Dr. Daryl Hagan, the director of the Institute for the Transformation of Catholic Education at The Catholic University of America, has been named the recipient of the 2025 C. Albert Koob Merit Award, one of five President’s Awards conferred annually by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).
The award recognizes individuals whose work has made significant contributions to Catholic education. Dr. Hagan, who serves in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, will be honored April 21 in Orlando, Florida, ahead of the NCEA 2025 Convention.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hagan has contributed to the spiritual and academic renewal of Catholic schools across the United States. Among his most notable accomplishments is the launch of Lumen Accreditation, the first national pre-K through 12 Catholic school accreditation program.
“I believe it (the award) is the culmination of my years of service in this ministry,” he said.
Dr. Hagan is also the author of Communion and Community: 46 Ways to Engage Catholic School Faculty and Staff During the School Year, which he describes as the cornerstone of his ministry.
At the Institute for the Transformation of Catholic Education, Dr. Hagan leads a team that supports the renewal of Catholic schools through teacher and leader formation programs, school accreditation, and research.
“We inspire and promote the spiritual, intellectual, cultural, and operational renewal and transformation of our nation’s Pre-K–12 Catholic schools,” he said.
He identified one of the most pressing challenges in Catholic education today as the formation of teachers grounded in a Catholic worldview.
“This formation must be rooted in a Catholic worldview that sees the light of the Gospel in all branches of learning,” Dr. Hagan said.
To help meet that need, the Institute for the Transformation of Catholic Education offers professional development opportunities, including “How Do I Know My School is Catholic?”, a program exploring the four pillars of Catholic education: spiritual, intellectual, cultural, and operational.
Dr. Hagan also encourages Catholic school leaders to integrate the mission of forming the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – into their work by modeling it themselves.
“We can’t give what we don’t have to others,” he said. “We need to make sure that our teachers and leaders are striving to model this in their own lives first.”
A longtime participant in NCEA events, Dr. Hagan said the honor is especially meaningful because of the relationships he has formed over decades of service.
“Over the years, I have come to know and learn from many distinguished Catholic educators who have helped form me in my ministry,” he said. “To be recognized with this group is a testament to their good work.”
Dr. Hagan has served the mission of Catholic education for 40 years as a teacher, principal, superintendent, director, accreditation lead evaluator and author. From 2010 to 2022, he served as superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana. Prior to this position, he served for 13 years as principal of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School in the Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky.
Reflecting on his years as a Catholic school principal, Dr. Hagan shared a story from his time at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School. A student with significant family challenges was discovered to be gifted in art shortly before graduation. The community encouraged the student’s talent, and Dr. Hagan asked for a piece of original artwork before the student graduated.
“Days before graduation, my request was granted, and to my surprise, the student had drawn a beautiful picture of the Blessed Mother holding Jesus,” he said. “My wife had it framed, and it still hangs in my office today as a reminder of the gift that Catholic education can bring to all students, especially those who struggle.”
Dr. Hagan credits prayer, daily Mass, and his family – including three grandchildren – for helping him remain grounded in faith amid his responsibilities.
He said he finds hope for the future of Catholic education in the growing support for school choice and in the people working to build and renew Catholic schools.
“Through the institute, I have met bishops, superintendents, higher education colleagues, presidents, pastors, principals, and teachers who are working within this important ministry to ensure a bright future for Catholic schools,” he said.
To those discerning a vocation in Catholic education, particularly in leadership, he advises shadowing strong Catholic school leaders and turning to God in prayer.
“Whatever one may perceive the role to be, I can promise that until you step into those shoes, you really don’t understand the full scope of the roles and responsibilities,” Dr. Hagan said.
