Meet our new PSD Executive Director of School Administration.

XAVRIA SCHWARZ TO SERVE AS PSD

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

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The Pacific Southwest District is pleased to announce that Xavria Schwarz has accepted the invitation to serve as Executive Director of School Administration. A multi-month search process was conducted by an outstanding group of PSD Educators and Staff (Listed below). The search was necessitated by the retirement announcement of Mrs. Rachel Klitzing, who faithfully served the Pacific Southwest District as Executive Director of Schools for over 28 years. Xavria will begin her work on June 23 and Rachel will conclude at the end of July. Xavria will serve alongside fellow PSD School Executive, Mrs. Eun Chu Kim, Superintendent of School Innovation. The PSD Board of Directors will extend a Divine Call to Xavria at its May 15, 2025, meeting. Please join us in welcoming Xavria to the PSD Executive Team!

Meet Xavria Schwarz

Xavria Schwarz earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, a teaching credential, and a Lutheran teaching certificate from Concordia University, Irvine. She subsequently completed a master’s degree in educational administration and obtained her Administrator’s Certificate from Heritage University. She began her career at Bethlehem Lutheran School in Kennewick, Washington, where she served four years as a fourth-grade teacher, girls’ basketball coach, and confirmation coordinator. Since 2000, she has dedicated twenty-five years to serving as the principal at Christ Lutheran Church and School in La Mesa, CA.  

Xavria has had the opportunity to serve the Pacific Southwest District through her work on the Lutheran Educators Conference Committee, Administrators Conference Committee, Region 5 Principals’ Chair, Consultancy Teams, Accreditation Commission, CoachNet Training, WASC/NLSA Visiting Teams, and serving on Concordia University, Irvine’s Board of Regents and Chair of CUI’s Enrollment and Student Experience Committee.  

Xavria is passionate about Lutheran education and creating a positive school culture where teachers and students thrive. She has been privileged to lead talented, devoted, and fun teams and serve with supportive and excellent pastors and church staff. Through many ministry experiences, the Lord has prepared Xav to consider and accept this new call to the Executive Director of School Administration for the Pacific Southwest District. She is excited to partner with Eun Chu and the other executive team members in the district’s mission to resource and equip churches and schools to transform lives and make the Great Commission real!  

Xavria and her husband, Keith Yost (the GM of Human Resources for Kyocera), have been married for twenty-six years and reside in San Diego, CA. Their daughter, Leah, is a freshman at Concordia–Irvine, and their son, Jonah, is a high school sophomore. They are active members of Christ Lutheran Church – La Mesa, CA, and have been blessed by a beautiful community of family and friends that the Lord has given them in every stage of their ministry.  

Seach Committee

Dr. Cari Chittick (Director of Lutheran Teaching Programs, CUI), Dr. Mary Scott (Executive Director/CEO of Orange Lutheran High School); Dr. Mary Fink (Principal, Bethany, Long Beach), Laura Bredehoft (DCE, St. Paul, San Diego), Jon Doyle (Principal, Christ, Phoenix), Laura Rusch (PSD BoD and Educator), Bonnie Sanchez (Principal, Victory, Chula Vista), Emily Martinez (Preschool Director, Christ, Costa Mesa), Rev. Michael Hall (Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church and School, Lancaster), Dr. Jonathan Laabs (Director, LEA, Chicago), Jon Niederbrach (PSD COO), Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson (PSD DP).