July 16, 2010
Most administrators in place for start of school year
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
The opening day of school is fast approaching, and new administrators are set to welcome students back to their classrooms all over the Diocese of Evansville.
The diocese has a new superintendent of schools, along with two new associate superintendents, and the two Evansville Catholic high schools will both have new executive directors this year.
There are new principals at Mater Dei High School and Holy Spirit, Resurrection and St. Theresa schools, all in Evansville, at St. James School in Haubstadt, and at Holy Family School in Jasper.
The principal opening for the three schools in Washington remains unfilled.
Diocesan schools are located in eight of the 12 counties of the diocese and include schools in Evansville, Fort Branch, Haubstadt, Jasper, Mount Vernon, Newburgh, Princeton, Rockport, St. Philip, St. Wendel, Vanderburgh County, Vincennes and Washington.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE | DIOCESE OF EVANSVILLE
The diocesan Catholic Schools Office now has four employees: Daryl, Hagan, superintendent of schools; Donna Halverson, assistant superintendent of schools; Michelle Priar, assistant superintendent of schools, and Rhonda Schroeder, administrative assistant.
• Daryl Hagan, longtime figure in Catholic education in western Kentucky, is the new diocese superintendent of Catholic schools.
Before being named superintendent, he had served as principal at Holy Name School in Henderson, Ky., since 1997. From 1986 to 1989 he taught at Christ the King School in Madisonville, Ky., and from 1991 to 1993, he was at St. Ann Interparochial School in Morganfield, Ky.
He was named director of schools for the Owensboro Catholic Schools in 1993, and continued in that position until 1997.
He earned his undergraduate degree in education at the University of Southern Indiana, and his master’s degree in education from Murray State University. He intends to pursue a Ph.D. in education.
• Donna Halverson is one of two newly named assistant superintendents for the Catholic Schools Office.
She has served as the interim director for the office since the retirement of Phyllis Bussing, who held the position of director for 19 years. She also served as assistant director for nine years.
She received her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University, and two master’s degrees from Indiana State University.
Her professional experience includes 14 years of teaching in grades five through nine in Phoenix, Ariz., Columbus, Ohio, Palatine, Ill., and at St. Benedict Cathedral School in Evansville.
She was principal at Holy Spirit School in Evansville for seven years.
• Michelle Priar has also been named assistant superintendent.
She has served as principal at St. James School in Haubstadt since 2003.
She began her teaching career in the diocese as a science teacher at St. Theresa School in Evansville in 1991.
In 1999, she was named principal at St. Joseph School in Vanderburgh County, and in 2003, she moved to St. James School.
She holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Southern Indiana, and a master of education degree from Indiana State University.
In her application for the position of assistant superintendent, she described herself as a “positive person,” someone who sees the “glass half full rather than half empty.” When faced with challenges, she says she is able to see “possibilities rather than barriers.”
EVANSVILLE
The two Evansville Catholic high schools now have executive directors in place as a result of the direction approved by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger to change the governance model of the two schools.
Using the new model, the schools will continue to collaborate and share common practices in many areas, while each is governed by its own board of trustees and led by its own executive director.
MATER DEI
• Timothy “Tad” Dickel is the first executive director at Mater Dei. As executive director he will be in charge of all aspects of the school and is directly responsible for institutional and advancement development, marketing, enrollment and the spiritual culture that evokes the Mater Dei tradition.
He had served as principal of the westside Evansville school since 2007. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Evansville and a master’s degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University.
• Christopher Tanner is the new principal at Mater Dei. As principal, he will serve as the chief academic officer and will have direct oversight over academics, extracurricular activities, athletics and spirituality. He will report directly to the executive director.
He holds a bachelor of arts degree in education from Franklin College and a master’s in educational administration from Oakland City University. He has taught social studies at Princeton High School for 13 years.
He said, “I look forward to working with the staff, students and parents at Mater Dei High School. The tradition of Mater Dei in both academics and extracurricular activities is second to none. I am excited to continue and improve upon these traditions with a strong faithbased approach.”
MEMORIAL
Ken Schultheis has been named the first executive director at Memorial High School. Gwen Godsey is Memorial’s principal.
He is a graduate of Indiana University. His most recent work experience includes working as a commercial account executive at Schultheis Insurance Agency and at Hub Commercial Insurance.
He has worked in the Greater Jasper School Corporation, and served as the varsity boys basketball coach from 1990 to 1997.
He was the director of athletics and the varsity boys basketball coach for the Washington Catholic schools from 1985 to 1990.
In his resume, he states that he has “good communication and listening skills, strong faith and perseverance,” is “self motivated,” has the “ability to make the difficult decisions,” and that he is “enthusiastic” and “loyal.”
