School Administrators
Jeremy Ekeler became the chief administrative officer of Pius X High School in 2025. A 1997 graduate of Pius X, he previously served as a teacher and coach at the school and most recently was the executive director of Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska. He also served as principal of Cathedral of the Risen Christ School for six years and was associate director for education policy at the Nebraska Catholic Conference. Ekeler earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his master’s in educational leadership while coaching at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. He has served on several local and national education committees and boards, including the USCCB’s Federal Assistance Advisory Committee and the Nebraska Special Education Advisory Committee. He and his wife, Susan, are members of Cathedral of the Risen Christ Parish and have five children.
Jennifer Tran became the principal of Pius X High School in 2025. She previously served as principal of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in Lincoln for four years and as assistant principal at St. Peter Catholic School. Tran taught English at Pius X from 2016 to 2019 and began her teaching career at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Lincoln. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education and her master’s in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Tran has served on numerous school leadership committees including school safety, crisis management, and strategic planning. She and her husband, Khoi, are members of Blessed Sacrament Parish and have three children.
Erin Masur became the assistant principal at Pius X High School in 2023. She grew up in Apple Valley, Minnesota, and attended Drake University to earn a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an endorsement in math and business in 2016. In 2021, she earned her Master’s in Education Administration from Concordia University. She had been a math teacher at Pius X High School for seven years and served one year as the school IEP and 504 accommodation plans coordinator. She and her husband are members of St. Joe’s Parish and have four children.
Josh Kirkwood became an assistant principal at Pius X High School in 2024 after serving as an assistant band director within the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln for two years. He grew up in Laramie, Wy. and attend the University of Northern Colorado to earn his Bachelor’s of Music Education K-12. Josh earned his Master’s in Educational Leadership in 2014 from the American College of Education and is finishing alternative principal licensure through Doane University. He has taught K-12 in his 19 years of education and has been privileged to open Mead High School (2009) and Soaring High PK-8 (2018) serving as performing arts department chair in both buildings. Josh, his wife and three children are active parishioners at St. Michael’s in Lincoln.
Jess Psota became the Director of Counseling at Pius X High School in 2025. She has served as a school counselor at Pius X since 2018, following eleven years as an English teacher at the school. Psota earned her Master’s of Education in School Counseling from Doane University in 2018. She has led several student-focused initiatives, including Link Crew, academic and behavioral intervention programs, standardized testing coordination, PLC development, and new student onboarding. A lifelong member of the Pius X community, she and her husband, Ryan—also a teacher and coach at Pius X—are committed to the school’s mission of faith and formation.
Trevor Johnson became the activities director at Pius X High School in 2025. A 2010 graduate of Pius X, Johnson returned to the school after serving as head men’s basketball coach at Buena Vista University for six seasons, where he also held roles as assistant director of athletic performance and assistant director of athletics. He previously coached at Johns Hopkins University and Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he was a member of the 2018 Division III National Championship team. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Nebraska Wesleyan in 2014 and a master’s degree in Management from Doane University in 2017. He was recognized in 2020 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches as one of the Top 30 Under 30 coaches.
Fr. Matthew Kovar, Administrator-in-Training
Fr. Kovar is in residence at North American Martyrs and has been pursuing a Master’s Degree in School Administration. He is teaching freshman at Pius X High School and has recently been assigned as part of the administration team. Fr. Kovar grew up on the outskirts of David City, with Appleton Assumption as his home parish. After graduating from Aquinas in 2013, he attended Wayne State College for 1 year before transferring to St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He has enjoyed his assignments at Blessed Sacrament in Lincoln, St. Patrick’s in McCook, and North American Martyrs. When he is not in school, Fr. Kovar enjoys reading, baking bread, tending to his house plant collection, and watching theatre productions.
Msgr. John Perkinton '75, Chancellor
Rev. Msgr. John Perkinton began as Chancellor to Pius X in 2022. He is the Superintendent of the Diocese of Lincoln Education Office, chaplain to the Marian Sisters, CAO of the Villa Marie School and Chairman of the Diocesan Building Commission.
