By The Message staff
Since The Message announced, in our April 7 issue, the appointment of Nathan Winstead to serve as principal of Holy Cross Parish in Fort Branch, other leadership changes have been announced in diocesan Catholic schools - and in the Catholic Schools Office.
This story introduces you to our new Catholic Schools Office staff members and new school principals.
In the Catholic Schools Office, Bishop Joseph M. Siegel has made the following appointments:
- Kari Ford has been named Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools
- Lynde Anquillare has been named School Support Administrator
- Jane Herrmann has been named Regional School Nutrition Program Manager
Since Nathan’s appointment at Holy Cross, five new principals have been named at diocesan Catholic schools, including:
- Dominican Sister Catherine Stewart, the new principal at Westside Catholic School’s St. Agnes Campus in Evansville
- Andrea Greaney, the new principal at Corpus Christi School in Evansville
- Kelsey Meier, the new principal at St. Joseph School in Vanderburgh County
- Laurie Schopmeyer, who has been named interim principal at St. Benedict Cathedral School in Evansville
- Kassandra Spindler, the new principal at St. Joseph School in Princeton
Kari Ford
Kari moves to the Catholic Schools Office from St. Benedict Cathedral School, where she served as principal from 2018 through the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year. She is a graduate of Evansville’s Holy Rosary School and Reitz Memorial High School. She earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education at the University of Southern Indiana, and a graduate degree in school leadership with a major in School Leadership and Administration, from Olivet Nazarene University.
Prior to serving as principal at St. Benedict Cathedral School, Kari served two years as principal of Rockport Elementary School. She also taught at Fairlawn Elementary School and Case Elementary School.
Kari said, “My education in the Diocese of Evansville began in kindergarten at Holy Rosary School and continued through graduation from Reitz Memorial High School. I enjoyed serving as the Principal at St. Benedict Cathedral School for the past 5 years. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to continue to grow professionally as the Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Evansville. I strongly believe in the value and importance of Catholic, faith-based education, and I look forward to supporting all of the schools within the Diocese of Evansville.”
Lynde Anquillare
Lynde served as principal of St. Joseph School in Princeton from 2021 through the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Southern Indiana with an undergraduate degree in elementary education, with a minor in mathematics. She earned a graduate degree in educational administration, with a strand in educational law, from Indiana University with a 4.0 grade-point average. She completed her student teaching at Holy Rosary School in Evansville, and taught sixth-grade math/math honors at Plaza Park International Prep Academy from 2018 to 2021.
Lynde said, “I am thrilled to move into my new position as the School Support Administrator for the Catholic Schools Office. I have been incredibly blessed in the past to work in an industry that I love, surrounded by incredibly supportive people; and luckily, in my new position, I get to continue that. I look forward to working in the Catholic Schools Office, and being an integral part of furthering the mission of our Catholic Schools.”
Jane Herrmann
Jane joins the Catholic Schools Office from St. Philip Parish in Posey County, where she served nine years as the cafeteria manager for St. Philip School. She also served seven years in school cafeterias in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation.
With direct support from Bishop Siegel and Chancellor Dean Happe, Michelle and the Catholic Schools Office staff spent most of the last school year researching best practices for assisting schools with the ever-growing and dynamic school-nutrition-program needs. The result is the appointment of Jane to work directly with 11 diocesan Catholic schools to manage their school-nutrition programs.
Jane graduated from North Posey High School and attended the University of Southern Indiana. She holds a Level 2 Certificate from the School Nutrition Association. She also has completed 13 courses through the Indiana School Nutrition Association.
Jane said, “When I first started working in a school cafeteria 16 years ago, I learned very quickly it was more than just preparing and serving the food to children. So much time has to be spent behind the scenes to meet government regulations. “I am excited about joining the Catholic Schools Office in this new position, which will allow me to support and assist the cafeterias so their efforts can be focused more on serving all our Catholic school children.”
