ICLE LAUNCHES FORMATION PROGRAM FOR DIOCESAN EDUCATIONAL LEADERS
July 24, 2024
In response to growing momentum for deep educational renewal among bishops and diocesan leaders, the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education has launched the Diocesan Leaders Academy, a 10-month, first-of-its-kind formation program for those serving in educational leadership positions at the diocesan level. The program is designed to cultivate leaders spiritually, intellectually, and practically to lead renewal through the pastors, school leaders, and teachers of their dioceses. Many talented and experienced superintendents are finding joy and hope in the mission and academic renewal happening across the country in Catholic schools, and the Diocesan Leaders Academy aims to give superintendents, both experienced and new to the work, formation and camaraderie to lead that renewal at the diocesan level.
The Diocesan Leaders Academy immerses participants in the theory and practice of the Church’s own intellectual tradition and offers strategies to help participants recover this intellectual tradition within their diocese. Specific topics include diocesan work in obedience and communion with the Bishop, reclaiming the identity of Curia-level schools office, the Church’s charter and history of education, the change management of renewal at the diocesan level, honoring and elevating school pastors, recruitment and formation of mission-aligned leaders and teachers, and honoring the imago Dei in students with disabilities in the renewal of schools. The program is facilitated in a small cohort model, where accepted applicants will experience one-on-one monthly consulting sessions, twice-monthly online course meetings, and two in-person retreats, including visits to successful ICLE Member Schools.

Abriana Chilelli, ICLE’s Diocesan Liaison and director of the Diocesan Leaders Academy
“Superintendents have such important voices in communicating the Bishop’s vision for schools, and they have the duty to align diocesan policy and formation to that vision,” said Abriana Chilelli, ICLE’s newly-hired Diocesan Liaison and director of the Diocesan Leaders Academy. “Many bishops across the country are seeing that their schools must be counter-cultural and give families a deeply human formation for their children in preschool through 12th grade. The Church’s charter for education is the best human formation that exists. It calls us all in Catholic education to form students through pedagogy and deeply rich content to come to know the truth of reality, and therefore come to know Jesus Christ the Logos, and commit their lives to friendship with Him. Our hope with the Diocesan Leaders Academy is to support bishops, through the formation of their superintendents, to renew the schools under their care.”
The Institute was thrilled to welcome Mrs. Chilelli to the team in May 2024. Mrs. Chilelli brings a wealth of experience in educational leadership, specifically at the diocesan level, and is well-suited to support other Catholic educational leaders across the country. In addition to her work at the Institute, Mrs. Chilelli also serves as the Assistant Director of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Portland and has previously served in various leadership roles at the Archdiocese of Denver, including Assistant Superintendent and Associate Superintendent for Academic Renewal.
The 2024-2025 cohort of the Diocesan Leaders Academy, made possible in part through generous scholarships offered by the St. John Henry Newman Institute, is comprised of 12 educational leaders from 12 dioceses across the country. The full list of participants can be found below.
The 2024-2025 cohort is full. Those interested in applying for the 2025-2026 cohort can sign up here to be notified when the application window opens.
Meet the 2024-2025 Cohort

Dr. Jessie Betz
Director of Catholic Schools
Diocese of Marquette

Ms. Brandi Borries
Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois

Dr. Andrew Currier
Superintendent
Diocese of Oakland

Dr. Adam Dufault
Superintendent
Diocese of Columbus

Mr. Chris Fisher
Superintendent
Archdiocese of San Francisco

Dr. Lanny Hollis
Superintendent
Diocese of El Paso

Mrs. Theresa Krueger
Curriculum Specialist
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Dr. Ryan Mainard
Assistant Director for Catholic Education
Archdiocese of Portland

Mrs. Brenda Mitzel
Director of Catholic Schools
Diocese of Sioux Falls
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Dr. Adrian Peterson
Superintendent
Diocese of Santa Rosa

Mrs. LaCosta Potter
Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Crookston

Mr. Thomas Reichenbacher
Superintendent
Diocese of La Crosse

Dr. Michael St. Pierre
Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Allentown, PA

Dr. Denise Valadez
Associate Superintendent
Diocese of Orange

Ms. Sheila Whalen
Superintendent
Diocese of Colorado Springs