With the new academic year just under way, a number of the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are depending on new principals to lead them in a positive direction.
Most of the new principals have been in the schools this summer, preparing for the academic year. Moreover, several of them were at the Catholic Pastoral Center on Aug. 1, attending the annual new principal's orientation. Jean Johnson, superintendent of Catholic schools, and Marilyn Missel, associate superintendent of Catholic schools, were on hand to guide the new leaders.
"I welcome our new administrators and look forward to working with them," Johnson said. "It was such a pleasure meeting them at our new principal's orientation. I am impressed with their depth of knowledge on administrative issues, their commitment to Catholic education and Catholic identity, and their eagerness to serve as principals in our Catholic schools. This promises to be a great year for everyone."
"All of our principals are highly qualified and those joining us for the first time this year are no exception," Missel said. "I already sense their enthusiasm for Catholic education and am delighted to be working with them."
The Springfield diocese is home to one stand-alone preschool at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Chatham, 41 elementary schools, and seven high schools. All of the following principals will be leading Catholic grade schools:
Marilyn Buchanan
Sacred Heart School, Pana
Marilyn Buchanan is coming out of retirement to return to Sacred Heart School in Pana, a place she once taught fifth grade and was principal. A member of Sacred Heart Parish in Oconee where she is a reader and on the parish finance council, Buchanan will be leading 10 staff members and 147 students in grades PreK-8.
Buchanan has her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Illinois State University and her master's in educational administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield. In addition to her positions at Sacred Heart School, she previously taught second grade, remedial and developmental reading, and was a principal or director in both public and private schools in Illinois and Iowa. Her most recent experience in a Catholic school was when she was a principal at St. Louis School in Nokomis.
Buchanan is looking forward to being back in a school setting and says, "I plan to carry out the vision and mission of Sacred Heart School."
Outside of school Buchanan enjoys her family life. She is married, has two grown and married daughters and eight grandchildren.
Judy Kulp
St. Mary School, Alton
Judy Kulp is very familiar with St. Mary School because early in her career she was a teacher there for eight years and most recently — for the last four years — she has been assistant principal at the school. Before returning to St. Mary she was a principal at Evangelical School in Godfrey for nine years.
A member of St. Mary Parish in Alton, Kulp has her bachelor's degree from Quincy University and her administrative degree from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. At St. Mary she will be leading 360 students and 27 faculty members.
"I look forward to a new school year and expanding my position from assistant principal to principal. I am blessed to have supportive parish priests, staff, faculty and parents," Kulp says. "St. Mary's has an excellent reputation and my goal is to continue that tradition into the future."
Kulp will be working closely with her new assistant principal, Mary Pat Vernardos, who attended the orientation day at the Pastoral Center. Vernardos graduated from St. Mary School and recently retired from the Alton Public School District after 35 years, 28 of those years as a public school principal.
"The faculty and I will be incorporating the Common Core Standards through staff development," Kulp says. "We will provide numerous opportunities for our students to grow in their faith through retreats, service opportunities and the sacraments."
Kulp says leading a Catholic school is important to her. "I am blessed to have had the opportunity to attend Catholic schools for 16 years. Working at a Catholic school gives me the opportunity to give back to my faith."
Julie Lake
St. John the Evangelist School, Carrollton
Julie Lake is the new acting principal at St. John the Evangelist School, where she has been a teacher for grades 6-8. She will be leading approximately 125 students and 15 staff members.
Lake has her bachelor's of science degree in education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her master's in educational administration from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Prior to joining St. John the Evangelist, she was also an English and math teacher at Carrollton High School.
Lake says she is "very excited" to be in her new job. "I have worked with the faculty and staff there as a teacher for eight years," she says. "They are wonderful people and I look forward to working with them in this new capacity as we lead St. John's into the future.
"It is a blessing to work in a school where prayer and the sharing of faith is not only accepted but expected," she says. "I am eager to lead St. John's as we continue a tradition of excellent education and growing together as a school community in our faith."
Lori Loveless
St. Michael School, Staunton
After spending the last five years as a Catholic school principal at two other Catholic grade schools, Lori Loveless is returning to a place that she holds close to her heart.
"Coming back to St. Michael's, I feel like I've returned home," says Loveless of the school where her own children attended. "Valerie is a senior in high school and Levi is a freshman in college, but they went here and I feel like I've come back to the school that gave them a good Catholic education."
Not only did her children attend St. Michael School, but Loveless spent the first eight years of her career there, teaching third- through eighth-grade reading as well as second grade. She was a principal at St. Isidore School in Farmersville for one year and then served as principal of St. John the Evangelist School in Carrollton from August 2009 through May 2013.
Loveless has a bachelor's degree from Sangamon State University, a master's degree in educational leadership from University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) and, most recently, she has completed an advanced degree in educational leadership at UIS.
Now that she is back at St. Michael, Loveless has some plans for this school year and beyond. "I want to work on really creating a Catholic identity," she says. "We'll be incorporating the Common Core Standards, which will build curriculum and instruction and work on professional development."
