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Diocese welcomes five new Catholic school administrators

Catholic Globe report

This year five new administrators will serve at the diocesan Catholic schools.

The new school leaders include: Cindy Edge, administrator at St. Mary School in Humboldt, Kimberly Graven, principal at Sacred Heart School in Boone; Maureen Lenz, principal at Pocahontas Catholic and half-time second grade teacher; Jackie Rahe, lead teacher at St. John School in Bancroft and Ervin Rowlands, 7-12 principal at St. Mary School in Storm Lake.

Cindy Edge
Prior to her new position at St. Mary’s, Edge had been a teacher there since 1999. She also worked at Sts. Peter and Paul School in West Bend for four years from 1990 to 1994 and St. Matthew’s School in Clare from 1987 to 1989.

“I am excited to be the administrator of St. Mary School,” she said. “I look forward to serving our students, families, staff and parishioners.”

Edge, a native of Livermore, said she looks forward to working more closely with all students and families.

“Serving in a Catholic school is vital to me because I value the importance of ministering to the needs of our children, families, staff members and parishioners,” said Edge, who graduated from Humboldt High School, earned a bachelors from Iowa State and master’s in educational leadership from the University of Dayton.

Edge and her husband, Keith, are the parents of three children: Kaleb, 22; Ben, 20 and Katie, 15.

Kimberly Graven
Prior to her new position in Boone, Graven was the associate director of choral activities at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids.

This native of Center Point, Iowa, earned her bachelor’s in vocal music with a minor in theater from Wartburg College and her master’s in educational leadership from Loras College.

“I am excited to get to continue my professional journey in a Catholic environment,” she said.

Graven, whose husband’s name is Cory, said she looks forward to the new challenge.

“I believe that Catholic education allows us to teach the total child,” she said. “Faith drives what we do in everyday lives and to be able to help form those ideas in our youth is such a blessing.”

Maureen Lenz
Lenz, a native of Pomeroy, brings a wealth of experience to this position having served at Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Fonda for 12 years, Rockwell City/Lytton Guidance TAG program for 10 years and as the assistant principal and in guidance for a year at Manson Northwest Webster.

“I am very excited about being principal at Pocahontas Catholic for the 2010-2011 school year,” she said. “We have a wonderful Catholic school family here, with dedicated teachers and staff and very generous benefactors.”

Lenz earned her bachelor’s from Briar Cliff in Sioux City and her master’s in guidance from Morningside. She is also a graduate of the Principals Academy.

She said that Pocahontas Catholic School is a wonderful place to learn the Gospel values of Jesus.

“It is very important to be part of preparing students for the future Catholic Church in Northwest Iowa,” she said. “I am fortunate to be part of this and also I take this task very seriously.”

Lenz is married to Deacon Bob Lenz, who is the diocesan outreach coordinator for retired priests. Their children and the children’s spouses are: Greg and Kristie Lenz, Doug and Ann Lenz, Sarah and Jim DePooter, Regina and Kevin Rau, Frances and Michael Pokorski. They also have 11 grandchildren.

Jackie Rahe
Rahe is no stranger to St. John’s as she has worked at the school since 1999.

“I am excited to begin a new journey in my educational career,” she said about her new role as the lead teacher. “I am happy to share my faith with my students.”

Rahe, a native of Bancroft, earned her bachelor’s from the University of Northern Iowa and is presently taking online classes through the University of Phoenix to obtain her master’s in administration.

She likes Catholic education because “people are able to profess and live out their religious beliefs. It is wonderful to go to Mass, pray and practice acts of service with your students at school.”

Rahe said it is a great experience to be able to watch students grow in their faith and learn about being Catholic.

“I am grateful for my family, school and parish, and diocesan support in helping me as I begin this position,” she said.

Rahe and her husband, Dean, have a 5-year-old daughter, Marissa.

Ervin Rowlands
Rowlands comes to St. Mary’s with about 35 years in the field of education. Most recently, from 1998 to 2010, he served as the superintendent and preK-6 principal of the Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District.

From 1988 to 1998 he served as Ruthven-Ayrshire’s 7-12 principal and for three years prior to that he was a social studies teacher there. His career in education began in 1976, teaching social studies and coaching for Everly Community School until 1985.

He said he is excited to work in the Catholic school system and with the students, families and staff at St. Mary’s.

Rowlands, a native of Ruthven, said it was important for him to serve in a Catholic school because it offered the opportunity “to work with the total student. The chance to have faith a part of the students educational program.”

Rowlands and his wife, Ann, are the parents of four grown children: Shane, Kelli, Katie and Andrew.

He earned his superintendent’s certification from Iowa State University, a master’s in administration from Northwest Missouri State University and a bachelor’s from Buena Vista University.