Today, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced the creation of an Executive Board of Elementary Education. This entity is formed in response to recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission and was created to better assist local pastors, parishes, elementary and regional schools with strategic planning, marketing, enrollment and governance to help sustain, grow, and strengthen their schools. In addition to the Executive Board, Advisory Councils for elementary education will be created in each of the surrounding five counties.

Together the Executive Board of Elementary Education and the County Advisory Councils will work closely and leverage the support of the Faith in the Future Foundation, Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS) and the Independent Mission Schools.

Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, who oversees Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and will serve as the chair of the Executive Board, said, "The Executive Board of Elementary Education and the five County Advisory Councils will work very closely with the Office of Catholic Education and the principals of the elementary schools." Fitzgerald said. "The collective mission of the Executive Board and the Advisory Councils will be to understand and plan for the demographic shifts, enrollment trends, and financial pressures that all schools face today so that working more strategically across the counties we can provide accessible, affordable, high quality Catholic education for all of those who desire it."

The Executive Board has been working since October 2012 to confirm potential members and assist in the formation of the five County Advisory Councils. The County Advisory Council members will be appointed by the regional bishop in each of the five counties. Each council will be made up of principals, pastors, parents and representatives from the community.

The current members of the Executive Board of Elementary Education are: Monsignor Joseph Marino, Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Chester County; Monsignor Daniel Kutys, Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Sister Carroll Isselmann, I.H.M., Director of Strategic Initiatives at Immaculata University; Victoria Kim Flaville, Senior Vice President for Programs and Chief Operating Office for the Connelly Foundation; Paul Mullholland, Retired Treasurer at Sunoco, Inc.; Gerald J. Parsons, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Communications Test Design, Inc. (CTDI); Brian Zwaan, Co-founder, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Lending Officer and Director of Penn Liberty Bank; Alfred Christopher Dezzi, Vice President, Treasurer and Director, The Dezzi Group, LTD; Monsignor Michael J. Matz, Pastor, St. Genevieve Parish, Montgomery County; and Jacqueline Coccia, Superintendent of Elementary Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747