By Anne Marie Amacher
DAVENPORT — Getting to know students and their families and supporting parish communities is the goal of Jeanne Von Feldt, the new principal of All Saints Catholic School.
Although she didn’t officially begin at All Saints until Aug. 1, Von Feldt spent the entire week before getting to know the staff at the school and settling into her new office.
“I’m very excited to be here,” Von Feldt said from her office recently. “I have a passion for Catholic education.” She attended Catholic schools and wants to give back to the Catholic community.
She has taught in the classroom, served as a principal, was a staff development faculty advisor, and worked with at-risk students while in Wisconsin. For the past five years she was the assistant principal at Regina Elementary in Iowa City.
“Catholic schools formed me and I really want to work for Catholic schools.”
Throughout her first year, Von Feldt plans to meet students and families and make a presence in the three parishes the school represents. “I invited anyone from any parish to come visit us and take a tour. Our doors are always open. We will welcome you anytime.”
She said All Saints staff has been very welcoming.
She took a tour of Assumption High School in Davenport on July 28 to learn about the Catholic high school. “I want to encourage families to continue their children’s education at Assumption.”
Trish Rolfstad, president of the All Saints Catholic School Board, said the members are excited to have Von Feldt leading the school. “We hired Jeanne because of her enthusiasm for Catholic education, her wonderful experience and leadership at Regina, and her strong Catholic faith. She will work hard to bring our families together.
“Much like Regina, we have families from several parishes. Jeanne understands and appreciates the strengths at All Saints — our fabulous staff and our incredible diversity.”
Rolfstad said she is confident that Von Feldt will build strong relationships in the community, develop All Saints’ partnerships with Assumption High School and St. Ambrose University and convey the message that All Saints is a unique and special school where kids “are getting an awesome Catholic education.”
Von Feldt is relocating to the Quad-City area with her husband Ed, a retired public high school principal. The couple has two grown children and two grandchildren in the Chicago area.