The Diocese of St. Petersburg announces the appointment of Chris Pastura as Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Centers. Pastura comes to the diocese from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, where he has served as Assistant Superintendent: Director of School Strategic Planning since 2011.

Pastura holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration degree from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Educational Administration degree from Xavier University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Xavier University. His experience includes work as a high school principal, assistant principal, lay missionary and theology teacher.

Pastura will officially take leadership of the Catholic Schools and Centers for the diocese in October. The position had previously been held by Dr. Alberto Vasquez-Matos, who left the diocese in June to become Chief of Staff for Hillsborough County Public Schools. Pastura was selected after a nationwide search for superintendent which was coordinated by a committee of diocesan administrators and current and former Office of Schools and Centers personnel.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg includes 45 schools and centers and 11,000 students throughout five Florida counties.