Loveless says she'll be working with a staff that's about "half and half" as far as those she knows and those she looks forward to getting to know better. "I have some new people and about half that I've already worked with.
"I've met some great people along the way," says Loveless, who is a member of Ss. Mary and Joseph Parish in Carlinville. "But there is no place like home."
Nicholas B. Niemerg
St. Michael the Archangel School, Sigel
After 10 years in public school education, Nicholas Niemerg has accepted a position as principal of St. Michael the Archangel — the Catholic school affiliated with his parish in Sigel. He'll be leading 120 students and a staff of 10.
Niemerg has both a bachelor's degree in education of science for grades 6-12 and a master's in educational administration from Eastern Illinois University. From 2003-2011, he was a science teacher at three high schools: Meridian High School in Macon, Newton High School in Newton, and Vandalia High School in Vandalia. He has spent the last two school years as assistant principal at Vandalia High School.
"My grandmother and mother both graduated from SMS," Niemerg says. "Transferring from public to (a) private Catholic school I am looking forward to working with a caring and passionate staff as well as families that value both an education and strong Catholic values.
"I want to get back to teaching the Catholic values that I feel are so important to the growth and development of children into responsible, caring adults," he says. "While reading and writing are important, there is more to the education of a child. I feel it is vital to develop both the mind and the soul of a child."
Susan Schmidt
St. Ambrose School, Godfrey
Susan Schmidt has spent her entire education career in public education — until now. She has just assumed responsibility for her parish school, St. Ambrose. In her new position she'll be leading a staff of 12 and approximately 240 students.
Schmidt has her bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University and her master's from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She has put her degree to work as a teacher and an administrator in the Alton School District.
"After 35 years in public school education, I now have the wonderful opportunity to grow in my faith," Schmidt says. "My husband and three children attended this school so St. Ambrose holds a very special place in my heart. I am so excited to begin a new chapter in my life and I look forward to working with the former principal, Cathy McGarrahan. I feel we will make a dynamic team.
"The challenge will be to maintain all of the programs that are already in place. I have the opportunity to give back to my parish and school," Schmidt says. "The possibilities are endless."
Lori Shepard
St. Francis Solanus School, Quincy
Lori Shepard began her career as a teacher at St. Mary's Academy in Mt. Sterling, teaching for seven years in the school she attended as a child. Then a religious sister she admired invited her to take a position at Quincy Notre Dame High School (QND). That was over 30 years ago.
Now after working with high school students at QND in a number of capacities Shepard is once again returning to a grade school — this time as the new principal of St. Francis Solanus School in Quincy.
At QND, Shepard was a full-time art teacher and cheerleading sponsor, religion teacher, department chairman and campus minister. After she obtained her master's of education in administration in 2000, she was assistant principal at the high school.
"In 2008, the position of dean of women was added to my responsibilities," Shepard says. "Recently I was also assigned the position of certified professional development manager of QND and was asked to monitor the certification process for the teachers at QND."
Shepard is confident that she will enjoy her new job, leading the approximately 265 students and 35 staff members. "Our secretaries, teachers and staff have been tremendously warm and welcoming. They have helped me in ways too numerous to mention, and their 'family spirit' has filled by heart with joy." She adds that a group of dedicated retired men, known as "Austin's Army" help out with painting and other duties to see that the building is in good running order.
"Father Don Blaeser, OFM, has been an inspiration and a strong support to help me on this journey," she says. "I am anxious to meet the students and families and begin the year."
Shepard's plans for St. Francis include high academic standards, continued improvement in technology and spiritual growth for staff, faculty and students. "I am eager to work on an overall safety plan for the school, increase professional development for the teachers and prepare for the next Illinois State Board of Education/diocesan evaluation." She also wants to develop a long-range plan for St. Francis.
"Looking back over my educational career, the Lord has led me every step of the way," says Shepard. "The Lord has great plans for me and I trust his will in my life to follow his lead. As principal of St. Francis Solanus School, I will have the opportunity to share my faith every day."
Sarah Stanley
St. Patrick Catholic School, Springfield
After spending the last two years teaching kindergarten and third grade at St. Patrick Catholic School, Sarah Stanley now looks forward to being the principal there.
Stanley, who has her bachelor's degree from University of Illinois at Springfield and her master's in education from Benedictine University, will be leading a staff of 12 and about 60 students.
"I am very excited to be given the opportunity to lead a wonderful group of teachers at St. Patrick. I have taught there for two years and love the atmosphere and sense of family that permeates the school," she says. "It is a very exciting time at St. Patrick. Our enrollment is growing and we are making great academic strides."
Stanley, who is a member of Christ the King Parish, says she is the product of Catholic education and knows it has made a difference in her life. "I truly believe in the philosophy of Catholic education. I am a graduate of a Catholic grade school, high school and college. My husband attended Catholic grade school and high school and my children both attend Catholic schools," she says.
"I feel that the Christian values that are installed in young people through a parochial education provide life-long benefits in all areas of their lives."