XCS Middle School Leadership Announcement
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MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCED FOR LASALLE & REGIS MIDDLE SCHOOLS
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PUBLISHED APRIL 26, 2024
Xavier Catholic Schools announce a shared administrative model for Regis Middle School and LaSalle Catholic Middle School starting with the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally, key personnel who will be serving in administrative-related roles in this new model have been identified.NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE MODEL:
Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, the administrative structure for LaSalle Catholic Middle School and Regis Middle School will transition to a shared principal-facilitator/associate principal model. One principal and one facilitator/associate principal will serve both middle schools with multiple staff members serving in administrative support roles. With the consolidation of LaSalle and Regis middle schools into a single location on the horizon as announced in December of 2023, this administrative model lends itself to effectively supporting the needs of students, faculty and staff. Additionally, the new model allows for continuity of middle school leadership and unified strategic planning leading up to the eventual consolidation of the two schools.
At this time, no location has been determined for the consolidated middle school. Once a location has been identified, a timetable for actual consolidation will be established.
ZECKSER, ALLARD NAMED PRINCIPAL, FACILITATOR/ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL:
Xavier Catholic Schools is excited to share that Zachary Zeckser, current Chief Administrator for LaSalle Catholic (Grades PK-8), will serve as Principal of both LaSalle Catholic Middle School and Regis Middle School. Amanda Allard, current Business teacher at Xavier High School, will serve as the Facilitator for both middle schools and will transition to the role of Associate Principal upon receiving her administrative licensure. Zeckser and Allard will then serve as the Principal and Associate Principal respectively for the new, consolidated middle school once it opens. Allard is currently on-track to obtain her evaluator’s license by next fall, with a program completion date in the next 12 months. Zeckser and Allard will split their time between both buildings; both schools will have either Mr. Zeckser or Mrs. Allard in their building throughout the course of an academic day, with the exception of normal meeting and professional development responsibilities. Zeckser and Allard will officially assume their new roles on July 1, 2024.
“We are excited to have Zach and Amanda serve in their new roles starting with the next school year,” states Chris McCarville, incoming President of Xavier Catholic Schools. “Not only are these two individuals stellar models of Christ for all they encounter, but they both exemplify what it means to be a servant-leader – possessing the ability to channel their unique gifts to maximize the positive impact they make for students and families. With a shared administrative responsibility and planned administrative support for both LaSalle and Regis Middle Schools, we gain traction and establish continuity for a smooth consolidation between these two schools when that time comes.”
Implementing a shared administrative model draws yet another parallel between the consolidation of Regis and LaSalle Middle Schools and the consolidation of Regis and LaSalle High Schools. Prior to the successful high school consolidation in 1998 to form Xavier High School, a Chief Administrator (Jeff Henderson) was appointed to oversee both LaSalle High School and Regis High School in the years leading up to Xavier’s opening.ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AT MIDDLE SCHOOLS:
Staff at both LaSalle Catholic Middle School and Regis Middle School have been identified to provide day-to-day administrative support in each building. These staff members are as follows:
LASALLE CATHOLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL:
- Monica Robinson: Robinson will continue to serve in her current capacity as Lead Teacher.
- Katherine Sterling: Sterling will continue to serve in her current capacity as School Counselor.
- Heather Williams: Williams will continue to serve as the Principal of LaSalle Catholic Elementary School (located on the LaSalle Catholic School campus) for Grades PK-4.
REGIS MIDDLE SCHOOL:
- Angie Cummings: Cummings will continue to serve in her current capacity as Lead Teacher/Campus Minister.
- John Gianforte: Gianforte will continue to serve in his current capacity as Intervention Specialist/Building Facilitator.
- Kayla Ruff: Ruff will continue to serve in her current capacity as School Counselor.
Earlier this spring, current Regis Middle School principal, Josh Gredys, announced his resignation from his position effective July 1, 2024 to pursue other opportunities.
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MEET OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERS!
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ZACHARY ZECKSER
Incoming Principal of Regis and LaSalle Catholic Middle Schools (and eventual Principal of the consolidated middle school)
Zachary Zeckser has served as the Chief Administrator of LaSalle Catholic School (formerly Holy Family School System) in Cedar Rapids since 2018. Since his arrival at LaSalle Catholic, Zeckser has implemented and cultivated a vibrant, Christ-centered vision which has fostered a school culture that focuses on a commitment to faith development, service, integrity, respect, and strong sense of community. Under Zecker’s leadership, LaSalle Catholic has grown its enrollment in grades PK-8 and established a learning environment that is safe, positive and caring in which students are prepared at appropriate academic levels to maximize achievement and growth.
