The Formative Years

Abstract

Over the course of 40 years in the public schools of Buffalo, New York, as principal and superintendent, Robert Bapst earned a reputation as efftcient and forward-thinking. His leadership skills ftrst received attention at South Park High School where, as founding principal, he created an environment noted for academic excellence, student development, and good citizenship. What is unusual about Bapst's tenure was his ability to integrate his Catholic beliefs with the goals of public education. Jesuit-educated, Bapst stressed personal concem for the individual, community-building, and service to others as hallmark Christian values to be integrated within the life of the school. He saw no conflict of interest in this for church and state cohabited, happily. Evidently his constituents concurred since the records contain no serious challenges to his program.