Gail Rappé

Mrs. Rappé holds both Bachelor and Master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin and began her teaching career in Milwaukee where she also served as Principal of two suburban Catholic schools before a family move to Minnesota 20 years ago. She was principal of St. Michael Parish School in St. Michael, Minnesota before being recruited to lead SFSJUS in 2001.

Her recognition includes being three-time nominee as the Archdiocese “Outstanding Principal of The Year.” She is a past president of the Archdiocesan Principals Association. She is active in the Minnesota Non Public School Accrediting Association having served on the accrediting team for more than a dozen schools. She is active in the Urban Catholic Schools Principals association (now Friends of Catholic Urban Schools or FOCUS) bringing new funding sources to SFSJUS. She is also actively involved in the National Catholic Education Association.

Mrs. Rappe's caring attitudes and lifelong commitment to children’s education are a key reason for SFSJUS success and reputation for delivering an exceptional education experience.

Teachers say she is the most involved principal they have ever worked with. Mrs. Rappe's passion for excellence and her enthusiasm for SFSJUS is contagious. Her sense of humor makes every day fun. Her open communication with regular family letters home makes her approachable and not an aloof bureaucrat.

Mrs. Rappé says: “Ok, so I didn't grow up in St. Paul, and I still root for the Packers. Despite that, keeping SFSJUS striving for ever higher educational excellence has been the most rewarding challenge of my career."