July 25, 2014 - Cardinal Appoints Kathleen Power Mears Superintendent of Catholic Schools*

Braintree, MA (July 25, 2014) – Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley has appointed Kathleen Power Mears as Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Boston.  Mrs. Mears currently serves as Executive Director for Elementary Schools with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Elementary Schools Department. Her appointment is effective September 15, 2014.  
 
“Catholic education is a priority for the mission of the Church,” said Cardinal Seán.  “We are blessed that Mrs. Mears brings a record of innovation and significant professional accomplishments to her new role as Superintendent.  Also, she holds a deep personal belief in Catholic schools’ ability to help children realize their God-given potential.  We are pleased to welcome Mrs. Mears to the Archdiocese of Boston and are confident that our schools will be strengthened and achieve great success under her leadership.”        
 
Most Rev. Peter J. Uglietto, S.T.D., Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Boston, said, "Her passion for Catholic identity, experience in Catholic Schools and professional approach to all her endeavors has given Kathleen Power Mears a national reputation in Catholic Education. We are confident that she can build on the contribution of her predecessors and take us to a new level of service to the youth, parents and educators in the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. We are grateful to all who participated in this process, especially Cardinal Séan for his guidance and the members of the Search Committee for their tireless efforts to find the right person for this challenging position."
 
Mrs. Mears said, “I am honored and excited to begin work with all of the wonderful Catholic educators in the Archdiocese of Boston.  I want to thank Mary Moran and all the teachers, principals and administrators who have been serving the students and parents of the Archdiocese.  I also want to thank my colleagues at the National Catholic Educational Association who have supported and assisted me in preparation for this new chapter in my career.  I am blessed to be able to come to Boston and I am grateful to Cardinal Seán, for affording me with this wonderful opportunity to serve the church.”
 
Kathleen Power Mears   
 
A career educator, Mrs. Mears served as the assistant superintendent of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, prior to that as a principal, and a teacher, where she gained extensive experience in special education, public policy, school improvement programs, and professional development. She is a frequent lecturer at diocesan and local events all around the United States.  A graduate of Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Illinois, and Mrs. Mears earned her master’s degree from Butler University.  
 
A native of Illinois, she is married with two grown children.
 
Mary Moran and Catholic Schools Office Praised  
 
Bishop Uglietto thanked Mary Moran, Temporary Administrator for Catholic Schools for her steady and strong leadership during the search process for a new Superintendent.  “Mary Moran has been a gift to our Catholic schools these past many months and throughout her time of service to the Archdiocese of Boston.  Her presence, professionalism and expert leadership has maintained the great progress we are making across the Archdiocese in Catholic education.  She and her team are to be commended for all they continue to do for our students and in making our Catholic schools a model of excellence and faithful nourishment for other communities nationwide.”
 
Excellence in Catholic Education  
 
The Archdiocese represents the second-largest educational system in the Commonwealth, educating over 40,000 students in 119 schools during the 2013-2014 academic year.  These schools serve students from all 144 cities and towns in the Archdiocese and reflect the makeup of the local communities, particularly the racial and ethnic diversity of our cities.   
 
Excellent academic results are one of the true benefits of the investment in Catholic education. In a nurturing faith-filled environment, students learn and acquire the skills needed to succeed in an ever expanding global economy. Elementary school students score well above the national average at every grade level on standardized tests of reading, math, science, and social studies. Archdiocesan secondary schools rank among the best in the nation, offering an academically rigorous program, full complement of Advanced Placement courses, faith-based service opportunities, and art, cultural, and athletic programs.  They outperform state and national public school peers on the SAT with 96% of our Catholic secondary school graduates matriculating to college.
 
Much of this success is due to the nearly 4,000 dedicated teachers and principals in Archdiocesan Catholic schools.  It is a major priority of the Archdiocese to continue to recruit and retain high-quality teachers and school leaders who serve diverse populations throughout the Archdiocese.
 
Families within the Archdiocese are increasingly choosing Catholic schools for early childhood education. Since 2004 early childhood education enrollment increased by 26%.  Fifteen new early childhood education programs have opened since 2010, with another five scheduled to open in September 2014.
 
Facts  
 
1.119 Total Schools
a.80 Elementary Schools
b.30 Secondary Schools
c.7 Early Education Centers
d.2 Special Needs Schools
 
2.40,151 Total Students
a.23,960 Elementary School Students
b.15,629 Secondary School Students
c.423 Early Education Center Students
d.139 Special Needs School Students