Most Worshipful Grand Master Jeffery P. Zaring

Jeffery P. Zaring, the 158th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana, is a native of Indianapolis and attended the Indianapolis Public Schools. His undergraduate and graduate studies were at Indiana University, Bloomington, and the Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis. While a law student, he was employed by the Indiana University Police Department and graduated from basic and advanced training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. His law enforcement training and experience led to employment with the Indiana Department of Education in 1977 as a consultant working with police school liaison programs. He subsequently served as Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and as Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction.

His current position is Chief of Staff and State Board of Education Administrator. He is a member of the cabinet of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, one of Indiana’s statewide elected officials, and serves as the executive director of the Indiana State Board of Education. His responsibilities include developing policy recommendations for the superintendent and board, testifying before legislative committees, and interpreting and explaining state education policies to educators, the media, and the public. He is a Past President of the National Council of State Board of Education Executives. He is responsible for implementing federal and state school accountability laws, and, in January 2003, he represented the State of Indiana at a White House ceremony recognizing Indiana's school accountability system as one of the first five state systems to be approved by the federal government.

The Grand Master was initiated in Brownsburg Lodge No. 241 in 1978 and served as Worshipful Master in 1983. During that same year, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Masonic Home. He also is a member of Calvin W. Prather Lodge No. 717. In 1998, Grand Master Robert E. Hancock, Jr., appointed him as Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge. He was appointed to the progressive Grand Lodge Officer line by Grand Master James L. Chesney in 2003 and regularly advanced until being installed as Grand Master on May 21, 2008.

A member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis since 1981, he regularly takes part in Scottish Rite degree work. He was named Honorary Member of the Indiana Consistory in 2003 and was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33°, in September 2004.

The Grand Master joined Murat Shrine in 1983 and, one year later, he learned to play the bagpipes as a member of the Murat Highlanders. He served as the 94th Potentate of Murat Temple in 2005.

Other Masonic memberships include the Prather York Rite bodies, Sahara Grotto, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Red Cross of Constantine, Royal Order of Scotland, York Rite College, National Sojourners, Yeomen of York, Allied Masonic Degrees, and Masonic Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis. The Grand Master is a 30-year member and Past Patron of Brownsburg Chapter No. 266, Order of the Eastern Star.

The Grand Master and Margie – his wife of 33 years – reside in Fishers with Murphy, their “Bassetdor Retriever.” Margie is a member of Brownsburg Chapter No. 266. She has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Women’s Committee of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the PEO Sisterhood. They attend First United Methodist Church in Noblesville.