Continuing our Leaders in Catholic Education series highlighting Catholic leaders playing significant roles in the Catholic renewal movement, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Daryl Hagan, director of the Institute for the Transformation of Catholic Education (ITCE) and Lumen Accreditation. His work supports this mission:
Lumen Accreditation, offered through The Catholic University of America, advances and promotes the distinctive excellence of K–12 Catholic school education. Guided by Christ and illumined by the Church’s rich educational heritage, we accompany Catholic school communities as they strive for continuous growth in fulfilling their mission.
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Dr. Melissa Mitchell: Please tell us about your upbringing, family, and Catholic community.
Dr. Daryl Hagan: I was raised Catholic through my father’s influence. He grew up in Union County, Kentucky. Church and farm were the center of his family, and he carried that through to his children. I went to a Catholic church and school. I did not know other faiths existed. I’ve been married to Jill for forty years, and we just celebrated our anniversary. We have two children and three of the most beautiful grandchildren.
In my sixty years, I have always been surrounded by a Catholic community. The Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Parish and School is where I grew up. I was also a teacher and principal there. Jill was the church secretary for twenty-seven years and just retired. We’ve always immersed our family into a Catholic community. Because of my ministry, I’ve been so blessed by knowing priests, bishops, and archbishops, calling many of them friends.
Tell us about your professional career and what inspired you to develop Lumen.
I have forty years of ministry experience. I look back and can see God’s plan for me now. My first goal was to be a child psychologist. I realized that wasn’t for me, and somebody suggested education. I got a job at Christ the King in Madisonville for three years. I then taught at Holy Name for two years. I was then a principal of a rural Catholic school. I then got a call from the superintendent who said, “We want you to be the director of Owensboro Catholic schools.” I said yes.
The only thing I ever wanted was to be a teacher and principal at Holy Name. It all keeps going back to my home parish in Henderson, Kentucky. I was the director for four years until I returned to Holy Name as principal for thirteen years. We had synergy. We were laser focused on the mission of Catholic education. We built that school into over 630 students, and it was phenomenal. Those years were wonderful. I was then approached about becoming the superintendent of the Diocese of Evansville. Initially, I said no, but again, people are always planting seeds. I served twelve years as superintendent of the Diocese of Evansville.
God’s in charge. I know it. We have to be open to hearing the call to discern what God’s calling us to do.
And this goes right into Lumen. The Diocese of Evansville and the state of Indiana were moving away from secular accreditation. I was the chair of this statewide initiative. Sr. Mary Agnes, director of ITCE from Catholic U, encouraged me about applying for a position to build an accreditation program. Again, seeds were planted.
Thirty years’ experience with accreditation inspired me to say yes. The Kentucky Non-Public School Commission was the accreditation when I was superintendent. We worked hard to bring rigor and raise those stakes to ensure that everything was mission oriented. When I was blessed with the opportunity with Lumen, I felt confident that my colleague Dr. Andrew Kramer and I could build it with a lot of input from a lot of people. Andrew and I knew what people wanted, and we knew that we needed to bring Jesus Christ to the center of accreditation.
Looking back, I understand that’s why Jesus had me teach at a very small Catholic school, teach at a large Catholic school, be a principal at a rural Catholic school, serve as director of a city of Catholic schools, and later serve as superintendent. I felt like a ping-pong ball, but it all makes perfect sense now. Now I have evidence: God’s in charge. I know it. We have to be open to hearing the call to discern what God’s calling us to do. And sometimes the answer is yes.
You’ve been awarded the 2025 C. Albert Koob Merit Award, one of five President’s Awards conferred annually by NCEA. What does this mean to you professionally and personally?
I’m grateful to the people who recommended me and their belief in the work. I am being recognized because of people who have surrounded me and with whom God has blessed me; I’ve done nothing by myself. I have been transformed by so many people in my life, and this award is the culmination and recognition of all of the communities I was blessed to be a part of.
In the past twenty years, we have seen what many educators call a renewal in Catholic education. How would you describe this renewal, and how does Lumen contribute?
