The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is conducting a national search for its next Superintendent of Schools , a strong, faith-filled, visionary leader called to guide, strengthen, and advance Catholic education across the Archdiocese. This pivotal role will uphold the Church’s mission to form disciples of Jesus Christ through a holistic education marked by academic excellence, vibrant Catholic identity, and a deep commitment to service.

Anticipated Start Date of the Superintendent: July 2026

About us

Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas partner with parents as the primary educators of their children, forming students intellectually, spiritually, morally, and socially. Across its elementary and secondary schools, the Archdiocese is committed to cultivating environments where academic excellence and Catholic identity are fully integrated.

 

Rooted in fidelity to the Magisterium and animated by a deep love for Christ and His Church, the schools of the Archdiocese strive to form disciples who are prepared not only for success in higher education and professional life, but for lives of holiness, leadership, and service.

 

Through strong collaboration between the Catholic Schools Office, pastors, principals, teachers, and families, the Archdiocese continues to advance Catholic education with clarity of mission, operational strength, and an unwavering commitment to forming the next generation of faithful leaders.

About the Role

The Superintendent of Schools serves as the chief educational leader for Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, working in close collaboration with the Archbishop, pastors, principals, clergy, educators, and families to foster a unified, mission-driven, and thriving system of Catholic education.

The Superintendent is responsible for strategic leadership, academic excellence, operational vitality, and the ongoing spiritual formation of school communities throughout the Archdiocese.

The Superintendent of Schools will:

  • Champion the mission and identity of Catholic education, ensuring that Gospel values and the teachings of the Church animate every aspect of school life.

  • Provide visionary educational leadership that strengthens academic rigor, faith formation, and whole-child development across all grade levels.

  • Collaborate closely with pastors and principals to ensure cohesive policies, shared best practices, and systemwide alignment.

  • Promote operational vitality, including enrollment growth, recruitment and retention of outstanding Catholic educators, and responsible fiscal stewardship.

  • Serve as a pastoral presence and ambassador for Catholic education, cultivating strong relationships with families, parish communities, benefactors, and civic partners.

The next Superintendent will be a trusted collaborator, skilled communicator, and courageous leader of faith who upholds the dignity of every student and educator and inspires confidence in the future of Catholic education in northeast Kansas.

How to Apply

All applications for this position will go through our national consulting firm, Partners in Mission.

Contact us

If you have questions about this position, please contact Partners in Mission.

FAQ

The Archdiocese of Kansas City has engaged Partners in Mission Search Solutions, the retained search division of Partners in Mission, a nationally respected consulting firm dedicated exclusively to advancing excellence in Catholic school leadership and mission-driven organizations.

Partners in Mission brings deep understanding of Catholic education, informed by both professional expertise and personal commitment to the Church’s mission. Their consultants have partnered with archdioceses, religious congregations, school boards, and Catholic institutions across the country to identify and secure exceptional leaders for a wide range of senior Catholic school and diocesan leadership roles.

Partners in Mission is honored to collaborate with the Archdiocese in this important work of discernment as it seeks its next Superintendent of Schools.

The Search Committee is entrusted with leading the search for the next Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Kansas City, with professional guidance and support from Partners in Mission.

Working in close collaboration, the Committee will oversee the full search process, including reviewing and evaluating candidate applications, conducting interviews with semi-finalists and finalists, and coordinating structured opportunities for appropriate stakeholder engagement with leading candidates.

Following these interactions, the Committee will carefully consider all community feedback, references, and background information before submitting a recommendation to the Archbishop for consideration and final approval.

The Search Committee is committed to conducting a process that is prayerful, rigorous, fair, and inclusive, while also honoring the confidentiality necessary to attract and discern the strongest possible pool of candidates for this vital leadership role.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City invites broad and meaningful participation in the search for its next Superintendent of Schools. Community engagement is an essential part of this discernment process and will be incorporated in several intentional ways.

