The Archdiocese of Denver and the Office of Catholic Schools (OCS) have announced Dr. Kemmery Hill as the new Superintendent of Denver Catholic Schools. Dr. Hill will take over full-time on June 1, 2024, after completing her role as principal of St. John the Baptist Catholic School for this school year.
Dr. Hill is a product of the Archdiocese of Denver. She attended Sacred Heart of Jesus in Boulder and started her teaching and administrative career at St. John the Baptist in Longmont. Recently, she began her central administrative work with the Catholic Schools in Northern Colorado as their Regional Associate Superintendent.
“The Archdiocese has been my life’s work and passion, and I am humbled to be the next leader of our schools,” Dr. Hill said. “I am incredibly excited to be given this opportunity to assist Archbishop Aquila in his pursuit of making Catholic schools sanctuaries of education that serve our families in Northern Colorado. Our schools exist to help parents bring their children into an encounter with Jesus Christ.”
Dr. Hill brings an abundance of experience and knowledge to the role of superintendent. In addition to her tenure as principal of St. John the Baptist, she received her Bachelor’s of education in history with an emphasis in secondary education, a master’s degree in reading and curriculum development, and her doctorate in 2019.
“Catholic Schools have been entrusted with a message and a mission,” she said. “Our schools are places of evangelization and catechesis, existing to equip our students to proclaim God’s remarkable works. I love the culture we are building in our schools in the Archdiocese of Denver. We strive to put God first by honoring and relating everything we do to him in a personal and powerful way.”
Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila is grateful to Kemmery for her excellent work at St. John the Baptist Catholic School and her commitment to the mission and vision for Catholic schools.
“Our schools remain committed to providing an authentic Catholic education and are vital for forming followers of Jesus Christ, especially in our new apostolic age,” Archbishop Aquila said. “With the strong foundation laid by (outgoing superintendent) Elias Moo, I’m confident Kemmery will continue to help foster a love for truth, beauty, and goodness within the hearts of our future disciples. She comes with a wealth of experience that will serve Catholic education well.”
Keith Parsons, Chief Operating Office of the Archdiocese of Denver, emphasizes how OCS’ mission is vital to the overall mission of the Archdiocese.
“We are fortunate to have Kemmery to carry on the mission Elias began six years ago,” said Parsons. ”That clarity of mission helped shape the process for recruiting the next superintendent and recognizing the strengths Kemmery brings from her time as principal of St. John the Baptist in Longmont. She is beloved by her community and has long strived to bring Catholic education to every child, regardless of their abilities. The Office of Catholic Schools team remains committed to continuing the work of renewal the Lord has inspired in our hearts. Under Kemmery’s leadership, the work will continue to provide excellent care and support to school pastors, school leaders, and school families across the Archdiocese.”
For her part, Dr. Hill is indeed ready and willing to carry on that mission as the new superintendent — a mission that she’s already been an integral part of for many years.
“I look forward to serving our Archdiocese to the best of my ability,” she said. “I have a deep passion for the mission of Catholic education. I love our Lord and his Church and want to do all I can to further the mission of Catholic education in our Archdiocese.”
The Office of Catholic Schools covers over 35 schools, which includes 900 teachers, and oversees the Catholic education of 9,000 students from preschool through 12th grade. They are considered a national leader in mission and academic renewal.
