Archbishop Gomez names Sister Carla Marie Lusch, SSND, superintendent of Catholic Schools

    SAN ANTONIO • Archbishop José H. Gomez announced his appointment of Sister Carla Marie Lusch, SSND, as the Archdiocese of San Antonio’s new superintendent of Catholic Schools on May 3.
     “Sister Carla has a successful career in Catholic education and will help craft and implement an ambitious new plan for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of San Antonio,” Archbishop Gomez said as he made her selection official at the Catholic Schools Office Appreciation Dinner attended by principals, pastors and volunteers. Her appointment will take effect June 1, 2005.
    Archbishop Gomez stated that “Catholic schools are a great treasure for our church that never lose their value. I am confident that Sister Carla will continue to be a great blessing for the archdiocese. She has accepted this new responsibility at a critical moment for our schools.”

    With Sister Lusch’s appointment, Archbishop Gomez has solidly placed Catholic schools among his top priorities. “We must give a more solid spiritual and educational foundation to our students. I believe Sister Carla’s deep experience and charisma make her extremely qualified to lead our Catholic schools on their mission to prepare today’s children to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.”
    Sister Carla brings 34 years of experience as a teacher and administrator to the 47 Catholic schools, 14,000 students, 1,400 administrators, faculty and staff in the archdiocese. Archbishop Gomez said, “Sister Carla has a keen understanding of the challenges facing our Catholic schools. That knowledge will be essential to the continued success of Catholic education in our archdiocese.”
    Her selection came at the end of a comprehensive national search that began after the resignation of Dale Hoyt in June of 2004. Hoyt had held the superintendent’s post for nearly eight years. He left San Antonio to accept the superintendent’s post in the Archdiocese of Hartford, Conn. Sister Therese San Miguel, OSF, director of Educational/Formational Services for the archdiocese, stated, “Even though there were many applicants for the position, you know the Holy Spirit is moving in the room when the entire Search Committee proposes that Sister Carla be approached to accept the position.”

    For the past two years, Sister Lusch served the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of San Antonio through her work in teacher recruitment, teacher credential review, federal programs and safe environment program. She also served as the archdiocesan liaison to Region 20 and SAISD representatives who administer the programs that are federally funded through the No Child Left Behind Act. At the state level, Sister Lusch was instrumental in writing and revising policies and standards that govern Catholic schools.
    The new superintendent will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of long range strategic priorities for the Catholic Schools Office. She wholeheartedly believes “the hallmark of our schools must be their Catholic identity. Everything that is done or said within the Catholic school must reflect our living out the Gospel message.” Sister Lusch said, “We must find better ways to tell the story of the wonderful things that are occurring in our schools — parents involved in the educational process, small classes, committed teachers and special programs to meet the needs of all students from gifted to learning challenged.”
    She said, “I express my gratitude to Archbishop Gomez and the selection committee for offering me this opportunity to be of service to the Catholic school community throughout the archdiocese. I realize that one of the challenges facing Catholic schools is that of maintaining quality educational programs at a price that parents can afford. I welcome the opportunity to seek out new ways to ensure Catholic schools continue their mission well into the future.”
    Born in St. Louis, Mo., Sister Lusch is the second of five children. She attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through post graduate work and entered the religious community of School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Louis Province in 1967, taking first vows Jan. 1, 1970.