News Post

Jade Spears has been named the director of mission integration at St. Joseph’s Academy. Spears has been at SJA for seven years, serving as a faculty member in the Theology and Social Studies departments, assistant campus minister/service coordinator and, most recently, campus minister. She is also a lay associate of the Congregation of St. Joseph. Associates are women and men who desire to live in union with God, with one another and with all creation. Associates are deeply engaged in living the Congregation’s mission of unity and inclusive love of God and the dear neighbor without distinction.

In Spears’ new role, she will be directed by the goals and objectives of SJA’s Faith Development Strategic Plan to lead the design and presentation of educational programs and processes for the formation of faculty, staff and school leadership rooted in the Gospel, the teachings of the Catholic Church and the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph. She will also work to integrate the Gospel, Catholic Church teachings and the charism and spirituality of the Sisters into all student offerings.

“In my time at SJA, I have had the great honor to learn and grow in the charism of the Congregation of St. Joseph, ‘that all may be one,’” Spears said. “My time with the Sisters led to my discernment of and eventual yes to the lay associate program. As a lay associate, I have pledged to live the charism at all times. It was a great privilege to be considered for the role of mission integration director, and I look forward to working with our community in a new way.”

In addition to her role as teacher, Spears has been deeply involved with SJA students, serving as moderator for the Liturgy Committee, sophomore class, Student Council and Student Ministry. SJA Principal Stacia Andricain said Spears is a leader both in and out of the classroom. “As a faculty member, Jade brings a wealth of knowledge for teaching, learning and the Catholic faith,” Andricain said. “Jade is always ready to help our students deepen their relationships with Christ and has chaperoned and led many mission trips, retreats, prayer services, morning rosary and adoration, to name just a few. Her time in the classroom, the campus ministry office and her vast understanding of the charism make her the right person to further the mission of the school and uphold the values of the Catholic Church. I look forward to her leadership in the faith development pillar of our school’s mission.” 

The importance of the school’s mission and Sisters’ charism as guiding forces for students, faculty and staff cannot be overstated, Spears said. “They give each of us the freedom to be the person God has called us to be,” she said. “It is my belief that the better our own understanding of the mission and charism, the more likely we are to live them out. Our goal is that the time spent here by students, faculty and staff leaves an indelible mark on the spirit of the person, so much so that the kitchen table spirituality of the Sisters and the influence of Ignatian and Salesian spiritualities are ingrained in everyday life.” 

Spears holds a bachelor of arts degree in history and religious studies and a master of art in teaching secondary education social studies, both from Louisiana State University. She loves Broadway and is an avid LSU football fan. She is currently studying French and enjoys spending time with family and friends. 

She said she looks forward to following in the words of the French Jesuit priest Father Marius Nepper, one of the Sisters’ most influential historians, in his Portrait of a Daughter of St. Joseph: “I strive to bring ‘eyes open, ears attentive, spirit alert and sleeves rolled up for ministry’ to everyone I encounter,” she said. 

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director