Bismarck Catholic school system names Vetter as president, Strinden as principal

BISMARCK, N.D. – Light of Christ Catholic Schools of Excellence (LOCCSE) has named Mr. Gerald Vetter president of the school system, Bishop of Bismarck David D. Kagan announced.

Mr. Matt Strinden has also been hired as principal of Cathedral of the Holy Spirit School in Bismarck.

Vetter has 24 years of experience in Catholic education as a teacher, state champion basketball coach and assistant principal. He received a master’s degree in educational leadership from North Dakota State University and most recently served as interim superintendent of LOCCSE.

“Gerald Vetter is a home-grown, award winning educator and administrator who, by his record, has shown his ability to achieve excellence in Catholic education,” Bishop Kagan commented. “In the brief period of transition, Gerald has excelled in managing the necessary elements of our Catholic School system as well as promoting the notably excellent Catholic education that our young people receive. I am delighted that he has accepted the position of president and I look forward to his continued effective leadership in the coming years.”

Strinden is a Grand Forks, N.D. native with a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of North Dakota. He has been involved in education in many facets throughout his career, including work as principal at Northwood Public School (Northwood, N.D.) for grades 7-12, state supervisor of technology education with the N.D. Department of Career and Technical Education, and director of teacher and school effectiveness for the N.D. Department of Public Instruction. Strinden plans to finish his doctoral degree in educational leadership from UND in December and is currently the national board president for the Technology Student Association (TSA) and is actively involved in STEM education, having also served as the STEM liaison for the department of public instruction.

“The hiring of Matt Strinden adds yet another highly-qualified individual with a passion for education to our impressive team of Light of Christ administrators in the Bismarck area,” Vetter said. “The recent advancement of Catholic education in Bismarck along with our city’s growth points to a bright future for our schools.”

Over 1,200 students are enrolled in the LOCCSE school system, making it the largest nonpublic school system in North Dakota. The system officially formed in 2012 when the four Catholic schools and five Catholic parishes in Bismarck joined to provide a unified Catholic education system. Today, LOCCSE consists of Cathedral of the Holy Spirit School, Saint Anne School, St. Mary’s Elementary School, St. Mary’s Central High School and the newly formed 7th and 8th Grade Academy.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Matthew Kurtz, [email protected].