The Diocese of Lincoln Catholic Schools has named Jeremy Ekeler as the new chief administrative officer of Pius X High School in Lincoln beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Ekeler is a 1997 Pius graduate and former teacher and coach at the school who currently serves as executive director of Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska.
“The excellence of Pius X High School is rooted in its community of faithful believers, all of whom are dedicated to its students,” Ekeler said. “I am humbled and honored to serve this community as its next chief administrative officer. Like so many committed to Pius, being a Thunderbolt is “in my blood” – I am a graduate, a former teacher and coach, volunteer, and parent of a current Bolt (as well as future Bolts).
“I am excited to welcome Jeremy Ekeler as CAO to Pius X High School,” said Fr. Lawrence Stoley, superintendent of the Diocese of Lincoln Catholic Schools. “Jeremy brings a wealth of experience as a teacher, administrator, and recent advocate for families in his work at Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska. I am confident in his leadership as CAO of Pius X directing students, parents, faculty and staff to ‘Seek first the Kingdom.’”
Ekeler will replace Tom Korta, who will continue to serve in that role through the end of the current academic year. Korta has led the Pius community with integrity for more than 30 years.
“I am truly grateful to Tom Korta for all he has given and continues to give to Pius X High School professionally, personally, and spiritually,” Fr. Stoley said. “Tom is a model of what a Christian gentleman exemplifies in every respect. We have all been enriched by his fine work at Pius X.”
“Tom — as a teacher, as a principal and as a CAO — was first and foremost a great witness to his knowledge and his love and his service of our Lord Jesus,” said Msgr. John Perkinton, who will continue his work in an advisory capacity to Pius X High School. “He has and continues to bring many to Christ, and after all, isn’t that the essence of Catholic schools?”
“We have so much to be grateful for in our Catholic community,” said Fr. Thomas Brouillette, vicar general of the Diocese of Lincoln. “I’m grateful for Mr. Korta’s loyalty and fidelity to the Pius Family during his long career and at this moment in time. And I’m grateful to Mr. Ekeler for his willingness to serve the Pius Family moving forward. His passion for Catholic education leadership is a gift and fruit of his calling as a disciple of Jesus.”
Fr. Brouillette, in addition to his role as vicar general of the Diocese of Lincoln, will also be involved as part of the Pius X leadership team and the Pius capital campaign. Fr. Brouillette served for 14 years as the chief administrative officer of Hastings Catholic Schools.
“I look forward to working with the current and future leadership of Pius and the Capital Campaign so that our students continue to learn how to offer their lives as a gift to others as Jesus Christ has done for us,” Fr. Brouillette said.
Ekeler has a long history with the Diocese of Lincoln and its Catholic schools. In addition to his previous work at Pius, he served for six years as the principal of the Cathedral of the Risen Christ PreK-8th grade school in Lincoln. In 2020, Ekeler left that position to become the associate director for education policy at the Nebraska Catholic Conference, where he worked to advance the mission of Catholic education and school choice through the Nebraska Legislature, the Nebraska Department of Education and the State Board of Education.
In his most recent role leading Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska, Ekeler has worked to empower parents to choose the best education options for their children through school tuition scholarships.
After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ekeler earned a master’s degree in education leadership and coached collegiate athletics at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. Back in Lincoln, he worked as a teacher and a coach at Pius X High School. He was also on the founding board of the Pius Athletic Hall of Fame.
Ekeler has served on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Federal Assistance Advisory Committee for Education and was a member of the University of Notre Dame Leader Summit. He has served on the Nebraska Special Education Advisory Committee, the Lincoln Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Advisory Board and Junior Achievement of Lincoln’s Board of Trustees.
Ekeler and his wife Susan have five children (Charlotte (15), Marion (14), Hank (11), Oliver (9), and Gianna (5)) and are members of Cathedral of the Risen Christ Parish in Lincoln.
“Since the announcement of my departure, the Pius X family has been praying for a replacement who is a faith-filled, visionary leader. Our prayers have been answered!” Tom Korta said. “I have known Jeremy as a student, colleague, fellow disciple and friend, and have always been impressed with his integrity and competence. It brings me great peace to know that the future of Pius X is in his capable hands.”
“I thank Mr. Tom Korta for his years of dedication to Pius; we will build upon his leadership and successes,” Ekeler added. “The blessings of Mr. Korta’s fidelity to the school and our friendship have created a strong foundation for what I hope will be a smooth transition.”
Pius X High School is a private, Catholic high school serving approximately 1,100 students in grades 9-12. There are more than 130 administrators, instructors, coaches and support staff employed at the school. Pius X’s mission includes “providing the best possible education in an authentic Catholic environment, preparing our students to transform the world for Christ.”
