Superintendent of Catholic Schools Receives NCEA Award

Dr. Kathleen Cepelka, Ph.D, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, has been chosen by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) to receive this year’s John F. Meyers Award. 

This distinguished award is given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to Catholic education in the areas of development, public relations, scholarship programs, financial management and/or government relations. The award seeks to recognize educational professionals whose work has impact on the national level.

Dr. Cepelka has spent more than 40 years serving Catholic schools in various capacities. Prior to being named superintendent of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, she served Marquette University’s College of Education as both a full and part-time faculty member, including the roles of associate dean of the College of Education and director of teacher education. Today, she oversees 14 secondary and 99 elementary schools in the 10-county Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

On a daily basis, Dr. Cepelka motivates students, faculty and principals to strive for excellence in the Catholic tradition. 

“Catholic education is my life and my passion. I am so honored and so humbled to be part of the landscape at the national level,” she said. “I gratefully accept this award on behalf of the work of all our Catholic educators in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.”

Dr. Cepelka will receive the John F. Meyer award April 1, 2013 in Houston.

Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, NCEA is a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction, and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing, and teaching mission of the Church. It 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. For more information about this organization, please visit www.ncea.org.