ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA OFFICE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION ANNOUNCES NEW SUPERINTENDENTS
Friday, July 20, 2012
July 19, 2012
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office of Catholic Education announces Dr. Carol A. Cary as the new Superintendent of Secondary Schools and Ms. Jacqueline P. Coccia as the new Superintendent of Elementary Schools effective July 19, 2012. Dr. Cary and Ms. Coccia were chosen to lead the Archdiocese's 17 high schools and 123 elementary schools respectively through an exhaustive search process that included consultation from Dr. John DeFlaminis, Executive Director of the Penn Center for Educational Leadership, and Mr. Edward Hanway, Chairman of the Faith in the Future Foundation.
Dr. Cary, 57, brings more than 20 years of experience to her new role as Superintendent of Secondary Schools, in which she will oversee the education of over 16,000 students enrolled in Archdiocesan high schools. In addition to an extensive background in education, Dr. Cary has experience running a successful million dollar retail business. Prior to being named Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Dr. Cary was the Director of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development for almost five years in the Office of Catholic Education (OCE), where she was responsible for supervising the academic administrators and the curriculum committee members; identifying and implementing strategic initiatives resulting in student achievement gains, increased professional development and student-centered approaches to learning. Before joining OCE, Dr. Cary began her educational administration career in the Archdiocese in 2002 as Principal of Saint Anastasia Parish School in Newtown Square, Delaware County, where the school was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Dr. Cary holds a Pennsylvania Superintendent Certificate as well as a Doctoral Degree in Educational Administration.
Ms. Coccia, 47, enters her new role within the Office of Catholic Education with more than 13 years of experience in the Catholic education. She began her career at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Bridgeport, Montgomery County in 1999 and later went on to be Principal there as well as at Saint Denis Parish School in Havertown, Delaware County, before joining OCE administration as Director of Elementary Education where she has been the last two years. Ms. Coccia's responsibilities included coordinating strategic planning efforts for OCE and the Office of Catechetical Formation, assisting elementary school principals in the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, providing support to pastors, principals, teachers and parish and regional elementary schools and mentoring first-and second-year principals. Ms. Coccia holds a Pennsylvania certification in K-12 Administration, Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education as well as a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration.
"The Archdiocese of Philadelphia undertook an extensive, national search and looked to outside counsel to ensure that we selected candidates that best exemplify the skill-set needed to lead the students of the Archdiocese in the 21st century," said Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, who oversees Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. "Dr. Cary and Ms. Coccia have demonstrated their commitment to instructional innovation, academic excellence and Catholic values that are central to our schools, and the strongest possible future for Catholic education."
For more information about the schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia please visit www.catholicschools-phl.org/
