December 9, 2021

Dear Members of the John Paul II Cardinal Community,

The Board of Directors is pleased and excited to announce the appointment of Chad Evans as John Paul II’s new president, effective January 3, 2022.   With more than 25 years of experience in education, Chad is joining us from Prince of Peace Catholic School where he is currently serving as President.  At Prince of Peace, his leadership has touched all areas of the school including curriculum development, strategic planning, enrollment, financial sustainability and faculty professional development.  Chad and his team’s leadership has led to a student retention rate of 95% over the past nine years, a strong sign that families find what they are looking for in a school.  Additionally, he has played a significant role in raising 20 million dollars for Prince of Peace’s capital campaign. 

Chad is no stranger to John Paul II High School having been a member of the faculty and head basketball coach from 2008 through 2012.  A seasoned and accomplished Catholic School leader, he is a respected member of the Diocese of Dallas school community.  He is a mature, articulate individual who is confident in his calling as a faith and school leader.  His eyes light up when he shares his faith, his commitment to being a faith role model to young people, and his joy in leading a regular Bible study for faculty and staff.  As a former faculty member of John Paul II and current President of Prince of Peace, he knows firsthand the life-changing work happening at John Paul II. Indeed, it was during his four years teaching at John Paul II that he made a commitment to Catholic school leadership. He accepted an opportunity to join the administrative staff at Prince of Peace Catholic School and served as Principal from 2012 to 2016 until he was appointed President in 2017 in a transition to the President/Principal governance model.

Chad earned a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of North Texas and a Master of Catholic School Leadership Degree from the University of Dallas. He is in the beginning stages of the Diaconate formation program in the Dallas Diocese and aspires to the Diaconate by 2027. A native Texan, he has been married to his wife Tara for 26 years.  They have one daughter, Sara.

This appointment is the culmination of an intensive and inclusive national search process supported by Carney, Sandoe & Associates, which involved representation from the entire school community over the last six months.  Through discussions and the involvement of parents, students, faculty, administration, alumnae, and the Board of Directors and hundreds of responses to the Online Search Survey, you expressed your hopes for the next president: someone who will be a powerfully visible presence in the community; a thoughtful and compassionate listener with a strong love of young people and the ability to steward and mentor our outstanding faculty; an approachable leader with a passion for educational excellence; and a drive for continued excellence and innovation in everything we do.  

The Board of Directors thanks the entire John Paul II community for your prayers, engagement, support, and guidance in this search process.  

David Bender

Steve Cunningham

Brent Dau

Kathy Muhlenpoh

Barry Schliesmann

Mary Templeton

Matt Vereecke

Dan Walsh

Ex officio

Cecilia Colbert

The Most Reverend Gregory Kelly, Auxiliary Bishop Catholic Diocese of Dallas