Parents are voicing concerns after Holy Rosary Catholic School announced longtime principal Darren Mullis would be parting ways with the school.
Leadership at Holy Rosary, located in East Memphis, told parents in an Aug. 19 letter that Mullis would no longer serve as principal of the school. The letter was posted by parents to social media.
"Darren Mullis will be departing from Holy Rosary School as our principal, and we wish him the very best moving forward," the letter read. "He has an opportunity to continue to serve in the Catholic Schools of Memphis, and we hope that he will pursue that opportunity as his service to our school has been greatly appreciated."
The letter did not describe the move as a "dismissal," but that's the word parents
have used to voice their dissent over the announcement. Mullis served as principal since 2003, according to the school's website.
Parents have circulated a petition asking that Mullis be reinstated.
"For many years, Darren Mullis has been much more than the person who served as our principal," the statement read. "He has been a trusted leader, mentor, advocate, and familiar face to generations of students and families. He has dedicated years of his life to this school and to the children entrusted to his care."
Mullis is "deeply respected and genuinely loved" by students, faculty, staff and parents, and his dismissal has been difficult to understand, according to the petition.
The school announced first grade teacher Rhiannon Thomas, who previously served as principal at Incarnation Catholic School in Collierville, will serve as interim principal for the rest of the school year.
Jack Armstrong covers breaking news and the environment for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at jack.armstrong@commercialappeal.com and followed on X @jca2902.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Parents concerned after principal parts ways with Holy Rosary in Memphis
