Announcing Leaders for the New K-12 Catholic School Accreditation Program

The Institute for the Transformation of Catholic Education (ITCE) at The Catholic University of America welcomes Daryl Hagan, Ed.D. and Andrew Kremer, Ph.D. as the leaders of a new Program of K-12 Catholic School Accreditation that will be offered through the University beginning in the fall of 2023. Through the Program of K-12 Catholic School Accreditation, the ITCE at The Catholic University of America has the potential to renew and transform K-12 Catholic education nationally through the provision and promotion of standards founded on a Catholic philosophy of education and the Church’s rich educational tradition. Both Dr. Hagan and Dr. Kremer will join ITCE and launch the new Program of K-12 Catholic School Accreditation in July 2022. 

Dr. Hagan will serve as the Director of Catholic School Accreditation. In this capacity, he will lead and craft the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of the new Accreditation Program. He will be assisted by Dr. Kremer, the new Associate Director of Strategy and Membership, who will develop, implement, and evaluate the process of accreditation onboarding and support as well as develop the strategy for engagement with new member dioceses and schools. 

These two men bring a wealth of experience to their roles, as they both have served as teachers, school administrators, and diocesan Catholic school office leaders.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Hagan and Dr. Kremer to the ITCE team,” Sister Mary Agnes Greiffendorf, O.P., Ph.D., Director of the Institute. “We conducted an extensive national search for these positions. Both men stood out for evident faith, commitment to Catholic education, and deep conviction that Catholic schools need their own program of accreditation – one that aligns to their unique mission. Their love for Christ and His Church and their varied experiences in teaching, administration, and accreditation will enable the University to develop an outstanding program that promotes and advances the distinctive excellence of Catholic education. This program will offer a great service to our Church, nation, and world.”

Dr. Hagan has devoted his career to Catholic education, serving as a Catholic school teacher, principal, director of schools, superintendent, and lead evaluator. For the past twelve years, he has served as Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana. Prior to this position, he served for thirteen years as principal of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School in the Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky. Daryl is the founding chairman of the Indiana Catholic Schools Consortium and currently serves as President for the Indiana Non-Public Education Association. His published research and passion is engaging Catholic educators to promote and enhance Catholic identity and school improvement. Dr. Hagan holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Western Kentucky University, M.A. in Instructional Leadership from Western Kentucky University, M.A. in Elementary Education from Murray State University, and B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Indiana. Daryl is married to Jill Mattingly Hagan and they have two children, a daughter-in-law, and one grandchild.

Dr. Kremer has served as a diocesan leader, school administrator, teacher, and coach in his vocation as a Catholic educator. He began his career as a teacher and coach at Bishop Chatard High School in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Dr. Kremer then transitioned to the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana as an assistant principal and head football coach at Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville, Indiana. In 2018 he accepted the role of Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana and in December of 2021 was named the Interim Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Kremer has a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Liberty University; his dissertation research explored how Catholic school leaders use the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools (NSBECS) as a framework for accreditation. He also has a M.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton, and a B.A. in Secondary Education from Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis. Andrew lives in Fishers, Indiana with his wife Nikki and their two children.