Partners in Mission will administer a community-wide survey to gather input from key stakeholders, including pastors, principals, faculty, staff, parents, students, and other partners in Catholic education. This feedback will help inform the Search Committee’s understanding of the priorities, leadership qualities, and opportunities most critical for the future of Catholic schools across the Archdiocese.

In addition, Partners in Mission will conduct listening sessions with representative stakeholder groups to gain deeper insight into the strengths of the school system, current realities, and hopes for continued growth and mission impact.

Throughout the search, the Archdiocesan community is encouraged to remain engaged by reviewing updates shared by the Search Committee and visiting this webpage for communications regarding the process, timeline, and key milestones. Once finalists are identified, select stakeholder representatives will be invited to participate in structured opportunities to meet the candidates and provide feedback. This feedback will play an important role in informing the Search Committee’s final recommendation.

Above all, the Archdiocese asks the community to pray for the members of the Search Committee and for the candidates as this important work of discernment unfolds, trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead Catholic education forward.

Search Committee

Millie Brown

Millie possesses a diverse professional background spanning healthcare, science, business and philanthropy, with master’s degrees in both Business and Molecular Biology. For the past 15 years, she has led The Brown Family Foundation – Kansas City (BFFKC), which partners with Catholic and private schools across Kansas and Missouri to strengthen academic outcomes by investing in educators and innovative learning initiatives. Her perspective is also informed by significant leadership and board roles at Nativity Parish School, Notre Dame de Sion High School, and Rockhurst High School.

Shelly Buhler

Shelly currently serves as the President of Hayden High School and is a member of the Washburn University Board of Regents. She has an extensive background in public service and administration, having served as a Shawnee County Commissioner and the Mayor of Rossville. Beyond her leadership experience, she brings a strong Catholic academic foundation with her degree from Benedictine College, as well as many professional certifications and awards in county government and community leadership.

RJ Gildea

RJ is the Managing Director of Commercial and Industrial Banking for Landmark Bank, specializing in finance, strategic planning, and long-term capital decisions. He is a deeply involved Catholic school parent and a former Board Chair of the Catholic Education Foundation, where he continues to serve on the Executive Committee. He brings a strong background in financial stewardship and a commitment to the academic and spiritual mission of Archdiocesan schools.

Fr. Michael Hermes

Fr. Michael is the pastor of St. Paul Parish in Olathe and has served as a parish priest in our Archdiocese for nearly 35 years. He brings direct institutional leadership experience to the committee, having served as the President of Bishop Ward High School from 2005 to 2014. His perspective is rooted in his belief that the Catholic school experience can be transformational not only for students but for their families and the wider parish community.

Jane Sullivan

Jane is a veteran educator who has spent her entire professional career teaching and leading in the Archdiocese’s Catholic school system. She has 15 years of experience as a principal, focusing on faith formation, academic excellence, and community building. As both a lifelong Catholic educator and a parent of children who attended Catholic schools through the college level, she brings both professional and personal insight to the search process and understands the lifelong impact of Catholic education.

Sr. Elizabeth Youngs, SCL, PhD

Sr. Elizabeth is a career Catholic educator with over 50 years of experience, including 11 years of classroom teaching and 11 years as a school principal. Her expertise is supported by her roles as Director of Catholic Schools in Billings, Montana, Superintendent for the Diocese of Jefferson City and Associate Superintendent for the Archdiocese of Denver. Currently, she directs the Doctor of Education in Leadership program at the University of Saint Mary and serves on the Xavier Catholic School Board of Trustees. She has extensive experience hiring educators and administrators.

Lilli Zarda, CPA

Lilli is a finance professional who serves as a Specialist at Creative Planning Strategic Advisors. She brings expertise in governance and financial strategy through her roles as Finance Chair and board member for Resurrection Catholic School. Her perspective is further supported by her membership on the Catholic Schools Commission and a five-generation family commitment to Catholic education.