Kathy Mears
Executive Director
Elementary Schools Department

Kathy comes to the NCEA from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis where she was the assistant superintendent for Catholic schools. Kathy has served as both a teacher and a principal in Catholic elementary schools. Kathy brings extensive experience in special education, public policy, school improvement programs, and professional development. Many NCEA members know Kathy from her work on national committees and leadership roles in NCEA programs.

A graduate of Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Illinois, Kathy earned her master degree from Butler University and concentrated most of her 31-year career in special education as a teacher and administrator at all levels of education in elementary and secondary schools.

Beginning in 2002, Kathy served as the director of learning resources with Project EXCEED, a major school improvement initiative funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. and other generous donors. She inaugurated Project REACH, a program to help teachers provide for special needs children in regular classrooms. This program successfully increased the number of special needs students served by Catholic schools. 

Appointed by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis Office of Catholic Education to the position of assistant superintendent for Catholic schools in 2009, Kathy has been recognized for her leadership in coordinating public policy initiatives as well as government programs including the introduction of state school vouchers and the North Central Association school accreditation process.

Kathy served as the local chairperson of the 105th annual National Catholic Educational Association Convention and Exhibition in 2008.  

Relocated from her beloved midwest, Kathy lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband, Brian. She has two grown children. 

Established in 1904, the NCEA is the largest private professional education organization in the world, representing 200,000 Catholic educators serving 7.6 million students in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, in religious education programs, in seminaries, and in colleges and universities.