RACINE - Two of Racine Unified's three comprehensive high schools will have new leaders starting next year.

Angela Apmann will leave Julian Thomas Elementary to take over as directing principal at Horlick High School. Stephanie Phernetton will replace Tom Sager as directing principal of Case High School in Mount Pleasant.

Apmann, a Horlick alumus, replaces Nola Starling-Ratliff who is retiring at the end of this school year.

Apmann's reassignment is one of several new appointments the district announced Monday.

Before becoming principal of Julian Thomas in 2003, Apmann was principal of Bull Fine Arts Elementary School. Apmann has a bachelor's degree in elementary education and learning disabilities from Carthage College in Kenosha and a master's degree in administrative leadership and supervision from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

"She leads from a student-centered perspective and will be a strong leader for the Horlick High School students and staff," said Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, Unified's chief academic officer.

Apmann has spent her entire career with Unified. She was a learning disabilities teacher and special education team leader from 1980-1990 at Gilmore Middle School, an assistant principal at McKinley Middle School from 1990-95, principal of Wind Point Elementary School from 1995-98, and principal Bull Fine Arts Elementary School from 1998 to 2003.

Apmann has been a Wallace Fellow, a program for urban school principals.

Phernetton is coming to Racine from the St. Paul, Minn. area. She has experience working in a large, diverse urban school district.

"Stephanie's leadership style and passion to provide a positive learning experience for all students is an excellent fit for Case High School," said Dona Sens, a Unified area superintendent.

District officials announced three other appointments:

Brian Colbert has been appointed Area III Superintendent (the Park High School cluster). He replaces Jose Martinez who is retiring at the end of this year. Colbert is currently principal of Jerstad-Agerholm Middle School. Colbert also has been a Wallace Fellow.

Kevin McCormick has been appointed directing principal of Mitchell Elementary. He replaces Alfredo Cintron, who left the district earlier this year. McCormick is currently assistant principal at Gifford Elementary.

Frank Jarosz has been appointed buildings and grounds director. Frank previously served as Unified's facilities supervisor. He replaces Gary Bishop who left the district in August.