Archbishop Pérez announced May 21 that he has appointed William E. Brannick as the next Superintendent of Secondary Schools and Schools of Special Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. His appointment became effective June 24.
CatholicPhilly recently connected with Brannick about returning to the Philadelphia Archdiocese, goals for his new role, and what he sees as his greatest joys and challenges working in the field of Catholic education.
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William E. Brannick
Q: What excites you the most about returning to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and your new role in service to Catholic education in the five-county Philadelphia area?
A: Returning to my roots! I attended Catholic school from first grade through senior year of high school at schools in Delaware County: St. John Chrysostom, St. James High School, and Monsignor Bonner High School. While attending a Penn State University satellite campus, I began my coaching career at Bonner & Prendie coaching football and track. Shortly after graduating Penn State University, I began teaching at Bonner. Most of my education career has taken place in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia! To return (to the Philadelphia Archdiocese) in this capacity at this time in education excites me for what we will have the opportunity to achieve! Additionally, knowing many of the school administrators and teachers excites me because I know of their tremendous dedication to their faith and the students they serve!
Q: What can archdiocesan school families, students, administrators, and staff expect from you in terms of your leadership style?
A: I very much categorize myself as a collaborative leader. A favorite quote is, “The smartest person in the room is the room itself,” identifying that collective wisdom and experience will always be greater than the knowledge of one.
Additionally, from my experience over the past 23 years, I believe that we have a unique advantage with future opportunities. While the future of education continues to evolve, the foundation of education remains consistent: high expectations, communication, and accountability.
Q: How do you intend to make your mark on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia School system in your new role?
A: My first order is to listen intently. We cannot ignore the shifts in education that have taken place in the past five years. However, I expect that through collaboration we will be able to continue to grow the learning opportunities for our students.
Q: The Office of Catholic Education partners with schools and families in the holistic formation of young men and women. What is your role in this partnership?
A: My role is to help shepherd the relationship between home and school. To help in making sure there are lines of communication open and policies that support the learning environment for every student and teacher. Additionally, our team is to be a resource to our school administrators to help support and nurture a supportive Catholic environment at each school.
Q: For two decades you served in the archdiocese’s secondary school system, including seven years as the Director of Technology PreK-12 for the Office of Catholic Education. What lessons did you learn throughout this time that will be a valuable tool to help you grow in your new role?
A: We are all in this together. We can achieve great things together and must recognize that challenges come in various forms. If we keep the mission of Catholic education at the forefront of our approach while taking on both the challenges and opportunities in new ways, we will be successful.
Q: What do you see as the greatest joys and greatest challenges working in the field of Catholic education?
A: The greatest joys come in seeing the students grow within themselves and in their faith throughout their four years of high school! Seeing a school community nurture these young people as they enter as children then depart as young people ready to take on the world through several different paths is why we serve Catholic education!
The greatest challenge comes in addressing the vast and evolving needs of our students while working to keep costs low for our families.
Q: Archbishop Pérez has worked to instill a culture of missionary discipleship into the Church of Philadelphia. What does missionary discipleship mean to you and how will you further that culture in our schools?
A: Missionary discipleship is the act of growing within your faith to truly placing Jesus in the center of our lives while also extending your hand to others to help them grow in their faith and in Jesus. As Catholic schools, missionary discipleship has been woven into the fabric of our schools. We will continue to instill this culture through prayer, our school ministry programs, and service within our school communities.
Q: In five words or less, what advice would you offer to those starting their careers in education?
A: You will make a difference!
Q: In five words or less, what advice would you offer to archdiocesan students?
A: Be focused, involved, and open
Q: Do you have an affinity for a patron saint or a motto that guides your work?
A: I became a school administrator at a young age. There were many challenging times that I was able to get through because of the support of others. During my time at Monsignor Bonner, I was fortunate to have been a student, and later a colleague, of Servant of God, Father Bill Atkinson. He often spoke about and wrote a poem on, “The Strength of Others.” Much like Father Bill, we can’t take this journey alone. Every step of the way we need to rely on the strength of others.
Additionally, a former colleague gave me a quote from St. Theresa of Calcutta, “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.”
Q: Are you a Philadelphia sports fan?
A: I am an avid Philadelphia sports fan! I consider myself a “four-for-four” fan! But the Eagles will always be my top team! I am a former Eagles season ticket holder of 10 years.
Q: Do you have any hobbies or talents that you would like to share?
A: I fall short on hobbies and talents! When I was younger, I played the violin and guitar for several years. Now, most of my extra time is spent with my family and coaching my three kids in various sports. However, I do enjoy dabbling in some basic graphic editing for a youth organization with whom I volunteer.
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