Three diocesan schools to be led by new administrators

August 17, 2006

Three Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City will be led by new administrators this year. While these individuals are new these particular positions, they are not new to Catholic education.

Marilyn Blum was named the new principal of Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City in May. She is the first woman principal in Heelan's history.

"Bishop Heelan has rich traditions in excellent academics, high standards and expectations, and service to others. My goal is to keep building on these traditions, so every student who is fortunate to go through Bishop Heelan High School experiences them," she said.

Blum, a graduate of Heelan, earned her bachelor's degree from Briar Cliff University in 1970 and master's in elementary and secondary administration from Clarke College in 1999.

She has 30 years of experience in the field of education, teaching preschool through twelfth grade. Blum spent 15 years teaching within the Catholic Schools of Sioux City and has served every grade school - Holy Cross, Mater Dei and Sacred Heart - in some way. After serving as the technology coordinator for the system in 2000, she was named principal at Sacred Heart for three years. In 2004, she became principal of Mater Dei School.

Earlier this month Father Patrick Walsh, president of the Catholic Schools of Sioux City, announced that Carol Happe will serve as interim principal at Mater Dei School. She succeeds Blum, who is the new Bishop Heelan principal.

Happe had served as head teacher at Mater Dei School in Sioux City since 1995. Prior to that position she taught various grades within Catholic schools since 1971.

"I am so pleased to be able to help guide a new leadership team at Mater Dei. All our teachers and staff are very dedicated to the mission of Catholic education and with the strong support from the parents and the Catholic community, the future looks so bright," said Happe.

A 1966 graduate of Heelan, she earned her master's degree in Catholic school administration from Clarke College.

Bev Mach has been named principal of fifth to twelfth grades for St. Mary's School in Storm Lake. She previously served as an elementary teacher and guidance counselor at St. Mary's. Mach comes back to St. Mary's after serving for three years as a preK-7 counselor for the Alta School System.

"Through my counseling positions, it's almost a natural step to move into administration," she noted. "I will enjoy the leadership component of the job."

Mach has a bachelor's degree from Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S.D. and a master's from Buena Vista University in school counseling as well as her administrators' endorsement from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

"I'm thrilled - it's so neat to be here again," said Mach of her return to Storm Lake. "I'm overwhelmed with the support that's been shown already."