HOLY SPIRIT
David Memmer, principal at the three Washington Catholic schools since 2007, is the newlynamed principal at Holy Spirit School.
He completed coursework toward a master’s degree at Indiana State University, and he holds a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree from Oakland City University.
He taught at Washington Catholic Middle School from 1995 to 2007.
In his application, he writes, “The principal must have a true desire to serve the Lord. Principals must lead by example. I believe in the saying, ‘Preach the Gospel, and use words if necessary.’”
RESURRECTION
Theresa Berendes has assumed the role of principal at Resurrection School. From 2007 to 2010, she was the principal at St. Theresa School. She was a teacher at St. John the Baptist School in Newburgh from 1992 to 2007.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana University, and a master’s degree from Indiana State University.
She writes that her strengths include her “faith, organizational skills, patience and a desire to see Resurrection School achieve its highest potential.”
She adds, “As a Catholic school principal, I am proud to be able to include our Catholic faith into discussions with students especially when it comes to the area of discipline. I believe during these difficult times, the opportunity to involve our faith and our beliefs is a vital part of being in a Catholic school.”
ST. THERESA
Nancy Mills is the new principal at St. Theresa School. From 2008 to 2010 she served as principal at Holy Spirit School.
She has also served as the band director at Mater Dei, as a music teacher at Good Shepherd School in Evansville, and as the assistant band director at Memorial High School.
She holds a master’s degree in education from Oakland City University, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Ball State University.
In her resume, she states that she is a “dedicated, serviceoriented team member,” that she has the “willingness to go ‘above and beyond’ the call of duty on her own initiative,” and that she “interacts positively with a wide range of people of various ages, cultures and socioeconomic levels.”
When school resumes in July at St. Theresa, the school year will include four intersessions. In a April 30 Message story, Theresa Berendes explained that the “new school calendar will spread the traditional 180 days of school over a longer period of time. The modified schedule gives the option for longer and more frequent breaks during the school year and a shorter summer vacation.
“Research has shown that the shorter summer vacation will result in greater retention of concepts learned. Students will be better equipped to build upon their past learning with shorter review and reteaching periods than are needed under a traditional schedule.
“The breaks will allow ‘batteries to be recharged’ so students and staff can bring more energy and attention to the learning process.”
The really different part of the new school schedule is the inclusion of the intersessions following each of the four quarters. “These are optional twoweek sessions that will allow St. Theresa students and other interested students to have opportunities that are not possible under the current schedule.”
HAUBSTADT
Angie Johnson is the new principal at St. James School in Haubstadt. She replaces Michelle Priar who is now an assistant superintendent of schools.
Angie received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Purdue University in 1988, and her master’s degree from Indiana State University in 1994. Her administration degree is also from ISU.
“I taught at Sts. Peter and Paul in Haubstadt for 15 years,” she said. “While there I taught fourth grade, kindergarten through grade five music, kindergarten and fifth grade religion, and was the technology coordinator.
“I played the organ at all school Masses and conducted several musical programs throughout the years.”
She said she has “bittersweet feelings about the move to St. James. On one hand I am so excited and happy to be moving there and getting to work with an amazing group of teachers and staff. It will bring me quite a bit closer to home, and I am looking forward to the short 10 minute drive to school. I look forward to working with people that I know from the past, growing up in Haubstadt. I have always admired St. James’ beautiful country setting and dedicated parishioners and their families.
“On the other hand, leaving Resurrection is like leaving part of my family behind. I have come to know and love the faculty, staff and students like a parent loves their own family. It brings tears to my eyes every time I think about leaving them.
“I have to remember that this is God’s plan for me, and I appreciate the years I had at Resurrection. They helped me learn and grow into the principal that I am today. I thank God every day for their support and encouragement through this process.”
JASPER
Sally Sternberg is the newly named principal at Holy Family School. She replaces Jeanne Heltzel, Holy Family’s principal for the last 10 years.
For the past nine years, she has been an educator in public schools in southwestern Indiana. She currently is the math department chairperson and a math teacher at Southridge High School in Huntingburg.
She also taught in the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation as a math teacher at both Bosse and Harrison high schools.
She holds a master’s degree from Oakland City University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Evansville.
In an application letter, she wrote, “My faith is important to me,” adding, “I firmly believe that my morals, values, beliefs and ethics were formed early on as the result of both a structured home life and my Catholic school upbringing.
“As a result, I value Catholic education and welcome the opportunity to practice my faith more fully and openly in the Catholic school setting.”
WASHINGTON
There are three Catholic schools in Washington: Washington Elementary School, Washington Middle School and Washington High School. David Memmer, principal at the three schools since 2007, has been named principal at Holy Spirit School in Evansville.
An administrator has not yet been named in Washington.