Nationwide Renewal: Five New Catholic Education Leaders Join ICLE’s Third Diocesan Leaders Academy Cohort

Henrico, VA, Oct 1, 2026 — The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE) is pleased to announce the launch of its 2026-2027 cohort for the Diocesan Leaders Academy (DLA). The DLA launched its first cohort in 2024 as a formation program that aims to cultivate superintendents spiritually, intellectually, and practically in the Catholic renewal of schools at the diocesan level. Across the inaugural 2024 group, the second cohort, and the new incoming cohort, a total of 29 leaders from 24 distinct dioceses have enrolled in the DLA, expanding its reach to 12 percent of all dioceses across the country. The 2026-2027 cohort members are recognized below.

This means the cumulative impact of the Diocesan Leaders Academy will have reached a total of 900+ Catholic schools tasked with supporting thousands of school pastors, principals, and classroom teachers nationwide by June 2027.

With 5 new diocesan leaders from 5 different dioceses and archdioceses in this year’s cohort, enthusiasm for the program’s unique approach remains high among its members. Titles of this year’s participants span the full spectrum of diocesan administration, ranging from Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent to Director of Preschool Development and Assistant Director of Leadership and Operations.

“We started the Diocesan Leaders Academy at the request of bishops,” said Abriana Chilelli, ICLE’s Director of Special Projects, who leads the DLA. “So many bishops asked ICLE for help supporting not just individual schools, but help with all of the schools in the diocese by recovering the Bishop’s own teaching and governing duties through his curia’s school teams. It has been remarkable to watch our participants steep themselves in the Church’s intellectual tradition. We are seeing dioceses across the country intentionally move away from secular standards of quality, instead ordering entire diocesan school policies, pedagogy, and accreditation standards toward Catholic liberal education.”

Through the Diocesan Leaders Academy, ICLE is honored to serve the Most Reverend Thomas J. Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, the Most Reverend Brendan J. Cahill of the Diocese of Joliet, the Most Reverend Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, the Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample of the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, and the Most Reverend James T. Ruggieri of the Diocese of Portland, Maine.

“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to help shape Catholic educational leadership throughout the country through the Diocesan Leaders Academy,” said Danny Flynn, Vice President of Diocesan and School Relations. “Our ultimate hope with the DLA is to support bishops — through the formation of their leaders — to renew the schools under their pastoral care.”

DIOCESAN LEADERS ACADEMY FALL RETREAT

The 2026-2027 program officially began with the annual Diocesan Leaders Academy Fall Retreat, which ran from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 2026, at the Augustine Institute near St. Louis, MO.

ABOUT THE DIOCESAN LEADERS ACADEMY

In response to growing momentum for deep educational renewal among bishops and diocesan leaders, ICLE launched a 10-month formation program that immerses participants in the theory and practice of the Church’s own intellectual tradition, and supports strategies to lead its recovery in the dioceses they serve. It is facilitated in a small cohort model, where Catholic educational leaders benefit from one-on-one monthly consulting sessions, twice-monthly online course meetings, and two in-person retreats, including visits to successful ICLE Member Schools.

This program is open to those serving in educational leadership positions at the diocesan level, such as superintendents or assistant/associate superintendents, including clergy and religious. Others in leadership roles that support the diocese’s mission of Catholic education also are encouraged to apply.

Preference is given to those who display a sincere desire to learn and grow and whose experience will contribute to the collective wisdom of the cohort. Regular attendance and active participation are necessary for the full benefit of leadership formation; participants must be able to commit time and effort for their own growth.

The experience is designed to cultivate leaders spiritually, intellectually, and practically to lead renewal through the pastors, school leaders, and teachers of their dioceses. Since a significant benefit of the program is the experience and commitment of the cohort, participants in the Diocesan Leaders Academy are selected through an application process. 

Clergy and religious in educational leadership positions are most welcome.

Content of the program includes a history of the Church’s Charter and Catholic Liberal Education, “Listening to the Holy Spirit: Asking the Lord His Plans for the Renewal of His Schools,” “Reclaiming the Identity of the Diocesan Curia,” “The Gift of Obedience in Communion with the Bishop,” implications of the foundation of a Christian anthropology, “School Pastors: Reclaiming the Father’s Role,” “Ordering Choices of Accreditation, Licensing, State Standards, and Diocesan Policy toward Renewal,” and more.

Participants will receive ICLE’s Diocesan Leaders Academy Certificate of Completion at the conclusion of this formation program.

Those interested in applying for future cohorts can sign up here to be notified when the next application window opens.