New Superintendent Announced for Worcester Diocesan Schools

Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester announced today that David Perda, Ph.D. has been appointed Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Worcester. He will begin on August 7 with the retirement of Dr. Delma Josephson, who has been Superintendent of Catholic Schools since 2009.
             Since 2010, Dr. Perda has been Chief Research and Accountability Officer for the Worcester Public Schools.
            According to Bishop McManus, “I am delighted to be able to appoint Dr. Perda as Superintendent of Catholic Schools.  He brings a wealth of experience to the position in order to address strategic goals which will promote more effectively the value of a Catholic education to our communities.”
            Bishop McManus, who served in the past as the chair of the U. S. Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education, noted how Catholic schools are very important in the life of the Diocese of Worcester. “Catholic education is one of the vehicles that have strengthened the Catholic Church in the country for more than 150 years. With Dr. Perda’s direction, our focus will be on strengthening our commitment to the formation of children and young people in Catholic schools in order to prepare them for their mission in life.”
            Dr. Perda looks forward to the transition from public schools to Catholic schools. He commented, “It is an honor to have been appointed Superintendent of Catholic Schools by Bishop McManus. I look forward to continuing the strong tradition of Catholic education in the Diocese and bringing what I have learned from my experience in public education.  I am committed to ensuring that all Diocesan schools are academically excellent and have environments that are conducive to the high quality education for which Catholic schools are known – classroom settings where there are high expectations for students; where there is order and regular evaluation of student progress; where students take pride in their achievements and their schools.  We will be innovative with a continuous focus on evaluating our efforts to ensure that our strategies are the right ones.  Our students and graduates will be known for their character, integrity, self-discipline and service to others, and faith will be central to everything that we do.”
            David Surprenant, Esq., who chaired the search committee on behalf of the diocese, said, “Of the several candidates ultimately interviewed by the Search Committee, Dr. Perda was selected for his ability to promote successful outcomes in education for the benefit of students and their schools.  Dr. Perda has also demonstrated a strong commitment to Catholic values and is well aware of the unique advantages of a Catholic education in today’s society.  He brings a high degree of energy and enthusiasm to the position.”
            Dr. Perda has been Chief Research and Accountability Officer in the Worcester Public Schools for the past seven years. As a member of the Superintendent’s senior staff, his focus has been on building systems to enable data-driven decision-making within the district. Part of that responsibility included developing models for initiating and maintaining partnerships with various stakeholders, including community organizations, higher education institutions and other school districts.
            Prior to joining the Worcester Public School System, he was a Research Scientist with the Institute of Education Sciences, at the National Center for Education Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. He also held research positions with the Consortium for Policy Research in Education in Philadelphia and the Massachusetts Department of Education in Malden. In the mid-1990s he provided research support in a project conducted by Providence College which examined trends in Catholic Schools over a 30-year period.
            Dr. Perda received his Ph.D. in Educational Policy from the University of Pennsylvania; a Master of Arts in Higher Education from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rhode Island. He has published extensively and presented frequently on how school systems can use data-driven approaches for goal-setting, strategic planning and program evaluation.
            A resident of New Bedford, Dr. Perda along with his wife and daughter are members of St. Anthony of Padua Parish.