Montana superintendent with ties to Seattle ‘brings a lifelong commitment to Catholic education’

SEATTLE

Western Washington’s Catholic schools have a new leader: Patrick Haggarty has been named superintendent of the Archdiocese of Seattle's Office for Catholic Schools.

Haggarty, Catholic schools superintendent for the Montana Dioceses of Great Falls-Billings and Helena, will assume his new job this fall, the Seattle archdiocese announced July 1. His career in Catholic education includes experience as a teacher, coach, principal, school president and adjunct university faculty member.

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of an educator with Patrick’s experience and academic credentials as superintendent of the Office for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle,” Archbishop J. Peter Sartain said in a statement. “We are especially pleased that Dr. Haggarty brings a lifelong commitment to Catholic education that prepares students for faith-filled leadership and service to the church and society.”

Haggarty succeeds Father Stephen Rowan, a priest of the Seattle Archdiocese who has been superintendent since 2012.

In his new role, Haggarty will provide guidance to 58 archdiocesan elementary schools and five archdiocesan high schools, and serve as a resource to five private Catholic elementary schools and six private Catholic high schools. These schools serve more than 22,000 students throughout western Washington.

Seattle tiesHaggarty has ties to Seattle, including teaching sixth- and seventh-grade social studies at St. Anne School from 1988-90.

In Montana, he taught and coached at Columbia Falls High School from 1994-99, then was principal at Loyola Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Missoula from 1999 to 2003. He became president of Missoula Catholic Schools in 2000, superintendent of Helena Catholic schools in 2002 and superintendent of all Montana Catholic schools in 2010.

Haggarty has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Montana and a graduate degree from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He earned his doctorate in education from the University of Montana in 2005 and has served as adjunct faculty for the University of San Francisco and Creighton University.

“I look forward to working for Archbishop Sartain and with the excellent staff of the Office for Catholic Schools in Seattle,” Haggarty said. He expressed gratitude to Father Rowan for agreeing to stay on to assist with the transition.

Father Rowan, who has served as a college administrator, English teacher and schools superintendent — twice — was the founding chair of the Fulcrum Foundation, which raised more than $40 million for Catholic schools, from 2001 to 2008. During his recent term as superintendent, Father Rowan developed the strategic plan, “From Strength to Strength,” for the archdiocese’s Catholic schools.

“From the beginning of his second term as superintendent, Father Rowan took on his responsibilities with enthusiasm and competence,” Archbishop Sartain said.  “Since he was already well-known to our clergy and the majority of our educational leaders, he was accepted as a trusted colleague and gifted administrator.  The fact that he led our strategic planning process for schools with such success means that the impact of his leadership will be felt for years to come,” the archbishop said. “I am personally grateful for his superb work and the exceptional collaboration we have enjoyed.”

Father Rowan said he has enjoyed the opportunity to serve as superintendent: “I am very grateful for the trust that Archbishop Sartain placed in me,” Father Rowan said. “At the same time, I am very happy that Dr. Haggarty has accepted the archbishop’s appointment. He has the credentials, the experience, the character and the vision that will make him an outstanding superintendent.”

July 2, 2014