Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education announces staffing changes

The archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education has made several staffing changes.

John Valenti has been named associate director of evangelization and faith formation.

Valenti most recently worked at Harcourt Religion Publishers and is the former director of religious education for Diocese of Jackson, Miss.

A native of St. Louis, he also served as a director of religious education and pastoral minister at parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Missouri and a master’s degree in religious studies from St. Louis University.

Valenti is currently studying for a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga.

Rob Rash has been named associate director of schools, administrative personnel and professional development.

Rash is the immediate past principal of Our Lady of Lourdes School in Indianapolis. He also served as principal of St. Simon School when that parish relocated to a new site further north in Indianapolis and built a new school building.

He has taught at Nativity and Our Lady of Lourdes schools as well as in the Indianapolis Public School system.

Rash earned a master’s degree in administration from Butler University and a bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana University.

Veronica (Roni) Wyld, the coordinator of the Special Religious Education (SPRED) Program since January 2005, is now full-time in the position.

Wyld has been involved in the development of the SPRED program in the archdiocese since 1998. Her training was through the SPRED Centers in Chicago and Oakland, Calif.

She has more than 20 years of experience working with special needs populations in schools and group homes, and also served as a Special Olympics coach.

Wyld’s educational background is in psychology, education and child development, and she is planning to pursue a master’s degree in lay ministry. 

Providence Sister Jeanne S. Hagelskamp has been named project coordinator of Phase II of the Cristo Rey High School Project.

Sister Jeanne taught math, physics and computer science at the former Ladywood and St. Agnes academies in Indianapolis and in Illinois.

She also worked as a curriculum director/principal in the Chicago area. Most recently, she taught in the Catholic Educational Leadership program and served as director of teacher education at the University of San Francisco (USF).

Sister Jeanne earned a doctorate in educational leadership at USF. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, a master’s degree in mathematics from Purdue University and a certificate of advanced studies in administration from National Louis University.

Cindy Clark, who has served as administrative assistant for Project Exceed and the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP), has been named office manager for OCE.

Formerly, Clark was a school secretary at St. Barnabas for eight years. She earned a degree in graphic design at Vincennes University. †