Notre Dame High School announces new leadership hires

In a move that reflects a new strategic direction for Catholic education in the Chattanooga region, Notre Dame High School is excited to announce the appointment of two new school leaders with proven success in their respective roles.

On July 1, Kyle Schmitt became president of Notre Dame High School. Mr. Schmitt succeeds George Valadie, who announced his retirement in January after eight years in that position.

“Bishop Richard Stika and I are thrilled to have Kyle as our new president,” said Dr. Sedonna Prater, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Knoxville. “This is an important position and Kyle stood out among all of the candidates we interviewed. His background in education, his leadership skills, and a fresh approach in dealing with complex Catholic educational issues made him the right choice for us."

Mr. Schmitt has extensive experience in education and was most recently the principal of St. Francis de Sales School in Lake Zurich, Ill., a position he held from 2017-2021.

Laura Swenson has been named the new principal of Notre Dame.

Mrs. Swenson joined the NDHS faculty in 2019 as the dean of academic affairs. During the past two years, she has established herself as a professional educator and has earned the respect of the NDHS and Chattanooga communities.

“The president-principal model is new at Notre Dame,” Dr. Pater said. “This is a move that reflects our commitment to expanding opportunities for Catholic education in the Chattanooga region and it will pave the way for the expected growth of our schools in the future.”

“This collaborative leadership model will allow Mr. Schmitt to focus on some of the very critical external responsibilities we anticipate including public outreach, development, marketing, and strategic planning. Mrs. Swenson has extensive experience as an academician and administrator and will focus on the internal components at Notre Dame.”

The 2021-22 academic year at Notre Dame begins on Aug. 5.