Dominican Sister Catherine Stewart
Sister Catherine, a member of the Springfield, Illinois, Dominicans, has extensive teaching and administrative experience at the elementary, secondary and collegiate levels. She comes to Westside Catholic from Dubuque, Iowa, where she served as principal of St. Columbkille School. Her most recent appointment before St. Columbkille, she served as principal and taught at Father McCartan Memorial School in Marceline, Missouri. She has taught and served in administrative roles at elementary and secondary schools, and in colleges and universities, in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota.
Sister Catherine earned an undergraduate degree in music education from the University of St. Francis, a graduate degree in elementary education with a specialization in reading from the University of Illinois, an educational-specialist degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Sarasota. She also has completed a two-year program in spiritual direction from the Centerquest School of Spiritual Direction.
Sister Catherine said, “I am eager to get to know the staff, students and families at Westside Catholic and look forward to becoming a part of their warm, welcoming community.”
Andrea Greaney
Andrea returns to Corpus Christi, where she taught from 2013 until she joined the Catholic Schools Office staff in 2019 as Administrator of School Support Operations. She also taught at Evans Middle School, the University of Southern Indiana and Ivy Tech. In addition to her service in the Catholic Schools Office, Andrea gained administrative experience at USI, her alma mater; New Harmony School; and Consultants in Education.
She earned a degree in elementary education with an endorsement in middle-school math from USI, and a graduate degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University, where she also earned principal licensure.
Andrea said, “I am honored to accept the appointment as principal of Corpus Christi School, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me to lead the school. Corpus Christi Parish has been my home since I was a child, and I am eager to return to this faith-filled community. I am excited to work with the amazing students, families and staff of Corpus Christi School and Parish.”
Kelsey Meier
Kelsey moves to St. Joseph in the county from Westside Catholic, where she served 10 years as a teacher and administrator - most recently as principal from 2018 until the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year.
A graduate of Mater Dei High School in Evansville, she earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a graduate degree in school leadership and administration from the University of Southern Indiana. She began her career at St. Matthew School in Mount Vernon, where she taught from 2011 until joining the staff at Westside Catholic in 2013. Kelsey has served on the board of Marian Educational Outreach since 2021.
She said, “For the past 10 years, I have called Westside Catholic School home. It is hard to leave a school community that I love so much, but I am excited to start this new journey as the principal of Saint Joseph School. I look forward to forming new relationships with the students, families and staff, and I am eager to kick off a great school year! Go Bobcats!”
Laurie Schopmeyer
Laurie has served as a teacher at St. Benedict Cathedral School since 2010. She began her teaching career at Westside Catholic, teaching fourth grade for six years before serving five years as assistant principal. She served as a substitute teacher at Christ the King School in Evansville for five years before joining the staff at St. Benedict.
She earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education with a minor in reading and a special-education endorsement from Purdue University, and a graduate degree in elementary education with a reading minor from Indiana State University.
Laurie said, “I am excited about the opportunity to offer ongoing support to our St Benedict families in my new leadership position. Throughout my 24 years of teaching experience in elementary education within the Diocese of Evansville, I have been deeply committed to this community. Together with our dedicated leadership team, we are devoted to creating a stimulating environment that fosters intellectual and social development for our students. At St. Benedict School, we will continue to nurture their faith and provide a comprehensive curriculum that educates and shapes them holistically.”
Kassandra Spindler
Kassandra moves to St. Joseph School from Mount Vernon High School, where she taught and coached varsity sports for the past six years. She taught and coached at North Posey High School from 2013 until moving to Mount Vernon High School in 2017.
Kassandra is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Alcorn State University with an undergraduate degree in health and physical education. She earned a graduate degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University-Irvine and a doctorate in sports management from Troy University.
She said, “I am grateful for the wonderful opportunity to serve as principal at St. Joseph School. As a former teacher, I am excited to continue my passion in education and work with St. Joe teachers, students and families. Father Gary has established a great culture within the church and school, and I look forward to continuing to build upon what has been established.”