Catholic education: a dividend for life

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Superintendent Rosemary Henry, left, shakes hands and greets St. Pius X 6th graders Josef Fischer and Araceli Saenz in Spanish at the end of Kathi Urbis’ 6th grade Spanish class. In the background Ryan Lennan and Trey Lovato prepare for their next class.

Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

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Rosemary Henry, who holds a doctorate in family studies with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy, is the new superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Henry brings a wealth of experience, both in her preparation and execution of education. Her drive as an educator is imparting Catholic values in an educational setting.

​For the past three years Henry and her husband Jack Murdock lived in Ecuador, where she taught English as a Second Language. Living in South America was fascinating, she said, but it was not feeding her soul; “it wasn’t Catholic education.”

In October, Bishop Michael Mulvey appointed Henry as superintendent of Catholic schools in the diocese. Since her appointment, Henry has been visiting schools in the diocese and meeting with pastors, principals and teachers and found them to be “highly competent and dedicated leaders, who believe in the importance of Catholic education as part of the Church’s evangelizing mission.”

Henry brings more than 20 years experience in Catholic education, having served as superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Buffalo and assistant superintendent for instructional services and accreditation for the Archdiocese of Seattle. She has also served students as an elementary, middle and high school principal in Fort Worth, Tyler and Dallas.

She has studied educational systems across the globe, having served as an ambassador of the United States Department of Education to Japan, South Korea, Russia and the Peoples Republic of China. Her experience in curriculum development plans span from early childhood to university level.

Henry received her bachelor’s degree in English and Education at the University of Texas at Dallas and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling and her doctorate degree at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. Her post doctorate studies include the superintendent program at the University of Texas at Tyler and an administrative and a mid-management program on supervision and administration at East Texas State University in Commerce.

“I feel blessed in many ways to be able to serve the diocese and work with principals and pastors to really promote Catholic Schools and excellence of Catholic Schools–to insure their long-term success,” Henry said. She wants to ensure that Catholic schools in the diocese continue to: flourish, be Christ-centered environments, be academically strong and cultivate leaders.

“I see the light and the grand spirit in so many of our leaders, who are willing to share their faith journey, who are courageous and strong–willing to unite and work collaboratively to make our schools affordable, accessible and viable. To create irresistible schools,” Henry said.

In the short time she has been here, Henry has surmised that Catholic schools are the diocese’s “best-kept secrets.”

“We need to be sharing the good news and the miracles that happen in our schools every day’,” she said, and added the diocese needs “to assess where our strengths are and identify areas we need to improve and start improving them.”

Henry said she would like to see advancement in technology and would like to help people see the value of a Catholic education.

“I think that with a lot of effort and intentionality, we can continue to provide environments that parents are looking for and be schools of excellence in all areas. I believe those who have left Catholic education will come back. I believe young families who have children and are school age will come to our schools and we can engage the parents and the community in our schools. It’s a dividend for life,” Henry said.

In Catholic school environments, students develop spiritually, intellectually, morally and socially, Henry said.

“It is a good deal for parents. Catholic school systems are outstanding and we have to get parents to value Catholic Education as much as we value it,” Henry said.