FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2025
Catholic Central High School Appoints Nicholas Kelly as New President/Principal
Experienced Leader in Catholic Education and School Advocacy to Begin July 14
BURLINGTON, WI — Catholic Central High School is proud to announce the appointment of Nicholas Kelly as the new President/Principal, effective July 14, 2025. With more than a decade of leadership in Catholic education and school choice advocacy, Kelly brings a wealth of experience and a proven record of advancing academic excellence, faith formation, and institutional growth.
Kelly joins Catholic Central from his most recent role as President of School Choice Wisconsin, where he served since 2021. During his tenure, he was instrumental in achieving historic growth in student enrollment, expanding access to Catholic and private education across the state, and strengthening partnerships between families, schools, and policymakers.
Prior to that, Kelly served as Principal of St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, where he led initiatives in curriculum development, faculty mentoring, student leadership, and school culture. Under his leadership, the school was recognized for its academic rigor, faith-based community, and commitment to student success. In 2021, he received the prestigious Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Principal Leadership Award.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Kelly to Catholic Central,” said Marikris Coryell, Acting CEO. “His strong leadership background, his commitment to Catholic values, and his ability to connect with students, families, and the broader community make him the ideal person to lead Catholic Central into its next chapter.”
Kelly holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University and a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. His professional experience also includes roles as Dean of Students, Department Chair, and Director of Servant Leadership.
“I am deeply honored and excited to join the Catholic Central High School family,” said Kelly. “This school has a rich tradition and a promising future. I look forward to working alongside faculty, staff, families, and community leaders to build on that legacy—strengthening our academics, growing our enrollment, and forming students in mind, heart, and spirit.”
