The Office of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Palm Beach is pleased to announce that Charles S. Stembler has been appointed by Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of Palm Beach, as the next President of Cardinal Newman High School, effective July 1, 2024. Mr. Stembler brings a variety of experiences in school administration at the prestigious Calvert Hall in Maryland, where he served as an administrator since 1990 and principal since 2013.
For the last 10 months, an extensive search for the President was conducted by a Search Committee that worked closely with Partners in Mission School Leadership Solutions, a nationally recognized firm working with Catholic schools in reviewing job candidates. Various constituent groups of Cardinal Newman High School also played an active role in the process to select a new President. The school is grateful to Cindy Cerbone (CNHS ’80), who chaired the committee, and to all the committee members for their dedication and commitment to the search process.
Mr. Stembler shared with the committee that, “as a Catholic school, we must be a place where students see God in one another. Christ must be at the center of all we do. Our faith must keep us centered in gospel values and in the Catholic Church. Students learn and thrive in an environment where they believe they are respected and cared for – a place where they enjoy being present each day. I am struck by the family atmosphere at Cardinal Newman and look forward to being a part of this vibrant community.”
Mr. Stembler holds two bachelor’s degrees from Loyola College in Baltimore, one in economics and one in political science, graduating summa cum laude. In addition, he earned a master’s degree in educational administration from Loyola College, also graduating summa cum laude. While serving Calvert Hall as an administrator, Mr. Stembler exhibited visionary leadership and created a scholar honors program, a leadership institute for upperclassmen, an engineering program to expand elective offerings, an academic success program for college-bound students with language-based disabilities, a testing center, a more robust activities program and a new e-gaming arena, in addition to other school improvements.
Regarding the appointment, Bishop Barbarito remarked, “I am thankful for Mr. Stembler’s extensive administrative experience at Calvert Hall, which will be a great benefit to Cardinal Newman High School and our diocese.”
Thanks to the efforts of Interim President John Clarke, Cardinal Newman has continued to grow and prosper since his appointment in July 2023. Mr. Clarke will remain in his role at Cardinal Newman until July 1, 2024, when he will resume his role as Associate Superintendent of the Office of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Palm Beach, assisting with a smooth transition for Mr. Stembler.
“Cardinal Newman High School is on the cutting edge of changes that will continue moving this educational
establishment forward as one of the premier private high schools in Florida,” said Jim Arrigo, chairman of the Cardinal Newman School Advisory Council. “The news of Chuck Stembler becoming the next president of Cardinal Newman High School shows the commitment that this school has to excellence. The community welcomes Chuck and his family from one of the largest private Catholic Schools in the country, Calvert Hall in Maryland, to Palm Beach County.”