August 5, 2011
New principals named in diocesan schools
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Tracey Unfried has been named principal at Westside Catholic School, Evansville, according to Father David Nunning, dean of the Evansville West Deanery.
She has served as principal at Holy Cross School, Fort Branch, since 2002. She holds a bachelor and master’s degree from Indiana State University, and taught at Holy Spirit and Good Shepherd Schools, both in Evansville.
“Ms. Unfried brings us both experience as a principal,” Dr. Timothy Dick, president of the Westside Catholic School Board said, “and a passion for new ways of helping children reach their greatest potential. This is what we are all about.”
Under her leadership at Holy Cross, she implemented new technology resources with the use of SMARTBoards in the classrooms, governed numerous projects for curriculum and facility improvements and fostered a teacher evaluation and strengthening process.
While at Holy Cross she also enhanced the marketing and enrollment procedures, school security and redeveloped the Crusader Academy for children in pre-school and pre-kindergarten.
“The alignment of her experience with the goals of our school is compelling. We are currently concentrating on enrollment and achievement,” Dick said.
In a letter to families at Holy Cross School, Unfried writes:
“I wanted to take a moment to let you all know that I have accepted the principal position at West-side Catholic School in Evansville starting the 2011-2012 school year. Please know that this has not been an impetuous decision and one not made without discerning prayer.
“Thank you for the support, guidance, and encouragement you have provided me during my time at Holy Cross. Even though I will miss everyone, especially my students and staff, I am looking forward to this new challenge and to starting a new phase of my spiritual journey as an educational leader with the Catholic Diocese of Evansville.
“It has been my pleasure to have been the principal of Holy Cross School for the past nine years. Together we have built bridges and moved mountains all for the sake of our beautiful children. Holy Cross School always has been and will continue to be a forerunner in Catholic education. I was just here awhile to walk with you along the way.
“There are no good-byes, where ever we are, you’ll always be in my heart. I truly believe that you never leave significant people and places behind; you take a part of them with you and leave a part of yourself behind.”
Daryl Hagan, superintendent of the diocesan Catholic Schools Office, said of filling the principal position at Holy Cross, “It is our hope to carry out the process in a timely manner while obtaining a principal by the first day of school.”
Other new principals include:
- Karie Craney, Washington Catholic Middle School and High School in Washington. Since 2008, she has served as Dean of Students and counselor there.
- Gwen Godsey, principal at Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville for the last three years, is now principal at Christ the King School in Evansville.
- Cyndi Schneider is now principal at Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville. For the last three years, she served as principal at Westside Catholic School in Evansville.
- Lori Wissel, a long-time teacher at Flaget Elementary School in Vincennes, has been named its principal for the 2011-2012 school year.