The Chief Administrators of Catholic Education (CACE) has its origins in the beginning years of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). While the name and organization of CACE has changed over the years, it has served as the primary professional organization for Catholic school superintendents and catechetical leaders since 1908. 

 

Among the first members of NCEA, as members of the original Parish School Department, school superintendents from diocesan and religious orders began conferring informally as a separate NCEA sub-group in 1906.  This group started to meet because of their unique needs, perspectives, and the importance of collegiality.  So successful was their ad hoc interaction that in 1908 they became an official section, under the Parish School Department of NCEA. Almost 100 years later, the same innovative sense of purpose and inspiration that brought those first members together still guides their successors in CACE.

 

Known since the early 1970's as Chief Administrators of Catholic Education the department today is made up of three divisions that work together in building Catholic schools and parish catechetical programs.  These divisions are: Total Catholic Education, Schools and Religious Education.

 

The development of Catholic schools and catechetical programs in the United States is a story without parallel in the history of American Catholicism.  The commitment of the Catholic community in building schools and parish catechetical programs, the dedication of religious communities in staffing them and the involvement of the laity insuring their future have been recognized and celebrated. We, in CACE, like to recognize and celebrate the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education for their dedicated service from the past, the present and well into the future for making Catholic schools and catechetical programs into everything that we have today.

 

A great resource to learn more about the history of CACE is the book; Lighting the Way 1908 to 1935: The Early Years of Catholic School Superintendency, By John J. Augenstein.  Available through the NCEA book store.

 

 

 

The scope of Catholic education includes Catholic Schools, parish religious education programs, and other programs designed to foster lifelong growth in faith and the realization of God given human potential. The Department of Chief Administrators of Catholic Education (CACE) professes the uniqueness and interdependence of the various and diverse efforts that comprise the ministry of Catholic education from diocese to diocese.  Therefore, with this in mind, the CACE Department exists to:

 

 

Through the efforts of the CACE Department, Catholic education and the mission of the NCEA are furthered.

 

 

Department Email Address: cace@ncea.org

 

 

 

Daniel F. Curtin                                                                                              

Executive Director

 

Daniel F. Curtin is a native Washingtonian and has served Catholic education as a teacher, counselor and administrator at the secondary, archdiocesan and national levels. Among his various roles in education, his highlights include serving as the first lay principal of any school conducted by the Brothers of Holy Cross (Mackin Catholic High School, Washington, DC), and serving on the Board of Directors of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (1985-1991). He also served on the Middle States Commission for Secondary Schools and chairperson of numerous evaluation teams. In 1989, Mr. Curtin was appointed acting president of Archbishop Carroll High School, Washington, D.C. with the task of reorganizing three archdiocesan high schools into one co-educational institution. He was elected chair of the Mount Saint Mary’s University Board of Trustees (1999-2001).

 

From 1985-1999, Mr. Curtin served on the personal staff of the late James Cardinal Hickey as Secretary for Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Washington. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education (CACE) of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). He is a member of the Board of Directors of Bishop McNamara High School, Forestville, Maryland and serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) at the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Curtin also serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia.

 

Mr. Curtin has received numerous awards including the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award from Pope John Paul II in 1983 in recognition of his work on behalf of the Catholic Church.

 

Mr. Curtin holds degrees from Mount Saint Mary’s University (B.S.), Emmitsburg, MD, George Mason University, (M.Ed.) Fairfax, VA and the University of Notre Dame (M.A.), Notre Dame, IN. In May 2002, Mr. Curtin was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University.

 

 

 

Associate Executive Director

 

Timothy Dwyer was appointed Associate Executive Director of the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education in July 2001. Prior to that he served for nine years as Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Rochester, New York, and for five years in the same capacity for the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan. While in Rochester, Dwyer led a planning process that created a system approach to Catholic elementary schools. He played a critical role in securing over $50,000,000 in support for Catholic schools in the diocese. Prior to his central office positions, Dwyer served as an elementary school principal at three Catholic schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan for nine years.

 

He has served as a member of the CACE Executive Committee, Schools Division Advisory Committee and National Association of Boards, Councils and Commissions of Catholic Education (NABCCCE). He was instrumental in the development of a series of workshops focusing on the financial management of Catholic schools. He presents these workshops regularly, and is a frequent presenter at NCEA's annual convention and CACE Meeting.

 

Tim Dwyer earned Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Michigan State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University.

 

 

Administrative Assistant/Meeting Planner