Secretary for Catholic Schools and Superintendent of Schools

Kelly Branaman has worked for The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington since 2003. She has held several positions in the Catholic Schools Office, including roles in special education, curriculum, and various leadership assignments. Ms. Branaman was named Secretary for Catholic Schools and Superintendent of Schools in August 2020 by Cardinal Wilton Gregory. Ms. Branaman leads a collaborative and dynamic team of professionals who provide leadership and support to 61 Archdiocesan schools and works closely with 29 independent Catholic Schools across the archdiocese.

As Secretary and Superintendent, Ms. Branaman works to ensure strong Catholic formation and academic excellence for more than 26,000 students. She leads the Cardinal’s vision of creating and maintaining strong Catholic schools in areas of Catholic identity, academic excellence, school enrollment and advancement, governance and strategic planning. In her time in the Archdiocese, Ms. Branaman has supported school leaders to welcome and more effectively educate students with special learning needs and has supported school leaders and educators in enhancing instruction with nationally recognized professional development. She has also led the development and implementation of the first Archdiocesan Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools in 2018. New in her role as Superintendent, Ms.Branaman, along with CSO staff and school leaders, led a successful return to in-person learning and school operations in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Ms. Branaman is most proud of the servant leadership that she has modeled throughout her tenure and the many relationships formed with colleagues, pastors, school leaders, teachers and school staff during her years of service.

Ms. Branaman has received two national awards in Catholic education: the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Sister Catherine T. McNamee, CJS, President’s Award in 2002 for accomplishments in serving the Archdiocese of Louisville. In 2017, Ms. Branaman received the NCEA Lead, Learn, Proclaim Award for her leadership and commitment to Catholic education in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Ms. Branaman recently served as an NCEA committee member to revise the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools, which was completed in 2023. Ms. Branaman sits on several archdiocesan school corporate boards, the Catholic Education Foundation Board, and the Cardinal’s Administrative Board and Archdiocesan Board of Education.

Ms. Branaman is originally from Indiana. She has a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University in elementary education and special education, and a Master’s in Education from the University of Louisville. Ms. Branaman is also a graduate fellow of the Harvard University Graduate School, Center for Education Policy Research Strategic Data Project.