This is an exciting time for Catholic education. Our bishops have a renewed focus on the best ways that we form children in faith and how to support Catholic families. Bishops’ responsibilities as shepherds are much larger than most people realize. It’s a burden or a pleasure, depending on how you look at it. There are so many charisms to help bring people to Christ. We know there are many paths of getting to heaven. This is what Lumen accreditation is: We help you grow in your charism, and then you grow on that journey.
Numerous initiatives have emerged during this renewal. The fact that you and I are talking about Catholic education is an example. Word on Fire cares about Catholic education. Word on Fire is supporting those Catholic schools and families, and supporting the efforts to determine the best way to help Catholic education. Word on Fire is the best evangelization tool we have.
What policy changes make you hopeful for the future of Catholic education?
I see policy changes in two ways. I see diocesan policy changes where more bishops are requesting Lumen. This is a major policy change; bishops are saying, “We want Lumen,” because of what it stands for. It’s from CUA and is central to bringing Jesus Christ into the center of the school as well as accreditation.
The other policy change is school choice. According to EdChoice, there are seventy-five programs within thirty-four states. This wave of educational freedom is long past due. We need to adopt school choice across our country so that your zip code doesn’t decide whether or not your family can choose what’s best for your children. We know that parents are the primary educators of their children.
All families, not just wealthy families, need the right to send their children to the school best for them. I was blessed to serve in Indiana, and we’ve had a voucher system for about fourteen years. It is remarkable to see families who felt they couldn’t afford a Catholic education say, “I always wanted it. I just couldn’t afford it.” Or the parish just couldn’t give enough financial aid to help all families.
What advice would you give to those discerning a vocation in Catholic education, particularly in leadership?
Catholic education leadership can be hard. You must discern, be open, and listen. Leaders generally are invited. If people are recognizing the leadership skills in you, you should pray and reflect on that.
It’s almost like the call to the priesthood. Be open to the Holy Spirit. For potential leaders, listen for that call and those seeds being planted. If you really do hear that call, I think it’s important to model as a teacher first. Until you put on those shoes and you walk on that side of the desk, you will never know exactly what it’s like. Get as much experience as a teacher/leader because it will help you make that transition.
What inspired you to write your recent book, Communion and Community: 46 Ways to Engage Catholic School Faculty and Staff During the School Year?
My book has been a labor of love. I truly understand this is all relational, that everything we do should be within communion and community. I pursued my doctoral work to understand the science behind communion and community. I created community through faculty meetings specifically for my research, but it certainly extends beyond those meetings. Retreats are an integral way. A successful retreat is fun with time for prayer and time to get to know each other. I’m not talking about curriculum policies; I’m talking about you love dogs or you have a pet pig or you’ve traveled extensively. People need time together in genuine conversations.
The book was a big seed that I ignored for a long time. People encouraged me, but it took many years to write. I’m very proud of it. It’s a joy to have people share how they have used the strategies for teacher formation. I once had a teacher in Chicago actually quote the page of the strategy: “It’s on page 18 and I’ve got the book and I love it.’ My heart swelled because I knew I was helping someone else.
What do you think is one of the most pressing challenges in Catholic education? And how do you foresee your work contributing to tackling this challenge?
Leader formation is a challenge. Catholic schools in the past were run by religious sisters, who were the backbone of Catholic education. They brought unique perspectives and religious formation. Without the sisters’ training, discernment processes, or charisms, we’re relying on educators and leaders without similar formation. We have our own gifts, talents, and evangelization to offer, and we must ensure all our Catholic school teachers and leaders are grounded in the faith. I believe ITCE, along with other great institutes, are committed to teachers and leaders in Catholic formation.
How do you remain grounded in your faith and work in Catholic education?
All of us in this ministry should be able to answer that important question, or you will burn out and become disgruntled. Mass and prayer keep me grounded. I attend weekly or daily morning Mass and have a daily prayer journal. One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to go to Mass in different places around the country.
Do you have a special devotion to a saint?
St. Joseph is the patron saint of the universal Church and families, fathers, and grandfathers. I always look to St. Joseph as I try to be the best father and grandfather.