Andrew M. McLaughlin, Ed.D., Secretary of Elementary Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, was recently recognized by Immaculata University in Immaculata (Chester County) with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.). Dr. McLaughlin received this degree in recognition of his four-decade career supporting students as a teacher, principal, and administrator at all levels of education.
Since February 2018, Dr. McLaughlin has served Archdiocesan efforts in the vital realm of Catholic education as Secretary of Elementary Education overseeing 102 parish and regional elementary schools and 12 early childhood centers throughout the five-county region.
Under his leadership, 16 elementary schools have received the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence distinction by the United States Department of Education. These schools were chosen for this honor based on overall academic excellence.
In 2019, the Office of Elementary Education created the Archdiocesan Schools of Distinction honor, which acknowledges parish and regional elementary schools for exceeding growth expectations or benchmarks in academic achievements via standardized testing. In its inaugural year, 43 schools received this award.
Most recently, Dr. McLaughlin along with his colleagues and their partners in elementary education created the Catholic Schools Onward (CSO) Taskforce. The CSO Taskforce provided parish and regional elementary schools with best practices and new opportunities to navigate the COVID-19 landscape.
Prior to his current position, he served as the Director of Special Education for three years overseeing the Archdiocesan Schools of Special Education.
Before joining the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education Dr. McLaughlin served as Principal of Pocopson Elementary School in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District (Chester County) from 2004-2015. During his tenure, the school was named a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, 2011 Pennsylvania State Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, and was ranked “Number One School” by SchoolDigger. Dr. McLaughlin also served as Principal of Owen J. Roberts Middle School and French Creek Elementary School in the Owen J. Roberts School District (Chester County).
For the first decade of his career, Dr. McLaughlin was a Special Education teacher with the Penn Delco District. Additionally, he served as the Special Education Coordinator and Resource Teacher for the Center Montgomery County AVTS, and as Principal of the Center for Alternative Secondary Education of the Chester County Intermediate Unit.
Dr. McLaughlin earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree, Special Education Teaching Certificate, and a Master of Arts Degree in Education from La Salle University. He also earned Elementary and Secondary Principal Certificates and a Special Education Supervisor’s Certificate from Pennsylvania State University’s Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies.
His Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Superintendent’s Certificate were awarded by Widener University. In addition, he has earned principal and special education certifications from the State of Pennsylvania Department of Education and is licensed to work with students with mental and physical disabilities.
He has also served as a graduate-level adjunct faculty member at Pennsylvania State University, Cabrini College, Neumann University, and Wilkes University.
Dr. McLaughlin is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the Association for Elementary and Secondary School Principals.
A lifelong Catholic, Dr. McLaughlin is a product of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia attending Saint Bernadette Parish School in Drexel Hill (Delaware County) and Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill (Delaware County). He resides in West Chester (Chester County) and is a member of Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish.
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