by The Archdiocese of New York, Office of the Superintendent of Schools

[MANHATTAN, January 9, 2019] – His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, has announced the formation of a search committee to begin the process of naming a new Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of New York. The current superintendent, Dr. Timothy J. McNiff, recently announced that he will retire from his position in April 2019 to return to Virginia to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren. Upon Dr. McNiff’s departure, Deputy Superintendent, Mr. Michael Deegan will assume the position of Interim Superintendent until the search is completed and a new superintendent has been installed. 

The Committee brings together people with expertise in various facets of the fields of Catholic education, the needs of the divergent communities the Archdiocese serves, and overall educational administration. Cardinal Dolan is grateful for those who have accepted his request to serve the Church and the greater New York community in this important task.  

In order to conduct a thorough, efficient search, the committee has retained the services of Partners in Mission, a Massachusetts-based consulting firm focused on developing excellence in Catholic school advancement and leadership. Founder Larry Furey will lead the Partners in Mission team.  

The Committee will be chaired by Mr. Jay Spach who has more than 20 years of experience in organizational development. As part of his career at The Thompson Corporation, he supported the cultural transformation and reorganization of 150 newspapers across North America in the 1990s.  In the mid-2000s he transformed the HR and finance functions of Thompson. When the corporation acquired Reuters in 2008, Mr. Spach became Senior Vice President of Organizational Development. In this role, he orchestrated the successful global integration of two unique business cultures. Now, he uses these experiences to benefit a wide array of clients through his own business, Jay Spach Consulting. 

Applications will be accepted through early March, 2019 with semi-finalist interviews to be held in April. Finalists will be selected and recommendations sent to Cardinal Dolan in mid-May. 

Interested parties should submit a resume with cover letter and statement of philosophy of Catholic Education to [email protected] with ArchNY in the subject line. 

Additional members of the Superintendent of Catholic Schools Search Committee include:   
Staff Members
Mr. Michael J. Deegan, Deputy Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Michael J. Deegan has served the Church in Catholic education for over forty years.  He has taught at every level from elementary school through college and was a Catholic school principal for twenty years.  In 2004, Michael was appointed Director of Inner City Schools by Cardinal Edward Egan, has held the position of Associate Superintendent for Urban Education and currently serves as Deputy Superintendent. His recent duties have included working closely with the elementary schools organized in the Global Regional School System (GRSS), serving as a liaison to the nine regional boards as well as providing oversight to the GRSS Treasury, Enrollment, Tuition, and System Management Offices.  Despite his many accomplishments, Michael simply refers to himself as a Catholic school teacher, according to him, one of the most important ministries in the Church. Michael Deegan is happily married to his wife of 27 years, Angela, who is principal of St. Francis Xavier School in the Bronx.  

Dr. Noelle Beale, Regional Superintendent, Catholic School Region of Central Westchester
Dr. Noelle Beale has served the Archdiocese of New York since 1996, beginning her career as a teacher at Immaculate Conception School in Tuckahoe.  After completing five years of teaching, Dr. Beale began her role in school leadership as the Assistant Principal of Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers where she remained until September 2005 when she appointed principal of Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Manhattan.  Dr. Beale returned to Westchester in September 2012 when she was appointed Regional Superintendent of the Central Westchester Catholic School Region.  In addition to her work in the Archdiocese of New York, Dr. Beale serves as an adjunct professor at Manhattan College and at Fordham University in the Graduate School of Education. Dr. Beale’s areas of expertise is school leadership, instructional leadership and supervision.   Dr. Beale earned her doctorate in educational leadership, administration and policy at Fordham University. She earned a master’s degree in education as well as a professional diploma in advanced leadership studies from Manhattan College, and a bachelor’s degree in theology with a concentration in English literature from Fordham University. 

