Curriculum Blog - Kristin Dixon

I have been pondering this day for a couple of weeks now. I am full of questions, full of “what ifs?” but more than anything, I am full of gratitude. Grateful for the many mentors in my life, but focused on one mentor in particular, Dr. Pat Haggarty. In the spring of 2014, Fr. Rowan introduced Dr. Haggarty to us all as the rocket fuel we needed to propel the newly approved Strategic Plan. There is no doubt that Pat fueled the plan with laughter, knowledge, and love. He worked tirelessly building relationships, and connecting us to the important local and national issues concerning our Catholic schools. Pat helped us all believe in the mission “To serve 25,000 students to be Christ-like leaders by 2020.” This vision will continue to inspire us and move us all in a common direction.

Three important principles guided Dr. Haggarty’s work with us: communion, solidarity and subsidiarity. Each of his efforts connected us back to our purpose as we deepened our understanding. Pat grounded us in our identity as schools with a responsibility to the greater Church in communion with the Archbishop. He emphasized solidarity among our 74 schools through the building of relationships with our office and throughout the regions. Finally, he stressed the importance of subsidiarity through ongoing leadership development and the design of tools to assist principals at the local level.

I am so grateful, too, for his friendship and belief in me. We wish him every success in his new position. We look forward to the new ways that he will continue to impact Catholic education and offer his on-going support and care for our schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle.