The first Catholic school in Connecticut was established on November 2, 1830 in the basement of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Hartford. From that auspicious beginning until 2011, the legacy of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford thrives despite relentless current economic pressures. Today, more than 16,000 children and youth learn in 63 Catholic elementary and secondary schools across the three counties of the Archdiocese.
 
Catholicity is an authentic mark of the Archdiocese of Hartford network of schools, represented in the vital statistic that approximately 82% of the total enrollment is Catholic; reflecting not the mere statistic, but the daily "faith-in-action" inspired by Catholic Social Teaching and celebrated in word and worship within the school community. A particular source of pride is that Catholic schools also boast a minority pupil population of 26% while 18% of overall enrollments are students of other faiths whom we welcome with open hearts, open minds, and open doors. Inclusivity, multiculturalism, and global awareness are welcome enhancements permanently in place.
 
Only a few Catholic lay people made up the staff of our first school in 1830. Presently, there are 1,261 lay faculty 87% of whom are Catholic.
 
Throughout the decades since 1830, mostly women religious from a number of dedicated orders would make possible the proliferation of our school network. The golden years of Archdiocesan education were 1961-1974 when, excluding secondary schools, there were 106 elementary schools, and the overwhelming majority of teachers were women religious. Today, only 2% of religious/clergy remain in the ministry of Catholic school education. Female faculty members continue to dominate school staffs, numbering 970 (including part-time), or 75% of elementary, middle, and secondary institutions. Catholic education will remain forever in the debt of those consecrated religious women who taught and left such an amazing intellectual and moral impact on so many who attended our schools. The various ministries of these religious women demonstrated remarkable vision in building an academic and catechetical edifice in which such excellence flourished.
 
Twelve superintendents, initially titled "supervisors" and called to be "servant leaders," saw farther and dreamed bigger. Progress was cumulative, each superintendent widening the parameters of tireless predecessors.
 
In 1906 , Bishop Tierney began the Office of Catholic Schools by appointing Reverend Patrick J. McCormick as "Supevisor of Schools." At that time there were 30,000 students in Catholic elementary, autonomous parish schools. Fr. McCormick begins to systematize and unify the schools of the Diocese by organizing the premier Teachers' Institute at St. John Convent, Middletown.

In 1910 Reverend William J. Fitzgerald, Fr. McCormick's Assistant became the second "Supervisor of Schools." Fr. Fitzgerald rafts first official syllabus and demarcates with precision the school-day class times.

In 1920 Reverend Edwin A. Flynn began revising the 1914 syllabus and advocates Parent-Teacher Associations and establishes kindergartens. Around this time, Religious Sisters began attending summer sessions at the colleges and universities, especially Catholic University, Fordham, Yale, and Harvard to better prepare them for the ministry of teaching.

In 1928 The Most Reverend Maurice F. McAuliffe, Auxiliary Bishop of Hartford, serves for one year as Acting Supervisor of Schools and as President of St. Thomas Seminary.

In 1929 Reverend Austin F. Munich succeeded Bishop McAuliffe as Supervisor of Schools. Fr. Munich initiates uniform testing and regular examinations.

In 1945 Reverend Monsignor Arthur J. Heffernan, Ph.D. appoints a group of roving diocesan supervisors in addition to founding the Diocesan Teachers College and re-inaugurates the Teacher's Institute, held September 1948 at St. Joseph Cathedral.

In 1951 Reverend Monsignor Robert W. Doyle accelerates school organization by massive curriculum revision, proposes and plans construction of three regional high schools, and narrowly wins approval from the State legislature for a Transportation Bill providing buses for non-public school pupils; the latter truly signified the rising credibility of Catholic schools in the public eye, a hard-won recognition back then which can never be taken for granted even now.
 
The Reverend Monsignor James A. Connelly succeeded Msgr. Doyle as Superintendet in 1961, an era earlier cited, was remarkable for its benchmarks of parish growth and subsequent school openings to accommodate a swelling Catholic student population. Official policy was also amended to allow women religious to be school principals, a long overdue recognition of the Sisters who were already 'de facto' directing many parish schools. More progress surged with the unprecedented opening of four new Archdiocesan high schools.
 
The Catholic school "boom" years ended in 1974, exacerbated by the first nationwide fuel crisis, the spiraling cost of living, and the drop in available women religious. In response, Reverend James G. Fanelli (Superintendent-1974-'89) established the nation's first formal Archdiocesan Development Program for Catholic elementary and secondary schools. In 1977, Fr. Fanelli introduced the HOPES Dinner recognzing Archdiocesan and local school volunteers. In 1982 with the support of business leaders, he also established the Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools. Fr. Fanelli adopts "The Family Life Program" as a required part of the elementary curriculum and the "Rainbows for All God's Children," a program desgined to heal the attitudes for children hurting through loss by death or divorce.

In 1989, Brother John M. McGovern, C.S.C., a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross and the first consecrated religious brother to serve as superintendent, convened the Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents, a sentinel organization to inform Catholic parents about important trends in legislation affecting Catholic schools.

Reverend Zigford J. Kriss succeeded Brother John McGovern in 1992 and with episcopal consent broadened the financial base of the school network to include all parishes helping financially, even those without schools.
 
In August 2004, Dale R. Hoyt was appointed by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell as the twelfth superintendent and the first lay person to serve in this position. His tenure began with "Catholic Schools: Education for a Lifetime" as the branding for the Archdiocese of Hartford. Superintendent Hoyt and his staff have enhanced the curriculum design to meet 21st century teaching skills; initiated Catholic social teaching into the curiculum standards; advanced school boards in becoming consultative and committee-driven, increased exposure through marketing campaigns, launched the first Office of Catholic Schools website, secured funding to advance alumni giving in the parish elementary/middle schools; partnered with the University of Dayton in establishing the distance learning adult faith formation program; updated all policies and procedures to meet current laws and appropriate practices; introduced the Superintendent's Summa Scholar Awards for seniors in High School; and published and implemented Common Threads which offers the strategic direction for Catholic schools and the Office of Catholic Schools. Superintendent Hoyt has called for an Educational Forum in 2012 that will provide for a progress report to Common Threads, and develop new priorities for the Office of Catholic Schools and the network of Catholic schools.

In 2008, the Catholic School Board of the Archdiocese of Hartford, a consultative board, was awarded national recognition as an Outstanding School Board by the National Catholic Educational Association. In addition, the National Catholic Educational Association has recognized priests, principals and teachers from the Archdiocese of Hartford as being nationally distinguished contributors to the advancement of Catholic School education.

In August of 2011, the newly written purpose and vision statement came into being based on clergy meetings, planning by the Archdiocesan School Board, and conversations with Catholic school administrators. This purpose and vision is not just an idea or an abstraction; it is a palpable statement that invites others to share in our mission of educating future generations of holy men and women.

In November of 2011, St. Gabriel School, Windsor was named the only private school in New England to receive the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education for the 10-11 school year. Other Blue Ribbon Schools in the Archdiocese include St. James School, Manchester (09-10), St. Martha School, Enfield (09-10), Sacred Heart Academy, Hamden ('92-'93), St. Brendan School, New Haven ('89-90), East Catholic High School, Manchester ('88-'89), Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford ('88-'89), and St. Francis School, New Haven ('85-'86).

Today, many of our wonderful pastors are at the helm, committed to improving the quality of Catholic schools, led by a true champion of the cause of Catholic school education, Archbishop Henry J. Mansell. On September 6, 2005, Archbishop Mansell approved the first Nativity School established at St. Martin de Porres Academy, New Haven. He initiated a tuition assistance component of the Archbishop's Annual Appeal for Catholic elementary school students and in January 2008, published a pastoral letter on Catholic school education, "Together, We Produce Great People." Each year Archbishop Mansell is involved in and advocates for greater support from the federal and State legislators.
 
We remain steadfast in our purpose and vision to educate students intellectually, spiritually, morally and physically in an environment that is Christ centered. Student recruitment across the spectrum remains vigorous. Excellence in education is our hallmark in preparing future generations with the moral fiber to succeed in life. Development initiatives seem to have found "true north" on the Catholic school compass of priorities. Yet in our new millennium, Connecticut parish school closings are stubborn realities because of a wavering economy, lack of resources from federal and state governments, shifting demographics and decreasing birth rates.
 
Archbishop Mansell reminds us in his pastoral letter that "Our Catholic schools must, without compromise, be living witnesses to the unity we have in Jesus. We must celebrate the legacy of Catholic school education and embrace a future with great confidence in our young people. We, the Catholic Church of Hartford, must mobilize ourselves to strengthen the ministry of Catholic school education and to profess confidently that, together, we produce great people".

Throughout these 181 years it is evident that the network of Catholic schools has made steady progress to keep abreast of the "Signs of the Times". As we proceed forward, we ask for your prayers, support and resources in our shared quest to enrich this great legacy in the second decade of the 21st century, and for many decades and centuries to come.

(This document originated on November 2006 in preparation for the historical 2007 Educational Symposium. Updates have been written as history unfolds.)