“It was such a pleasure meeting with our new principals,” said Jean Johnson, superintendent of Catholic schools. “Marilyn Missel, our associate superintendent for Catholic schools, and I were impressed with the enthusiasm, expertise and sense of mission displayed by all those at our new principal’s orientation on Aug. 6. We look forward to our continued networking with each of them throughout the new school year.”
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. The new principals recently shared their backgrounds and their thoughts on their newest leadership positions.
Nick Roscetti
Routt Catholic High School, Jacksonville
A member of Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville, Nick Roscetti is the only new high school principal in the diocese this school year. Most recently the principal of Lewistown High School, he also spent two years as assistant principal of Beardstown Middle and High School.
Previously in special education, he was a special education teacher and coach at two schools in Missouri — at Eldon High School in Eldon and at School of the Osage in Lake Ozark. He began his teaching career in Illinois as a special education teacher and coach at Riverton High School.
Roscetti has his bachelor’s degree from Augustana College, his teacher certification from Eastern Illinois University and received his master’s degree in secondary school administration from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.
As he prepares to begin the 2014-2015 school year, he said, “I’m very excited to be part of the Routt Catholic High School heritage. I hope to improve our current methods and procedures, as well as introduce new ideas that will help our students excel in all aspects of their lives.
“I believe a Catholic education produces well-rounded students. We address the academic, spiritual, and physical needs of our students,” he said. “The opportunity to be part of this formation is what brought me to Catholic education.”
At Routt he will be leading a staff of 24 and approximately 120 students.
Jill Bierman
St. Thomas the Apostle School, Newton
Jill Bierman is excited to be leading her own parish school, St. Thomas the Apostle in Newton. At St. Thomas she’ll be heading up a staff of 10 and 127 students.
Bierman has a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and a master’s degree in education administration, both from Eastern Illinois University. She has spent the last 16 years teaching in Jasper County Unit #1 and happily anticipates her first school year as a principal. “I am enjoying learning new things,” she said.
“I am looking forward to the students coming in and I hope to continue the great things happening and make improvements as well. I appreciate the opportunity to start each day with prayer,” she said. “Everything we do is a part of a much greater goal, which is guiding our students through their faith.”
Bierman said she has family ties to St. Thomas and is already familiar with the school. “My husband attended St. Thomas and my children do as well,” she said. “I’m thankful for such a supportive staff and wonderful parents.”
Rhoda Dudra
Sacred Heart School, Pana
A member of St. Patrick Parish in Pana, Rhoda Dudra brings years of experience to Sacred Heart School. She has her bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and her master’s degree from Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois Springfield).
Dudra was a teacher in Lombard and Tower Hill before working in Pana schools, where she was a teacher, assistant principal and principal at Pana Junior High School, an assistant principal and principal at Pana High School, and a curriculum director with Pana Unit #8. She was also a principal at Washington Elementary School.
Although she has been working in public schools, Dudra said she appreciates “the welcome challenge” of leading a Catholic elementary school. “I am looking forward to again working with elementary children. I feel it is a new adventure — a step toward reaffirming and projecting my faith in a faith-based setting,” she said.
At Sacred Heart, she will be leading 14 staff members and over 140 students.
Pam Fahey
Christ the King School, Springfield
Pam Fahey is well acquainted with Christ the King School, as she has been a parishioner there for 24 years and has been active in the school for 22 years.
From 2003 through the 2013-2014 school year, Fahey was an instructional leader and reading specialist (K-12) for Auburn Community School District #10. She formerly taught both first and third grades at Christ the King and was also a school librarian for Little Flower School.
“I am excited to join a school with over 50 years of experience in educating children. My hope is that our students will have the benefit of an effective academic model of excellence that merges and adapts our Illinois Common Core state standards into the mission of our Catholic Church. My plan is to implement professional learning communities to deepen professional development.
“Catholic education is important to me … ,” she said. “Our foundation in learning begins with our Catholic foundation. I am dedicated to helping students and families cultivate intellectual curiosity and inspire learning while developing a life-long personal relationship with Our Lord and his church.”
Fahey has her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from DePaul University, her master’s degree from Western Illinois University and is pursuing further course work at the University of Illinois Springfield. She is married to Jim Fahey and is the mother of four children. At Christ the King she will lead approximately 50 staff members and 400 students.
Chris Uptmor
Our Lady of Lourdes School, Decatur
Chris Uptmor is relocating from Peoria to Decatur, where he is the new principal of his parish school. He has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s in educational leadership from Aurora University.
For the past 14 years, Uptmor has been a social studies, P.E. teacher and boys baseball coach at Oak Grove West School in Bartonville. A native of Robinson, Uptmor said he is happy to have reconnected with Father Rick Weltin, who was his pastor at St. Elizabeth Parish in Robinson and is now his pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes.
“I am very excited about my new position,” he said. “I have been spending time talking with Father Rick, the parents, the teachers and even some former students about what they really like about the school, and what changes need to be made. It is very important to get input from all the stakeholders in the school.
“I have always had an interest in using my abilities to serve God through Catholic education,” he said. “While taking classes through Aurora University, one of my professors was the principal of the Catholic high school in Peoria. Hearing his experiences, the interest to work in Catholic education grew stronger to a point where I honestly felt it was a calling by God to use my new degree in Catholic schools.”
Uptmor and his wife, Lisa Uptmor, have two children — Will, who is in kindergarten at Our Lady of Lourdes and 2-year-old Norah. At OLOL he will be leading about 20 staff members and 225 students.