Notre Dame will be seeing a shift in leadership next year as Mr. Matthew Shultz steps into the role of Associate Principal of Academic Affairs, a position aimed at strengthening both student achievement and instructional quality across the school. 

In his new role, Schultz will oversee a wide range of academic responsibilities, including curriculum development, scheduling and professional development for teachers. 

He will also work closely with faculty by mentoring educators, addressing classroom needs and incorporating teacher feedback to improve instruction.

“My goal is to support both teachers and students in a way that leads to academic growth,” said Shultz, currently a history teacher and IB coordinator.

Schultz will also play a direct role in student support, mentoring students, observing classrooms and communicating with families when students may be struggling. 

“If a student is having difficulty, it’s important that we step in and work together because every student deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential,” he said. 

This hands-on approach reflects NDA’s broader goal of ensuring that students receive both academic guidance and the attention they need. 

While Schultz will focus on academics, Assistant Principal Greg Masarik will continue to lead efforts related to student discipline and oversee student security meetings. 

Both administrators will collaborate with Student Services and assist Principal Hearden with additional responsibilities, reinforcing a shared leadership model within the school. 

Shultz brings prior leadership experience to the role. 

He served as interim principal for six months during a leadership transition when the school required immediate administrative support. 

His familiarity with NDA’s academic environment and leadership demands positions him well for this expanded role. 

The position of Associate Principal of Academic Affairs is not entirely new to NDA, as it existed when Shultz was a student here. 

However, school leadership is now working to redefine and improve the role to better meet the evolving needs of both staff and students.  

“We’re still shaping what this position can be,” said Shultz. 

Additional academic changes include staffing flexibility within the IB program.  Mr. Adam Rudar will be the new IB coordinator, and Mr. Greg Geiser is set to teach IB History. 

Other history teachers are IB-trained, including Mr. Steve Stary, Mrs. JulieCampbell and Mr. Rudar, who is available to assist if needed.