KANSAS CITY, KS. — Archbishop Shawn McKnight and the Board of Members have appointed Mike Riley as the new president of Bishop Miege Catholic High School, following the Board of Trustee’s unanimous recommendation. The appointment follows a national search conducted by the Bishop Miege High School Board of Trustees and Executive Search Committee, and with the assistance of Catholic Recruiter Associates (CRA). Mr. Riley will officially begin his tenure on July 1, 2026.
Mr. Riley brings a wealth of school leadership and Catholic education experience of 13 years, serving in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. He returns home now to Bishop Miege High School where he first taught Social Studies two decades ago. Mr. Riley and his family have lived in the Kansas City region for the past 22 years and are parishioners at Curé of Ars Catholic Church in Leawood.
“In recommending Mr. Riley, the Board of Trustees recognized in him a servant leader committed to fostering a school community where students are supported and formed in faith,” said Archbishop McKnight, Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas. “I am grateful to the Search Committee and thank them for their careful discernment. As president, Mr. Riley bears primary responsibility for preserving and strengthening Bishop Miege’s Catholic identity and values, while serving as a prudent steward of its resources. I offer him my prayerful support and extend prayers and best wishes to the entire Bishop Miege community as it moves forward in its mission of forming young men and women in faith, friendship, and purpose.”
As President, Mr. Riley will work collaboratively with and be accountable to the Board of Trustees in implementing the school’s Catholic mission and strategic vision. His responsibilities will include leadership of the school organization, strategic planning and governance, collaborating with diocesan leadership to preserve the school’s mission and identity, fundraising and development, financial and business management, and external relations.
CRA led a professional search process that included contacts with hundreds of candidates, interviews with dozens of applicants and recommendations for the most qualified interviewees. To supplement this process, the Board also hired Sutton Associates to conduct careful vetting of references and comprehensive background checks.
Mr. Riley earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, followed by his Master’s in Education, Secondary Education and Teaching from Notre Dame in 2003, and his Master of Arts in School Leadership from Benedictine College in 2012. He is currently participating in the ACE Principal Academy Cabrini Fellowship at Notre Dame, which concludes this summer.
“When we launched the search for our new president, our commitment was to find a leader who would strengthen our school community and guide us into the future,” said Holly Bentley, chair of the Bishop Miege Catholic High School Board of Trustees. “Mr. Riley not only embodies the mission and vision of our school community, but is dedicated to creating opportunities for students to thrive both academically and spiritually.”
“Beyond his professional calling, Mr. Riley has demonstrated his commitment to building school communities where students are inspired and feel valued,” said Bridget Morris, Bishop Miege High School Alumna and Vice Chair, Board of Trustees. “He is a transformational leader who is ready to collaborate with leadership and benefactors to continue and grow the Miege tradition of success. As a school parent and board member, I’m honored to have been part of this search process and look forward to welcoming Mike back to the Miege community.”