By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Father Jason Gries, pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Evansville, recently appointed Jessica Zavala to serve as principal of Holy Redeemer School in Evansville.
Zavala comes to Holy Redeemer after serving as the grades 5-8 principal of Westside Catholic Schools in Evansville. Zavala has been a parishioner at Holy Redeemer since kinder-garten, was married at the church and their son was baptized at Holy Redeemer.
“When I learned of the opportunity, I felt a clear call to be part of a community as principal because it felt like the opportunity to come home in a sense to a community that I had grown up in,” she said.
“Accepting the position felt like both a privilege and a responsibility I was ready to embrace.”
Father Gries said they are excited to have Zavala at Holy Redeemer. He said Zavala brings presence, leadership and experience beyond her years.
“She recognizes all the great things we have going on in our school and larger parish families and desires to continue and build upon them,” Father Gries said. “We look forward to how God will use her to make Himself even more present to our students, families, faculty and staff.”
Zavala said she was drawn to Holy Redeemer by the strong sense of faith, family and academic excellence that is “clearly woven into the heart of the school.” She is most looking forward to getting to know the students, families and staff, walking with them in faith and learning.
“There’s something truly special about starting a new year with the theme ‘Building a Future of Hope.’ I believe, together, we can do just that,” she said.