Shiner Catholic School is seeking a new principal for the 2025-26 school year after Principal Neely Yackel announced she will be leaving at the end of this current term.
“I’m leaving at the end of the school year and going into educational consulting. After 17 years of leading SCS, it’s definitely bittersweet,” Yackel told the Inquirer.
Yackel was first named principal of Shiner Catholic School (St. Ludmila Elementary School and St. Paul High School) in May 2010 by Father Bob Knippenberg, who at the time was pastor of SS. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church and School. At the time, she had been serving as the assistant principal for two years. She had 10 years teaching experience in the Gonzales Independent School District prior to that.
Under Yackel’s exemplary administrative guidance and support, Shiner Catholic Schools has excelled academically and in extracurricular activities while meeting its mission of Preparing the Children of God for the Kingdom of God.’
Yackel holds a Bachelor of Science Interdisciplinary Studies, specializing in Early Childhood Education from Southwest Texas State University, 1997 and a Master of Science in Education, specializing in Educational Leadership from Walden University, 2008. Yackel received her Pre-K through 12 Texas Principal’s Certification in 2009.
Shiner Catholic School is a pre-K 3 through 12th grade school with 301 students that was founded in 1897. There are 33 full-time and 9 part-time faculty and staff members employed at Shiner Catholic School. It operates under the auspices of the Diocese of Victoria Office of Catholic Schools.
In advertising the open position, the school notes its “well-deserved reputation for religiously faithful, academically challenging, and athletically competitive programs that benefit its students in significant and profound ways. Shiner Catholic School enjoys the strong support of generations of local residents who value Catholic education.”
“This a great opportunity for someone who loves Catholic education, is interested in partnering with families to form intentional disciples of Jesus Christ, and wants to help lead a wonderful school,” the school states in its advertisement for the principal position.
Interested candidates should complete the application packet and submit it along with their resume, letter of intent, and unofficial copies of college transcripts. Educational requirements for the job include holding a master's degree and having earned 18 hours of graduate credit in educational administration.
Applications can be found at https://www.victoriadiocese.org/employment-opportunities. Completed applications and accompanying documents should be submitted by mail to:
Diocese of Victoria Office of Catholic Schools, Attn: Mr. Robert Whitworth, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, P. O. Box 1070, Victoria, TX 77903.