During his career in education, Zeckser has regularly surpassed established fundraising/development goals, pioneered new brain-based model for Catholic education called Catholic IDEALS, served as an inspiring teacher and campus minister, created student clubs devoted to service, justice, and dignity; and has showcased his servant-leadership through presentations, youth work, and writing.
Prior to LaSalle Catholic, Zeckser served as Principal at St. Mark’s Catholic School in St. Paul, MN from 2013-2018 where he earned the Synergy and Leadership Exchange State School of Character Award (2016). He also led St. Mark’s to being named the recipient of the Hulafrog Most Loved Private School Award (2016). Before his time at St. Mark’s, Zeckser served as a teacher at St. Margaret School in St. Louis Park, MN.Zeckser holds a Masters in Education Administration from the University of Notre Dame and Masters in Catholic School Curriculum and Instruction from St. Mary’s University (Minneapolis). He earned his B.A. in Theology with minors in Catholic Studies and Peace & Justice Studies from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul) in 2000. Zeckser is a 1996 graduate of Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque, IA. Zachary and his wife, Laura, a Theology teacher and tennis coach at Xavier High School, have four children: Frederik (X24), Elizabeth (X26), Gemma (X26), and Johnny (X34).
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AMANDA ALLARD
Incoming Facilitator/Associate Principal of Regis and LaSalle Catholic Middle Schools (and eventual Associate Principal of the consolidated middle school)
Amanda Allard has served as a Business teacher at Xavier High School since 2020. During her time at Xavier, Allard has made an immense impact on student experience. Beyond her normal teaching role, Allard also serves as a Department Chair, advisor for Xavier’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter, and serves as Dean of one of Xavier’s five student communities by virtue of her leadership, vision, and dedication to amplifying Catholicity in student life. Allard was also instrumental in launching the “Saints Shop” course in which students gain real-world business experience by operating and marketing Xavier’s school store, the Saints Shop.
Prior to her time at Xavier, Allard spent eight years as a middle school Business teacher in the College Community School District and brings a total of 18 years of instructional experience with her to her new role.
From 2017 - 2020, Allard served as a committee member on the Grant Wood Area Education Agency Regional Planning Partnership Committee, where she was a co-leader of the committee’s business council. Outside of education, Allard has also served as a production director, copywriter, radio personality, and account executive for KHAK/KRNA/KDAT Radio in Cedar Rapids where she amassed key experience to share with students through her eventual profession in education.
Allard earned her Masters in Teaching (with endorsements in Grades 5-12 Business-All/Marketing Management; Computer Science; and Multi Occupations) from Ashford University (Clinton, IA) and her B.A. in Marketing Management from the University of Northern Iowa in 2001. Amanda and her husband, Chad, the Director of Bands at Xavier High School, have two children: Ben (X26) and Katie (X28).
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CONSOLIDATED MIDDLE SCHOOL TIMELINE
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- February 2023: A 27-person exploratory committee composed of pastors, administrators, and parish/school representatives begins an investigative process to determine whether or not it was in the long-term best interest for the metro Catholic middle schools to remain independent or become consolidated.
- Summer 2023: A recommendation that the Catholic middle schools serving the metro area should be consolidated was presented to leadership of metro Catholic parishes. A recommendation from a separate task force was also presented citing that all metro Catholic schools should become a formalized system (the schools have been operating under the Xavier Catholic Schools branding since 2013).
- November 2023: Pastors of metro Catholic parishes collaborated and discerned the recommendation, arriving at a consensus to move forward with middle school consolidation. It was determined that St. Joseph’s School in Marion will remain a PK-8 building for a minimum of five years, at which time system needs will be reassessed. Pastors also arrived at a consensus to move forward with becoming a formalized school system.
- Winter/Spring 2024: A Middle School location feasibility study committee is formed and begins to meet regularly. This group is tasked with studying the options and providing a recommendation for a consolidated middle school for 6-8th graders from the current LaSalle and Regis sites. This committee will continue to meet regularly this spring until a report is completed and a recommendation is made.
- Summer 2024: A recommendation regarding a consolidated middle school location will be made to the newly-established Xavier Catholic Schools School Board (which begins to govern in its official capacity on July 1, 2024). Next steps will be determined by the XCS School Board at that time.
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