KANSAS CITY, KANSAS — Following an extensive search with Partners in Mission, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas today announced the appointment of Dr. Erin Vader as Superintendent of Catholic Schools, effective August 1, 2026. Dr. Vader brings over 30 years of experience in Catholic education, including leadership roles in the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, and the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.
To aid in the search for its new superintendent, the archdiocese engaged Partners in Mission, a nationally recognized consulting firm dedicated specifically to advancing excellence in Catholic school leadership and mission-driven organizations. To lead the selection process, a Search Committee was established to oversee the full process, including reviewing and evaluating candidates, conducting interviews, and submitting a final recommendation to the archbishop for his full consideration and final approval. The Search Committee conducted an extensive national search that included interviews with candidates from within Kansas and throughout the United States.
“The Search Committee’s goal was to find a faith-filled leader whose love for the Lord and the Catholic Church would guide their work. We wanted a person with a passion for evangelization and the formation of young people as Christian disciples in the Catholic faith tradition; helping students to know, love and serve Jesus and his Church,” said Father Michael Hawken, Vicar General, Moderator of the Curia, and Chair of the Search Committee. “We were also looking for a leader with a commitment to academic excellence to form our students intellectually through data-driven instruction, to help them become critical thinkers, future leaders, and lifelong learners. We wanted a superintendent committed to the continued formation of our teachers through professional development and to raise future principals from among our teaching staff. We were searching for someone who could collaborate with the Catholic Schools Office team, pastors, principals, teachers, school boards, and stakeholders for the mission of Catholic education in the archdiocese. We believe we have found these qualifications and many additional gifts in Dr. Erin Vader. Her experience and vision of the key principles for Catholic schools, including mission and Catholic identity, governance and leadership, academic excellence, and operational vitality, is what guided our choice of Dr. Vader.”
Dr. Vader brings a wealth of experience in Catholic education, including roles as superintendent, president, principal, and diocesan-level advancement coordinator. With a doctorate in education leadership from Texas Wesleyan University, she has demonstrated a commitment to student-centered, mission-based leadership by stabilizing enrollment and securing significant funding, leading to the expansion of special education programs, the creation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Child Development Center, and ensuring institutional stability and steady student performance through periods of national education transitions. Her professional background includes serving as the Superintendent of the Diocese of Jefferson City and as an accreditation chair for the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops’ Education Department.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Erin Vader for her dedicated service as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Jefferson City. I am deeply grateful for her commitment to forming disciples through Catholic education, her tireless advocacy for students and families, and her steadfast collaboration with our pastors, principals, teachers, and staff in strengthening the mission of our schools,” said Bishop Ralph O’Donnell of the Diocese of Jefferson City. “I thank Dr. Vader for her leadership in advancing a culture of stewardship, academic excellence, and faith-filled community across our diocese. The many ways she has shared her gifts in service to the Church have truly been a blessing for us. I entrust her and all those she has served to the loving care of the Lord, asking God to bless her abundantly as she continues to serve the Church in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.”
Archbishop McKnight approved the Search Committee’s unanimous decision to select Dr. Vader as the new superintendent. He expressed his confidence in her ability to build upon the strong foundation of Catholic education in the archdiocese and advance its mission in the years to come.
“I am grateful for the diligent work of the Search Committee and their thoughtful recommendation of Dr. Vader as our next Superintendent of Catholic Schools,” said Archbishop McKnight. “Having worked with her in the past, I have long admired her commitment to Catholic education, collaborative leadership, and dedication to serving students and families. I look forward to the beginning of her ministry among us and am excited for her to advance the many good things taking place across our Catholic schools as we form disciples of Jesus Christ and prepare young people to live lives of holiness, leadership, and service.”
As she prepares to begin her tenure, Dr. Vader expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve the archdiocese and enthusiasm for partnering with school leaders, educators, and families to advance the vibrant future of Catholic education in northeast Kansas.
“Serving as Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Jefferson City has been one of the greatest blessings of my professional and spiritual life. I am profoundly grateful to Bishop O’Donnell, our pastors, school leaders, teachers, families, and students for the trust they have placed in me and for the many ways they have advanced the mission of Catholic education,” said Dr. Vader. “I am humbled and excited to begin this new opportunity in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, and I look forward to working with Archbishop McKnight and educational leaders across the archdiocese to build upon its strong tradition of academic excellence, Catholic identity, and vibrant school communities. As I make this transition, I carry with me tremendous gratitude for all the Diocese of Jefferson City has given me and deep confidence in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
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