stint as director of community affairs for a CBS-affiliated television station in New Orleans. Ultimately, he has come to make his spiritual home in education, the field he finds the most personally rewarding and says best suits his own innate talents.
“It’s more important to me to be a Jesuit priest than to be in any particular job or place,” he says. “The priesthood is so much a part of me, I can’t imaging working in a situation where that doesn’t factor into my job on a daily basis.”
Father Jack has crisscrossed the U.S. in a progression of teaching and administrative positions, first as a religious studies teacher at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia and back at his old stomping grounds Loyola, Blakefield in Maryland, before moving on to St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, where he worked in constituent relations as a major gifts officer.
In addition to his ministerial duties, keeping the focus on the students is one of Father Jack’s most important ambitions at Brebeuf. “I do my own kind of outreach to get to know the students,” he says. “I’m not a stand-infront-of-the-school-and-wave-when-theycome-in guy. I like to work my way through the school and meet all the students on a
feel really good about Brebeuf and the kind of education we’re offering.” LOOKING FORWARD Within the scope of his new position as president of the school, Father Jack hopes to help Brebeuf maintain its strong identity as a Jesuit school while still being able to communicate the fact that students and families of all backgrounds are not only welcomed, but embraced. And in light of the school’s 50th anniversary, Father Jack has his own visions for its future. “I’d like to see us keep our competitive edge in academics, arts and athletics, and to continue
ABOUT CAMPUS
BREBEUF JESUIT’S ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP GREG VANSLAMBROOK, Principal On July 1, 2012, Greg VanSlambrook became the principal of Brebeuf Jesuit. Mr. VanSlambrook’s strengths, background, and experience made him the ideal candidate for the role. It has been a natural and efficient transition from his former role as VP of Academics. Mr. VanSlambrook has been at Brebeuf since 2004 and has served as an economics and history teacher, Social Studies Department Chair, Assistant Principal for Academics, and most recently as the Vice President for Academics. He coached Brebeuf ’s award-winning Fed Challenge and Economics Challenge teams, and he has been active in Brebeuf ’s retreat program. Prior to his time at Brebeuf, he taught at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio, and DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD. Mr. VanSlambrook holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, completed his teacher licensure at John Carroll University, and received an M.S. in Education Leadership from Indiana University.
DAN HYDE, Assistant Principal
“I consider myself very student-centered, and I like to think I go the extra mile for them.”
Dan Hyde became the Assistant Principal at Brebeuf Jesuit on July 1, 2012. Mr. Hyde is a seasoned professional who will bring talents and expertise to the role, as he has in the role of Brebeuf Jesuit Dean of Students since 2003. His career in education began as an English Teacher at Triton Central High School, and continued at Franklin Central and Roncalli High School. Mr. Hyde also served Franklin Central High School as the Assistant Principal. He has supported Brebeuf as a coach, retreat and Kairos leader, and spring break service trip chaperone.
From left to right: Sophomores Michael Vieth, Levante Bellamy and Olivia Malatestinic with Father Jack.
BRENDA ADAMS, Dean of Students From there, Father Jack went back to Loyola Blakefield, this time serving as the school’s president from 1998 to 2005, prior to moving to Los Angeles for two years to become the director of development for Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts at Loyola Marymount University. He returned to Baltimore once again in 2007 to serve as Assistant Director, and later director, of campus ministry at Loyola University Maryland. Father Jack finally arrived in Indianapolis to begin his term as president of Brebeuf Jesuit in July. A HIGHER CALLING Through his professional roles, Father Jack has come to realize that the ministry aspects of his work are the ones he feels most strongly about. 4 BYLI NES | Fall 2012
personal basis. That is a big priority for me. I consider myself very student-centered, and I like to think I go the extra mile for them.” To that end, Father Jack says the best advice he’s ever received was a basic version of the Jesuit educational principle to “meet people where they are.” “Although Brebeuf is a traditional Jesuit high school, we have such a non-traditional student body with kids from so many diverse backgrounds and home lives,” he explains. “I think the best thing we can do as educators is to challenge our students, to accept them, and to work with them for who they are, not who we think they need to be. I’ve had some of the most extraordinary conversations with students of all different faiths. That makes me
to evolve as a school community,” he says. “We will also continue to serve the larger Indy community; seek healthy, enriching ways to utilize new technology; and continue to discover who God is and how we relate to and develop a stronger relationship with Him.” Although he hasn’t had much opportunity yet to explore his new city, the feedback Father Jack’s gotten from the local community has assured him that he’s come to the right place. “Indianapolis has really rolled out the red carpet for me, and I like that everyone here seems to be connected somehow,” he says. “When I meet people and I mention I work at Brebeuf, their reactions are always so positive and glowing. It’s a much stronger reaction than at any other school I’ve worked in.”
Brenda Adams has been promoted to Dean of Students, replacing Dan Hyde. Prior to her five years of service at Brebeuf, she spent 15 years in Indianapolis Public Schools. Ms. Adams graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College with a degree in Secondary Education. She extends herself beyond her administrative role by serving as a coach, Kairos team leader, and mission trip leader. JEN LAMASTER, Director of Faculty Development At Brebeuf since 2008, Jen LaMaster has served since 2011 as Director of Faculty Development, maintaining duties in academic curriculum collaboration and faculty formation and evaluation alongside her other roles as Ed Tech Coordinator and Chair of Information and Media Services. Jen is also a national Planning Committee member for the JSEA’s Academic Assistant Principals and an International Colloquium for Jesuit Secondary Education representative. A 20-year education veteran in K-20, she has been a classroom teacher (Peoria, Bedford-North Lawrence, Bloomington South Public Schools), library media specialist (Indianapolis Public Schools), college administrator (Indiana University Bloomington) and instructor (Marian University). She earned her BS in Theatre/Speech Education from Bradley University (Peoria, Ill.) and her MS in Library Science from Indiana University (Bloomington). 5 BY LINES | Fall 2012