Fired principal fires back at O'Hara, archdiocese

The silence has been broken at Cardinal O'Hara High School.

Ever since Principal Marie Rogai was dismissed last November, just months into the school year, people have been waiting for the other shoe to fall.

It fell yesterday.

Rogai filed suit against the archdiocese on Monday. Also named in the action are a host of familiar names in archdiocesan education, including the Faith in the Future Foundation, the group that supervises fundraising for 17 high schools, as well as its CEO Samuel Casey Carter. Also named are Archdiocese Superintendent of Education Carol Carey; Pete Balzano, the associate superintendent; Christopher Mominey, secretary of the Office of Catholic Education; and the Cardinal O'Hara Advisory Board.

In the lawsuit, Rogai and her attorney Daniel McElhatton paint a picture of a distinguished educator who for some reason fell out of favor at the school. They make the point that Rogai was axed just a few months after she was considered for the associate superintendent position in the arhcdiocese. You can get all the details here.

I've talked to people at O'Hara who firmly believe Rogai was railroaded, and who were waiting for this day.

I've also talked to people who paint a picture of a woman who was very hard to work with.

Rogai's problems seem to stem with the somewhat controversial advisory board at O'Hara. The suit contends they are the ones who sought her ouster, despite her winning plaudits for her work.

I've had people tell me they were not even aware there was such a board. Rogai at the time of her firing maintained that she was not hired by the advisory board, but rather by the archdiocese.

The suit does not paint a pretty picture of O'Hara. Rogai flatly believes and states in the suit that the only reason she was given for the abrupt firing was that she didn't "smile enough" and was "too direct."

Rogai claims she was told during a meeting with Cary and Balzano that she was an "ineffective leader" and that Mominey wanted her to resign. She refused to do so and was fired a few days later.

If it goes to trial, the lawsuit could provide an eye-opening look at O'Hara's operations, and starkly differing views of Rogai's term at the helm.

One thing is sure. This is about the last thing the embattled archdiocese needed.

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