Appointment of the next Principal Our Lady of Fatima parish school

May 9, 2025

Dear OLF Faculty, Staff, School Parents, and Parishioners,

With immense joy—and in the radiant light of the Holy Spirit, who has given the Church a new shepherd in Pope Leo XIV—I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Karianne Earnest as our next Principal Our Lady of Fatima parish school beginning with the next academic year.

Karianne comes to us with a rich background in Catholic education and a deep vocation to serve both Church and family. She previously served as Principal of Holy Spirit Catholic School in Pocatello, Idaho, and was a Teacher Leader at Holy Rosary Catholic School in Idaho Falls. She is a graduate of the National Catholic Education Association’s New Leader Academy and attended the 2023 NCEA national conference, furthering her professional growth as a Catholic school leader.

Additionally, Karianne holds advanced degrees in Educational Leadership and Elementary Education, but what is most inspiring is her witness as a Catholic wife and mother. Together with her husband, Joe, they are raising seven children. Her commitment to nurturing both the academic and spiritual development of young people is evident in every aspect of her vocation.

I am especially grateful to our Principal Search Committee and Parish Family Leadership Team for their thoughtful, prayerful, and thorough discernment. Their dedication made it possible to identify and secure such an outstanding candidate, and their work has blessed our parish school community greatly.

In this joyful time of renewed leadership in the universal Church, I invite you to join me in warmly welcoming Karianne and supporting her and her family with your prayers as she prepares to lead our school into a new chapter of mission and growth.

Let us give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ and Blessed Mother Mary who continue to guide and provide for us in so many wonderful ways.

In Christ,
Fr. Freitag
Pastor