WATERLOO - A longtime teacher will be the new principal at St. Edward School.

Along with that experience, Pam Schowalter is bringing an enthusiasm for Catholic education to the job.

"I wanted to be in a parochial system," said Schowalter, who has taught at Regis Middle School in Cedar Rapids for the last seven years. "I started in the parochial system when I was in first grade, and I went all the way through."

Russ Heiple, president of the Cedar Valley Catholic Schools Board of Education, said Schowalter was one of three candidates interviewed by the search committee at the end of April, adding that she was their top choice.

Heiple said the committee "made the recommendation based on her energy, her history in education, what they felt was her fit in the St. Ed's community and her strong communication skills."

She "has a proven ability to provide leadership in curriculum design and school operations," added Cathy Walz, St. Edward's outgoing principal and the Waterloo system's education director. "We just thought that her experience and enthusiasm would be a great fit."

Walz is relocating to the Cedar Rapids-Marion area with her family. Currently, both positions she fills are half-time jobs. Schowalter's job and a new education director will each be full-time positions.

Schowalter, 45, has been a teacher for more than 20 years. She earned a specialists degree in educational administration from Drake University two years ago. Currently, she is working on a doctorate at the university.

The Massachusetts native earned two bachelor's degrees from North Adams State College and separate masters degrees in early childhood education and elementary education from Wheelock College. Schowalter started her teaching career in public schools, having taught at middle schools in Westwood, Mass., St. Cloud, Fla., and Keene N. H.

After meeting her husband, Dave, in Cedar Rapids, she relocated to Iowa, where her career took a turn toward Catholic education. The couple have a son in middle school, and Dave has two adult children. At least initially, she will commute from Cedar Rapids.

Schowalter, who will start at St. Edward on July 1, said she will bring several goals to her first job as a principal.

"One of the things is making St. Edward's a bigger part of the community, working with individual teachers on their professional goals and then working with students - not only for their test scores but to make them well-rounded in their spirituality," she said.

Officials say they hope to fill the CVCS education director position and the Sacred Heart School principal position soon. Sacred Heart Principal Roger Ahrens is retiring.

"I would say we're hoping to wrap those up also within the next week, week-and-a-half," Heiple said.

Contact Andrew Wind

at (319) 291-1507 or

andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.