Good Shepherd Names Kristen Girten Principal
Father Zach Etienne, pastor of Evansville’s Good Shepherd Parish, has announced that Kristen Girten will replace the retiring Judy VanHoosier as principal of Good Shepherd Catholic School. VanHoosier, who has been on the Good Shepherd staff since 1975, has been the school’s principal for 18 years. Girten taught at Good Shepherd from August 2006 until she was named principal at Christ the King Catholic School (now Annunciation Catholic School’s Christ the King campus) in September 2013.
“As pastor, it is my privilege to again have the opportunity to work with Mrs. Girten at Good Shepherd Catholic School,” Father Etienne said. “She brings a strong Catholic, spiritual and professional background that will blend well with our Good Shepherd Catholic School staff, students, parents and newly adopted Mission Statement: ‘The mission of Good Shepherd Catholic School is to provide a Christ-centered education in which students grow in faith, knowledge, and service.’
“All of this will help us with a smooth transition at Good Shepherd Catholic School as Mrs. VanHoosier begins her retirement and new journey in life,” Father Etienne added. “Welcome home, Kristen.”
“I feel blessed to have worked with such a wonderful staff and community at Christ the King these past three years,” Girten said. I am looking forward to the many opportunities ahead for me at Good Shepherd Catholic School. Both of these schools are beautiful examples of the mission of our Diocesan Catholic schools. Please pray for both communities during this time of transition.”
“Mrs. Girten has been a tremendous gift to our campus at Christ the King,” said Father Alex Zenthoefer, pastor of Annunciation Parish. “She brought a great sense of faith that has helped us to remain focused on our mission of loving and forming every child that comes to us.”
Girten earned a B.S. in elementary education from the University of southern Indiana in 1993, and an M.S. in elementary education from USI in 2001. She completed USI’s School Leadership Program in 2013.
During her career with diocesan Catholic schools, which dates to 1995, she has served at St. Philip School in Posey County, and Holy Rosary, Good Shepherd and Christ the King schools in Evansville.
