Contextual Background
In October 2021, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia publicly announced that Sister Maureen Lawrence McDermott, I.H.M., had resigned as Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer of Secondary Schools due to health reasons. Sister Maureen passed away a month later and Mrs. Nancy Kurtz, a veteran administrator from the Office of Catholic Education, took on the duties of Superintendent on an interim basis.
Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez appointed a diverse search committee consisting of representatives from senior Archdiocesan administration, the Office of Catholic Education, Archdiocesan high schools, local Catholic colleges, foundations supporting Catholic education, and veteran Catholic educators from outside the Archdiocese to assist him in identifying the best leader to serve our high schools and schools of special education. The Archdiocese retained the services of Partners in Mission to guide this search.
Over the course of the past several months, an extensive national search brought forward a number of highly qualified candidates who participated in a process of dialogue and discernment with the search committee. From this field, a handful were recommended as finalists to the Archbishop and he recently met with those individuals.
Today’s Announcement
Today, Archbishop Pérez is pleased to announce that he has appointed Dr. Brooke Cortese Tesche, as the next Superintendent of Secondary Schools and Schools of Special Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Her appointment is effective, Monday, February 13, 2023.
In making this appointment, Archbishop Pérez said, “I am overjoyed to welcome Dr. Brooke Tesche as the next Superintendent of Secondary Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Our search committee was tasked with identifying a seasoned educational leader with the intangible qualities necessary to help our schools flourish as centers of faith formation where every academic and extracurricular activity radiates with Christ’s example of love and service.
I’m confident that Dr. Tesche’s deep faith, professional experience, and abundant enthusiasm will deeply impact the work taking place in the Office of Catholic Education and our schools in a transformational way. Her work will be instrumental to advancing Catholic education and to fulfilling our mission of forming young men and women to be servant leaders with the zealous hearts of Missionary Disciples. I look forward to the great things she will accomplish working closely with our school leaders and administrators in the central office.
Please join me in expressing prayerful best wishes to Dr. Tesche as she prepares to assume her new role in service to Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Please also join me in extending deep gratitude to Mrs. Nancy Kurtz for her faithful and dedicated service as Interim Superintendent over the past year.”
As Superintendent, Dr. Tesche will provide faith formation, academic, and operational direction and support to the 15 Archdiocesan high schools and 3 Archdiocesan schools of special education throughout the five-county region that serve tens of thousands of students each day.
In this role, she will work in close collaboration with key administrators in the Office of Catholic Education’s secondary education division and report directly to the Chief Operating Officer for Secondary Schools. In addition to a variety of other key duties, Dr. Tesche will also maintain and strengthen relationships with administrative leadership from the Office of Catholic Education’s elementary division, the Office of the Vicar for Faith Formation, local Catholic colleges and universities, and a variety of philanthropic organizations supporting the work of Catholic education in the region.
Background Regarding Dr. Brooke Cortese Tesche
Dr. Tesche is a veteran educator and administrator with over two decades of classroom and administrative experience in Catholic education. Notably, she previously served as Secretary for Evangelization, Formation, and Education in the Diocese of Allentown. In that role, she was the senior operational leader responsible for serving the needs of approximately 20,000 students in 27 elementary schools, 7 secondary schools, 3 Special Education Centers, and 84 parish based religious education programs.
Currently, Dr. Tesche serves as the Special Education Supervisor of Life Skills/Transition/Project SEARCH for the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 in Easton, Pennsylvania. In this position, she works as the senior operational leader for special education needs involving 15 school districts across three counties. In addition, she has direct oversight for special education programming for students K-21 with intellectual disabilities in Life Skills Programming, and Transition Services.
In reflecting on her appointment Dr. Tesche said, “As the next Superintendent for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia I am excited and filled with joy for the opportunity to accompany the next generation of youth in becoming missionary disciples.”
She went on to say, “Both personally and professionally this is a homecoming. My faith formation began here in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia with first holy communion and confirmation along with my formal education at the bachelor’s, master’s degree and doctorate levels. Our family and friends are thrilled to have us home and we are honored by this opportunity. I most recently joined the community in running the Philadelphia marathon this past November and my husband and I are looking forward to relocating in the coming months.
As Superintendent, I look forward to bringing an objective perspective to the great successes our Catholic schools are experiencing in the post pandemic era. I will bring my experience, joy, and hope to this role while listening to the needs, recognizing the gifts, and identifying areas for continued innovation to enhance our future. I value being a member of a talented team including our administration, teachers, inspiring youth, and committed school families.
The possibility of becoming Superintendent of Secondary School in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is something that I prayed about intensely. I don’t know what the future holds but I trust in God’s goodness and His plan for our schools. I have experienced God’s saving grace and I’m excited to help lead our young people to that type of encounter. As the next Superintendent I will lead with love.”
Dr. Tesche earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education from West Chester University; a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership with a concentration in Special Education Supervision from Saint Joseph’s University; an MBA from DeSales University; as well as Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Doctorate Degree in Education from Immaculata University.
In 2019, she was recognized by the School Sisters of Saint Francis in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with the Women of Strength award. Dr. Tesche was also named a “Trailblazer in Catholic Education” by DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.
Archbishop Pérez will formally welcome Dr. Tesche and introduce her to a joint meeting of secondary school administrators in February.
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Editor’s Note: A photograph of Dr. Tesche is attached for publication purposes courtesy of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
For additional information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, please visit www.aopcatholicschools.org/.
Contact: Kenneth A. Gavin
Chief Communications Officer
215-587-3747 (office)