Ms. Maureen McElduff, Former Principal, currently Educational Consultant
In her many years as a Catholic educator, Maureen McElduff readily accepted increasingly influential leadership roles, serving as a teacher and principal in the Archdiocese of New York. When a vacancy occurred in a regional superintendent’s position in the Bronx, Maureen graciously served in an interim capacity to provide continuity through the end of a school year.  Her years of experience as a principal have channeled into support for the next generation of Catholic school leaders.  Recently, Maureen transitioned to a role of coaching and mentorship, as well as project management throughout Archdiocese’s school system, helping strengthen and advance the leadership and initiatives that make our schools so valuable. 

Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
Sr. Catherine Rose Quigley received a Bachelor of Science in Education from St. Thomas Aquinas College, a Master of Science in Education from Hunter College, and the Administration and Supervision program at Manhattan College. On September 8, 1961, she entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary, Sparkill, New York. In September 1965 she was assigned to teach first grade at St. John Chrysostom School in the Bronx. In 1984, Sr. Catherine Rose Quigley was elected to membership on the Executive Team of the Dominican Sisters. She was corporate secretary and participated in the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and Archdiocesan Conference of Women Religious. In 1992, Sr. Catherine Rose accepted the invitation to join the staff at St. Elizabeth’s Elementary School in Washington Heights as librarian. Since September 1995, Sr. Catherine Rose lived out the Dominican Sisters’ mission of education at Aquinas High School, first as assistant principal and since 2000 as principal. She was an active member of the Bronx Principals’ Council and served on the Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools Visiting Teams, and on Albertus Magnus HS Board. She was inducted into the St. Thomas Aquinas College Hall of Fame in 2011 and received the Aquinas High School Legacy Award in 2018.  

Regional Board Trustees
Mr. Glenn Pellino, Chair, Catholic School Region of Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange
Mr. Glenn Pellino is a product of Catholic Education, having attended Catholic schools from elementary school through his Master’s Degree from St. Louis University.  He also studied Higher Education Administration at the University of Michigan, and served in various roles at several prestigious universities before serving as a full-time volunteer with the Jesuits as Assistant to the President and Director of Operations at New York Nativity until his retirement in 2013.  In addition to his current role as chair of the board for the Catholic School Region of Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange, Glenn has had board experience as varied as the Red Cross, the Northeast Theater, and the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank.  He has been an active member of his parish, St. Columba, and is deeply committed to his family. 

Ms. Wendy Gittings, Trustee, Catholic School Region of the Northeast/East Bronx
Ms. Wendy Gittings has retired from a prosperous career in the financial industry in order to focus on her family and philanthropic service.  She has been Co-President of the Mother’s Club at Fordham Preparatory School, in addition to her involvement with the Inner-City Scholarship Fund.  Outside the Archdiocese of New York, Wendy has been engaged in The United Way, and previously, the Montgomery County Historical Society in Rockville, MD.  Wendy lives in Larchmont, NY with her husband Robert and their three sons. 

Pastors
Rev. Arthur Mastrolia, Pastor, Church of Saint Anthony, Yonkers
Father Mastrolia served as Parochial Vicar at the Church of St. Clare in Staten Island from 19881991. From 1991-2001, he was the Spiritual Director and Headmaster of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary located first in Rye, NY and then relocated to the campus of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, New York. He then served as Pastor of St. Paul Parish in Congers in Rockland County, NY. Father Mastrolia is currently pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Yonkers, NY, as well as co-chair of the board of the Catholic School Region of Central Westchester.  In addition, he has served on the Priest Personnel Board of the Archdiocese of New York and was formerly chairman of the Education Committee of the Priests’ Council, having recently been named that Council’s chairman.  Previously, he has served on the Board of Directors of Freedom From Fear, a not-for-profit mental health advocacy agency in Staten Island and on the Board of Directors of Catholic Community Services of Rockland. He was also the Chaplain of the Congers Volunteer Fire Department. 

