School Leadership Update

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Nativity of Our Lord,

We are excited to share an important update about the future leadership model at Nativity of Our Lord School, beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year. This change reflects our ongoing commitment to serving our children and families with excellence and care.

Our school serves over 700 students and has grown in complexity over recent years. It’s become clear that a single-principal model no longer best supports the daily needs of our students, parents, and teachers. We believe our children and parents can benefit from a more clearly defined, responsive, mission-driven leadership model to meet these ever-growing needs.

After careful planning, and in consultation with the Nativity School Advisory Council and members of our search committee, we’ve made the decision to move to a leadership model proven effective for schools of Nativity’s size and complexity. We appreciate their insights and wisdom through this search process. This structure will give students, parents, and teachers more direct access to school leaders and ensure the support our growing community needs. We're thrilled that two outstanding, experienced leaders will step into these roles — each deeply aligned with our mission and ready to serve our students, staff and parents.
 
We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Tami Lodge, currently Assistant Principal, will serve as Director of Middle School, overseeing grades 6–8. With years of experience as a middle school teacher and school leader at Nativity, Tami has helped shape many of the new and excellent academic and student programs our middle schoolers benefit from today. In her new role, she will guide our faculty, oversee programs, and ensure students are prepared — spiritually, personally, and academically — for high school and beyond.

We are also excited to welcome Mrs. Christine Spevacek as our new Director of Lower School, leading preschool through fifth grade. Christine brings over a decade of leadership in Catholic education, including six years as an assistant principal and most recently as an interim principal within our Archdiocese. She is known for her strengths in instructional leadership, curriculum development, and student support. Christine is eager to join the Nativity community and to embrace the tradition of excellence that defines Nativity School, while introducing new and innovative programs to our lower school. She begins on July 1, 2025.

Both Directors will report to Miss Kate Wollan, in her role as Head of School — responsible for the overall performance, community and culture, and Catholic identity of Nativity. After more than 20 years leading our school under a single-principal model, Kate will shift her focus from serving as the daily point person for students, parents, and staff to broader leadership: strategic planning, financial management and advancement efforts, strengthening our parish-school partnership and supporting our vision and mission.

At the same time, she’ll remain closely connected to school life. The Directors will become school families' primary contacts for daily questions, communication, and support — and the leaders our children will see and hear from most often. Kate will continue to coach and support our team and be fully present — on campus, in the hallways, and at the many programs in which our students shine.

We’re excited for this next chapter and confident it will strengthen our school community in meaningful ways. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

With gratitude to Jesus Christ Our Lord,
Fr. Rolf Tollefson, Pastor of Nativity of Our Lord
Kate Wollan, Principal of Nativity of Our Lord School