Kathleen O'Hara
Kathleen O’Hara is a cum laude graduate of Mercyhurst College of Erie, Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with minors in Theater Arts and Secondary Education. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Adult and Continuing Education from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. in Urban Leadership and Policy Studies in Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is currently the Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. She provides support and service to all areas of operations and strategic planning for the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, including approximately 15,000 students and 1,200 faculty and staff.
Before becoming superintendent, she served as the associate superintendent and coordinated the curriculum, assessment, personnel and professional development and accountability efforts of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. She has also worked at Johnson County Community College as the program director of off-campus and non-traditional credit instruction. In addition, she has taught at all levels of education, including the graduate level at several different locations including Benedictine College.
Kathy has received several distinguished service and outstanding faculty awards. She has given numerous presentations on various educational topics to a variety of audiences. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees at Benedictine College, Kathy serves on the boards of Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas; Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas; and Conception Seminary College.
Kathy and her husband, Jim, have been married for 38 years. They have five adult children, two of whom graduated from Benedictine College, and 13 grandchildren. Kathy and Jim are members of St. Joseph parish in Shawnee, Kansas. Kathy was born in Philadelphia and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she attended Catholic schools first grade through high school. Jim also attended Catholic schools throughout his life. Jim was employed by Kansas City Life Insurance Company until he became disabled from Multiple Sclerosis in 1994.
Kathy enjoys reading, fitness activities, sewing and other small home improvement projects, and spending time with her family.