Rev. Stephen Norton, Pastor, Church of Saint Benedict, Bronx
Father Stephen Norton is originally from Boston, MA and came to New York to study at Iona College, where he met the Christian Brothers.  As a brother, Father Norton taught at All Hallows High School and Iona Prep.  Answering a call to the priesthood, Father Norton entered St. Joseph’s Seminary and was ordained in 2001.  He then served as principal, and later, as president, of Kennedy Catholic High School.  Since then Father Norton served at St. Denis Church in Hopewell Junction, NY before becoming pastor of St. Benedict in 2010.  Father Norton has maintained deep ties to Catholic education, serving on the board of the Catholic School Region of the Northeast/East Bronx as chair and co-chair, until stepping down recently to further his own studies.  Father Norton remains an active presence at the regional St. Benedict School, which his parish hosts. 

High School Representative
Rev. Joseph Tierney – President, Cardinal Hayes High School, Bronx
Father Joseph Tierney grew up in a large family on Staten Island, and attended Catholic School through his college years.  He entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in 1982 and was ordained in 1986.  He remembers fondly his first parish assignment at St. John the Evangelist in Mahopac, NY, where he first was introduced to working with high school students in the youth ministry program. While at St. John the Evangelist, Father Tierney began teaching part-time at Kennedy Catholic High School.  His success there enabled him to become a full time faculty member at Stepinac High School.  Following that, Father Tierney held several leadership positions at St. Joseph’s Seminary.  He then served as Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of New York for three years, before being appointed president at Cardinal Hayes High School.  Father Tierney has brought his enthusiasm for sharing the Gospel with young people to his work at Cardinal Hayes, where he has served for over 10 years. 

Principal/Teacher Representatives
Ms. Maryann Fusco, Principal, Holy Rosary School, Bronx
Ms. Maryann Fusco is a caring and dedicated leader whose first concern is the children’s future through education.  She has many years of experience in education, beginning as a teacher at St. Brendan School in the Bronx.  Through the years, she grew in her leadership there, directing summer school and after-school before becoming assistant principal.  Having had a fertile training ground, Maryann assumed leadership of her own school, Holy Rosary, where she has been principal for the past 16 years.  In addition to her regular duties as principal, Maryann has a particular love of science, which she shares by organizing an annual Bronx Catholic Schools Science Fair. 

Ms. Tara Braswell, Principal, Saint Simon Stock School, Bronx
Tara Braswell was a teacher at Christ the King school for 14 years.  During that time, she demonstrated her passion for education through continued studies, first earning a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from Fordham University, and then a Master’s Degree from Mercy College in School Building Leadership.  This enabled her to grow her career at Christ the King, where she served as principal for 3 years.  Following a short stint at St. Anselm, Tara became principal of Saint Simon Stock. 

National Educational Expert
Rev. Ronald Nuzzi, Ph.D., Emeritus Faculty, The Alliance for Catholic Education, University of Notre Dame
Father Ronald Nuzzi is a priest of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.  He recently retired from serving as a senior director in The Alliance for Catholic Education, where he led a new initiative to renew the faith and evangelical zeal of Catholic educators. He was the founding director of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, which was what brought him to Notre Dame in 2002. Father Nuzzi holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership and graduate degrees in theology, philosophy, and educational administration. He has conducted two research tours at the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education and did research on seminaries for the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB). He has authored and edited numerous books on Catholic education and has completed several national studies focused on pastors, principals, and the use of buildings that once housed Catholic schools. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame Fremantle in Western Australia and has addressed Catholic educators throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Mexico. In February 2016, Fr. Nuzzi was named a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis and participated in the World Congress on Catholic Education at the Vatican. 

The new Superintendent will oversee one of the largest school systems in the State of New York. Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York educate more than 64,000 students across 212 schools in ten counties. 

About the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York:
Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York serve more than 64,000 students from Pre-K through 12th grade across 212 schools in ten counties and boroughs throughout New York, including Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, Sullivan, Orange and Dutchess. Catholic schools offer a unique combination of academic and spiritual development that empowers children of all backgrounds to gain the confidence to realize their fullest potential. To learn more about the Archdiocese of New York’s Catholic schools, visit www.catholicschoolsny.org or www.facebook.com/CatholicSchoolsArchdioceseNewYork.