July 15, 2011
Reitz Memorial teacher to return as principal
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
“Memorial is where my heart is,” said Cyndi Schneider, who was to be confirmed July 13 as the next principal of Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville.
Schneider taught at Memorial for 16 years. For the past three years, she has been principal at Westside Catholic School in Evansville
“I realize now that leaving Memorial was a blessing,” she commented. “It gave me an opportunity to look and see Memorial differently.”
The confirmation of her appointment was to take place at a meeting of the board of trustees July 13, according to Ken Schultheis, executive director of the high school. (The Message went to press the morning of July 13.)
“I believe that Cyndi brings substance and a few intangibles to the position that will help simplify the transition of a new principal.” said Schultheis in a statement prepared for the board of trustees. “I think the learning curve will be much less on all sides.”
Schultheis praised her leadership, saying, “I think she looks for the process and not just to react,” adding, “She knows the Diocese. She also knows the feeder school principals. All of these add to an easier transition.”
Schultheis noted that Schneider is Catholic and that “She knows the importance of Catholic schools and how a faith-based environment really provides the best learning environment. “
For the past three years, Schultheis has directed the three campus setting of Westside Catholic, at Sacred Heart, St. Agnes and St. Boniface churches.
Before going to Westside Catholic, Schneider performed various administrative duties at Memorial, as she finished work towards her principal license under the direction of the former principal, Gerry Adams.
Schneider’s first teaching position was at Memorial in 1993. She taught English for 14 years, six of the years as chair of the English Department. She was also a member of Memorial’s School Improvement Committee for three years.
In an interview with the Message July 12, Schneider said she expected to step into the Memorial position without missing a step, “because the support staff there is wonderful, and very well organized.”
In a statement to the school as part of her application for the position, Schneider noted that she had applied for the post three years ago.
“At the time I was told that I needed administrative experience, so I left Memorial to gain administrative experience.”
She went on to say that Westside Catholic “was a wonderful place that gave me the opportunity to gain the administrative experience that I was seeking. High School is where I have always wanted to be,” she added. “Memorial is where my heart is.”
Cyndi and her husband Don Schneider have been married 32 years. They have two children, who graduated from Memorial.
“As my children moved through, I realized that Memorial offers an outstanding faith-based education and prepares its students well.” Schneider said in her application. “Still, Memorial can grow. We want to grow, so we can help our students to become even more spiritually and academically prepared. And that is a good thing.”