With the 2016-2017 school year now under way, six Catholic grade schools in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are under the direction of new principals.

Brandi Borries, who recently took on the position of superintendent of schools, led the principals in a day-long meeting at the diocesan Catholic Pastoral Center on Aug. 2. “I am looking forward to a great school year with a super group of new administrators who’ve joined our wonderful team of experienced principals,” says Borries.

The Springfield diocese is home to seven high schools, 40 elementary schools and one stand-alone preschool at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Chatham.

All of the following individuals will be leading elementary schools:

Jean M. Heil

St. Ambrose School, Godfrey

After spending the last eight years teaching middle school science and social studies at St. Ambrose, Jean Heil has been named principal of the Godfrey school. “I have taught all grades from K-12 over the past 23 years and I’ve taught in five states: Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois,” she says. “I’ve been in both public and private/parochial schools.”

Heil has her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s in education in curriculum and instruction, and a Type 75 administrative endorsement from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. At St. Ambrose she will be leading a staff of 25 and about 250 students.

“I want to continue the tradition of academic rigor at St. Ambrose,” she says. She plans to create a nurturing, creative and innovative environment, establish and maintain a positive and meaningful relationship between the staff and the students and parents, all while focusing on “our Christ-centered relationship.”

“St. Ambrose is a strong community of faith with a rich tradition of academic excellence, advanced technology, superior teachers and involved and dedicated families,” she says.

Heil has been married for 23 years to Rev. Jeffrey Heil and they have three children: 20-year-old Jamie, 15-year-old Jayson, and 9-year-old Julia.

Martha Hogge

St. Mary School, Mt. Sterling

After spending almost 20 years as an elementary school teacher in Quincy, Martha Hogge is now the principal at St. Mary School in Mt. Sterling. There she is leading 15 staff members and 86 students.

Hogge earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Quincy University and her master’s in elementary administration, also from QU. She taught one year of first grade in the Quincy public schools and spent 18 years teaching at St. Peter Catholic School in Quincy, where she taught seventh- and eighth-grade math, and also students in second, fourth and sixth grades.

“I love being able to share my faith with children and others that I work with. In a Catholic school I can do that and celebrate my beliefs in God and Jesus,” she says. At St. Mary School she “hopes and dreams to increase enrollment by doing the best job we can to educate children and prepare them for the future.”

“Every day we will play hard and work hard, always remembering to do our best and let God do the rest,” she says.

Martha and Dave Hogge have been married for 16 years and have two children: Katie is 14 and Ben is 10. “We also share our home with four dogs and a cat,” she adds.

Lori Loveless

St. Patrick Catholic School, Springfield

Lori Loveless is the new principal at St. Patrick Catholic School in Springfield, where she says she has enjoyed everyone she has met and looks forward to the school year.

A 15-year veteran of Catholic education, Loveless was an elementary education teacher at St. Michael School in Staunton for eight years and then became a principal, leading several other Catholic schools in the diocese: St. Isidore in Farmersville, St. John the Evangelist in Carrollton and St. Michael in Staunton. In addition to academics, she has coaching experience in volleyball, basketball and softball.

She has a bachelor’s degree in management and completed the teacher’s education program at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) and has a master’s in educational leadership, also from UIS.

At St. Patrick, she plans to create a Catholic identity, work on curriculum and instruction, and align the school to standards. She adds that she feels lucky to be a part of St. Patrick School.

“Catholic education is the most important education that can be taught to children,” says Loveless, who is member of Ss. Mary and Joseph Parish in Carlinville. “We exist to form disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Matt Sturgeon

St. Anthony of Padua Grade School, Effingham

St. Anthony of Padua Grade School now has Matt Sturgeon as its new principal. He comes to the school directly from Franklin Park Middle School in Salem, where he had been the principal for four years.

He received his bachelor’s degree in social science education from Millikin University in 2006; his master’s in education administration from Eastern Illinois University in 2009, and his specialist in education administration from Eastern Illinois University in 2012.

Sturgeon is originally from Freeburg, while his wife, Beth — who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math at Newton Jasper County — is originally from Sigel. They reside in Effingham with their two children: 3-year-old Ella and 7-month-old Andy.

“My priorities have always been faith, family and school,” Sturgeon says. “This position will uniquely allow me to better serve Christ, be closer to my wife and children, and simultaneously allow me to employ my 10 years of education experience to work with children from my own community.

“The mission of St. Anthony Grade School comes from Philippians 3:14 and reads ‘Pressing on to the goal of service to the Lord by stretching our intellect, confirming our values and living our faith,’” he says. “As a result, our faith is at the forefront of all that we’ll do to help students grow spiritually, intellectually and emotionally.

“Having been in the area for the last 10 years as an educator, coach and administrator, I know that the St. Anthony schools are steeped in tradition,” says Sturgeon. “My family and I are excited to join the parish and school family knowing that we will quickly build new relationships.”

Tom Weir

St. Aloysius School, Springfield

Tom Weir is the new principal of St. Aloysius School where he will be leading 150 students and a staff of 18.

Weir has his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Illinois State University, has completed the certificate program in special education from Eastern Illinois University, and has his master’s in education (reading specialist) from Benedictine University in Springfield.

He has been a learning lab coordinator for Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, and a resource and inclusion (special education) teacher at both Lanphier High School and Riverton High School/Sangamon Area Special Education District.

Weir says he is excited to be a leader at St. Aloysius. “I feel blessed to be surrounded and supported by teachers and parish members that are true stockholders in our school’s success,” he says.

“We hope to maintain the positive energy that exists amongst our families, students and teachers,” he says. “The goal is for St. Al’s to become an example of how a Catholic school can thrive with the cooperation and participation of an active parish.”

Weir and his wife Katie have been married for over 20 years. They have a son, T.J., who attends Lincoln Land Community College and is a member of the Illinois Army National Guard and a daughter, Ashley, who is a junior at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.

Diane Wepking

St. Mary School, Edwardsville

Diane Wepking is excited to be the new principal at St. Mary School in Edwardsville, where she will be leading about 150 students as well as 20 staff members.

Wepking has both her elementary education degree and her master’s in administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

“I have taught my entire career in Catholic education,” she says. “I’ve spent the last 35 years at Ss. Peter and Paul in Collinsville, where I’ve taught and served the last five years as assistant principal. I have devoted my life to Catholic education so the opportunity to be the spiritual leader of a Catholic school was an opportunity I could not pass up.”

“I look forward to getting to know my new St. Mary’s family,” she says. “St. Mary’s has such a stellar reputation and I look forward to growing and learning with my new faith family. St. Mary’s has so much to offer and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for our school.”

Wepking has been married to her husband Russell for 32 years and they have one daughter, Tara, who lives in Nashville.