The Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium (MACSC) appointed its first executive director, Dr. Mary Ellen Hrutka, former vice provost and dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Maryland University College. The Archdiocese of Baltimore is one of six mid-atlantic dioceses in the newly formed MACSC, whose mission is to make Catholic schools the schools of choice for all Catholic families and to find solutions to common challenges shared by Catholic schools within the six archdioceses in the areas of funding, leadership and governance.
The consortium developed in response to the U.S. Bishops’ call in 2005 for “the entire Catholic community” to take ownership of the enterprise of Catholic education.
Dr. Ronald Valenti, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, said, “The best way to address issues is collectively. We can no longer be working in a vacuum. With Mary Ellen on board, with her education insights, she certainly will help us achieve our goals.”
As executive director, Dr. Hrutka will be MACSC’s strategic and operational leader, responsible for implementing its mission, goals, objectives, and policy agenda. She is a parishioner of St. John the Baptist, Silver Spring.
“I am delighted,” said Cardinal William H. Keeler, “that Mary Ellen Hrutka, who has served already Catholic schools so well as a member of the archdiocese of Washington School Board, is taking the lead in directing this important project.”