by Olivia Martin-Davies
olivia.martin@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Dr. Erin Vader never planned to become a teacher.
In fact, when her mother ..urged her to apply to be a second grade teacher at Our Mother of Mercy School in Fort Worth, Texas, Vader was certain teaching wasn’t for her.
The Lord disagreed.
Two applications later, Vader signed a contract to teach seventh grade language arts at another area Catholic school.
“I didn’t know what I was doing,” said Vader. “I ended up with probably the world’s best seventh grade class ever. They were very kind to me and I realized, ‘Oh, I am a teacher. This is what I’m supposed to do.’
“Interestingly, years later, I ended up being principal of Our Mother of Mercy.
“It came full circle!”
With 30 years working in Catholic education, Vader joined the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas as superintendent of Catholic schools on Aug. 1.
Vader comes to the archdiocese from the Diocese of Jefferson City, where she served as superintendent from 2020 to 2026.
Father Michael Hawken, vicar general and moderator of the curia and chair of the superintendent search committee, said the committee sought a leader equally committed to Catholic identity and academic excellence.
“The search committee’s goal was to find a faith-filled leader whose love for the Lord and the Catholic Church would guide their work,” he said.
The committee was also seeking someone able to collaborate with pastors, principals, teachers, school boards and others across the archdiocese.
“We believe we have found these qualifications and many additional gifts in Dr. Erin Vader,” Father Hawken said.
For Vader, that faith-centered mission is at the heart of her work as superintendent.
“You have to have a strong faith for this job,” she said. “What we’re doing is not just curriculum. It’s not just learning standards. We are responsible for helping parents form not just their child’s brain or body but their soul.”
“That’s a tremendous amount of responsibility,” she continued, “and I want to be able to say when I get to meet Christ face-to-face, ‘I really did my best. I really did my best to help these parents do that.’
“This is my calling.”
Vader explained that a Catholic school superintendent acts as the archbishop’s conduit to the schools. Unlike a public school superintendent, she does not directly supervise most principals. Instead, she advises pastors and principals, supports school leadership and helps ensure archdiocesan standards are met.
That work, she said, requires listening, relationship building and the ability to make difficult decisions while keeping the needs of the entire archdiocese in view.
Her first priority is getting to know the people she now serves.
Over the coming months, Vader plans to visit schools, meet teachers and students and spend time with principals and pastors.
“That’s the best part of any day for me — being able to go visit a school or talk to a principal or do something that can be a direct help,” she said.
“Nothing beats being with people,” she added. “Nothing beats that.”
