By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Former Diocese of Evansville Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Daryl Hagan said the work of diocesan educators “really does matter.”
Dr. Hagan, who served as superintendent for 12 years before accepting a position at The Catholic University of America, was this year’s speaker for the Back to School event for educators. Prior to the annual Back to School Mass at St. Benedict Cathedral, Dr. Hagan spoke to diocesan educators Aug. 5 at Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville.
“The only reason I would have left you is to go to the Catholic University of America,” Dr. Hagan said. “Where what the good work that you do, I can duplicate now across the nation.”
During his presentation, Dr. Hagan said the environment of the school and environment of the classroom matters. He encouraged the diocesan educators to reflect if they have done enough regarding the environment they provide for students.
“What can you do to help increase the prayer in your classroom,” Dr. Hagan asked. “One, I think everybody should have some type of prayer space. Maybe it’s a prayer table. For those that were in the 30 years of experience and more, we all had prayer tables. Every one of us. Every classroom I had had a prayer table.”
Dr. Hagan thanked the diocesan educators for their hard work in this ministry. He said how they speak to students, how they present lessons and how they walk down the hall can have a “ripple effect for generations to come.”
Dr. Hagan said he was grateful to spend time with the diocesan educators as they began the 2025-2026 school year.
“I’m so grateful to you. I’m so grateful for you. And I want you to remember that what you do matters,” Dr. Hagan said.
Building a Future of Hope
Diocese of Evansville Superintendent of Catholic Schools Michelle Priar said this year’s theme for the 2025-2026 school year is Building a Future of Hope. Priar said there is a lot in our world that can cause us to feel concern or doubt, fear or just have negativity in a general sense. They wanted this year’s theme of Building a Future of Hope to counter all of that, she said.
“We truly have too many things to be grateful for, to celebrate and to just be encouraged by,” she said. “Catholic Schools in our diocese are truly thriving. We have dedicated teachers, staff, administrators and pastors who truly believe in our mission.”
Priar said students are growing in their faith and expressing it in a way that is inspiring and humbling. They also have individuals in the parishes who work hard to provide resources and tools the diocesan educators need to teach the students, she said.
Priar said we certainly have many reasons to feel hope. God easily graces us with the gift of hope and offers it to us. We have to choose it, embrace it, express it and share it, she said.
“I think we also have to be mindful that sometimes we have to teach these things to our students because they all don’t come to us with this mindset,” Priar said. “We have to model this for them. Just as important as it is to teach them how to read and to write, it’s also crucial we give them an anchor for their souls. An unwavering source of optimism for when things get tough for them, because it will. We have to be builders of hope.”
Priar said diocesan educators are entrusted with the sacred task of forming young minds and hearts in the beautiful, hopeful light of Christ. She said while teaching is a tough profession, the rewards are wonderful. She said her hope for the diocesan educators this school year is that they experience these rewards.
“In those moments of joy, I truly hope that you realize the hard work is worth it,” Priar said. “It still is for me, and I pray that it still is for you as well.”