is a partner in the Fort Myers Office of Pavese Law Firm practicing in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration; and business law.

Mary and her husband Reggie are members of St. Francis Xavier Parsh.  Mary’s two daughter, Emily (2013) and Caroline (2017) are proud St. Francis and Bishop Verot graduates.

Mary is a long-time member of the Board of Directors for United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, Counties, a member of the UW Executive Committee as Secretary, and a UW Allocations Team Leader. She is also a former chairperson of Bishop Verot and St. Francis Xavier School Boards; a Finance Committee Member with St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church; a Sustainer Member with Junior League of Fort Myers; and a Board Member and Vice President of the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Accreditation - 2022

Bishop Verot Catholic High School is accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference and Cognia.