May 7, 2010
Bishop appoints Superintendent of Catholic Schools, two assistants
By PAUL R. LEINGANG and MARY ANN HUGHES
It is a new name, a new face, a new title. Catholic schools in the Diocese of Evansville have a new leader, appointed by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger and announced on May 6.
Daryl C. Hagan
Daryl C. Hagan, principal at Holy Name School in Henderson, Ky., and a long time figure in Catholic education in western Kentucky, has been named Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Evansville.
Hagan has been named as Superintendent of the Catholic Schools, which are located in eight of the 12 counties of the diocese, and include schools in Evansville, Newburgh, Mount Vernon, St, Philip, Haubstadt, Fort Branch, Princeton, Vincennes, Washington, Rockport and Jasper.
Hagan has served as principal of Holy Name School in Henderson since 1997. Previously, he taught at Christ the King School in Madisonville, Ky., from 1986 to 1989; at Holy Name in Henderson from 1989 to 1991, and from 1991 to 1993 at St Ann Interparochial School in Morganfield, Ky.
Hagan was named Director of Schools for the Owensboro Catholic Schools in 1993, and continued in that position until 1997. The consolidated school system, of Owensboro Catholic Schools, included five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school, with a total of 2,300 students and a staff of over 200 teachers and staff. The system served 15 Catholic parishes.
Since 1997, Hagan has been principal of Holy Name School in Henderson, with a total staff of about 65, serving over 500 students in a pre-school through eighth grade system.
Hagan earned his undergraduate degree in education at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, and a master’s degree in education from Murray State University in Murray, Ky. He intends to pursue a Ph.D. in education.
Hagan also has diocesan and intermediate certification in religious education in the Diocese of Owens-boro. He has been active in the Henderson community and in national and state Catholic education associations.
Hagan was a presenter at the 2010 conference of the National Catholic Education Association, speaking on “Beyond Modifications and Accommodations, the Next Step.” He was also a presenter at the 2008 and 2010 Mid-South Catholic Leadership Conferences.
Hagan has membership in the NCEA and on the NCEA Department of Elementary Schools Executive Committee. He is also currently a member of the Kentucky Non-Public School Commission and the Kentucky League for Educational Alternatives.
Michelle Priar
Michelle Priar has served as principal at St. James School in Haubstadt since 2003. She has 20 years of teaching and administrative experience in the Diocese of Evansville.
In her application for the position of assistant superintendent, she described herself as a “positive person,” someone who sees the “glass half full rather than half empty.” When faced with challenges, she says she is able to see “possibilities rather than barriers.”
She began her teaching career in the diocese as a science teacher at St.Theresa School, Evansville, in 1991.
In 1999, she was named principal at St. Joseph School in Vanderburgh County. While there, she collaborated with parishioners on a new building project, implemented modified block scheduling and enrichment classes for grades six through eight, and she worked closely with the parish DRE to conduct bi-monthly prayer services for staff members.
In 2003, she moved to St. James School in Haubstadt to assume the role of principal there. While at St. James she was involved in developing a learning resource program that provides struggling students with resources within the building, enhancing the technology program by creating a technology plan that included implementing a K-8 technology curriculum, purchasing interactive whiteboards for classrooms and providing training for teachers, and hiring a stipend-paid technology coordinator.
She holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Southern Indiana, and a master of education degree from In-diana State University.
Donna Halverson
Donna Halverson served as interim director of Catholic schools, following the retirement of Phyllis Beshears, who held the position of director for 19 years. Halverson had served nine years as assistant director, and agreed to the interim leadership for one year.
The search for a permanent director was suspended in 2009, as part of cost savings measures, and Halverson again stepped forward into the director’s office.
Halverson did not seek the permanent position, but has indicated her willingness to continue for two years as assistant director, providing valuable con-tinuity for the office.
Halverson received her undergraduate degree in English Education from Arizona State University in Tempe. She earned a master’s degree in secondary education and a second master’s in educational administration from Indiana State University at Terre Haute.
Her professional experience includes 14 years of teaching in grades five through nine in Phoenix, Columbus, Ohio, Palatine, Ill., and at St. Benedict Cathedral School in Evansville. She was principal of Holy Spirit School in Evansville for seven years.
Halverson’s professional membership includes the National Catholic Education Association, the Indiana Non Public Education Association and the Mayor’s Educator Round Table in Evansville.
She was honored as “2001 Administrator of the Year” by the University of Evansville and the Evansville Courier and Press.
Schools in the diocese
In the Diocese of Evansville, the official student enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year is 7,320 students. This includes pre-kindergarten students, kindergartners, and first graders through high school seniors.
A total of 918 are employed by the schools. This includes principals, teachers, teacher aides, school secretaries, day care workers, maintenance personnel, bus drivers and cafeteria workers.
The four Catholic high schools include Mater Dei and Memorial in Evansville, Rivet in Vincennes and Washington Catholic in Washington.
Catholic elementary schools are located in Evansville, Fort Branch, Haubstadt, Jasper, Mount Vernon, Newburgh, Princeton, Rockport St. Wendel, Vincennes and Washington, and also in rural Posey and Vanderburgh counties.
With the recent departure of the school safety officer, Steve Bagbey, the new structure maintains the staff level at four: a superintendent, two assistants and one secretary, Rhonda Schroeder Weissman.