Schools
All Saints Catholic School Principal Jan Heuman Leaving For New Post
Jan Heuman, who has been All Saints principal for 12 years, will become principal of Oakdale's Transfiguration Catholic School in June.
Jan Heuman will be leaving in June to pursue a similar post with Oakdale-based Transfiguration Catholic School.
Heuman, who has been with All Saints for 12 years, will replace Transfiguration's retiring Principal Ted Zarembski.
“It just seemed like the right time to look for new challenges and start a new journey,” she said.
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Heuman started her career as a religion and music teacher at St. Luke School in St. Paul in 1969, and held similar positions at other catholic schools in the Twin Cities until taking her current job at All Saints Catholic School in 1999, according to her resume.
At 66, Zarembski said it’s time to retire from Transfiguration, and he said he’s comfortable leaving the school where he’s been for more than three decades in the hands of Heuman. The move becomes effective June 15.
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“She has a very nice, outstanding reputation,” he said. “Change is good.”
Heuman also cited the value in change, saying that’s why she sought the new job after being principal in Lakeville for 12 years.
Transfiguration Rev. William Baer said Heuman brings the school experience, as well as creativity to the school, which were all demonstrated at her time at All Saints.
“She has an outstanding record of keeping in touch on a weekly basis with parents and also with staff, and also with others in the community,” Baer said.
Heuman said respect for all students is key to her leadership style.
“I love the students and that’s one of the things I love the most about my job as a principal—that I get 360 students, instead of a class of just 25,” she said. “I want the students to feel like they really want to be there and like people care about them.”
She also highly values collaboration and partnership, she said.
“I really believe in listening a lot—listening to the parents, listening to the teachers.”
Heuman said she’s still learning about Transfiguration, and the curriculum, but she said the Catholic emphasis and grade levels offered are the same as those at her current school.
She said it’s too soon to tell what she might change about the school.
“Change takes awhile,” she said.
