“As far as I’m concerned, they couldn’t have made a better choice,” Margello said. “I recruited him from the ranks of the teachers to be my assistant because he’s a great guy, full of good ideas and a lot of energy. He’s poised to take Badin to new heights.”
“Mr. Pendergest is a man of great energy and vision,” said Jim Rigg, director of educational services and superintendent of Catholic schools for the Cincinnati Archdiocese. “He possesses a great talent for academic leadership and a love of working with young people. He is a devoted Catholic, and will continue to guide Badin’s commitment to providing a vibrant Christ-Centered environment.”
A 1990 graduate of Badin, Pendergest returned in 1998 to coach basketball, then taught history and math from 2000 to 2003. He became assistant principal/dean of students of Badin in 2003 before being named principal of McNicholas Catholic High School in 2007. He returned to Badin in 2009, resuming his former administrative capacity.
Pendergest returned to Badin in order to be closer to his family. He and his wife, the former Kathleen McFarland, also a 1990 Badin grad, live two blocks from Badin in Hamilton with their five children. It’s been a family affair – Pendergest’s parents, the late Pat and Laurel Hamberg Pendergest, attended Hamilton Catholic and Notre Dame high schools, respectively. Those two schools merged to open Badin High School in the fall of 1966.
“While it’s not essential to the job, it’s nice that his whole family is a Badin family,” Margello said.
Pendergest said that with his two stints as assistant principal and two years as the principal of McNicholas, applying for the principal’s job was a natural progression for him.
“Being an alumnus of Badin High School, I had a great experience here being taught by excellent faculty members,” he said. “When I came back to coach, I remembered what was so special about the place.”
He said that one of his biggest everyday challenges to face is to manage the school’s budget and to maintain enrollment, issues that are woven together.
“We’re asking parents to pay an additional cost beyond their taxes to send their students here,” he said. “All of the Catholic schools are facing that issue.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.
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