Top photo caption: Daniel T. O’Connell, diocesan associate director for curriculum and instruction, meets Emma Close during a visit to her school, St. Mary Academy, Manahawkin. File photo
By David Karas, Correspondent
Those who know Daniel O’Connell well have probably heard him share the expression, “Catholic schools have it all.”
A slogan coined by his older brother, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., the younger O’Connell acknowledged that he often repeats it, “because it’s true.” He explained, “Our schools combine rigorous, 21st-century academics with a deep, faith-filled Catholic foundation. This motto reflects an educational philosophy that balances student achievement, the arts, athletics, and, above all, spiritual growth.”
After a career devoted to Catholic education – both as an educator and a leader – O’Connell will be retiring from his diocesan post June 30.
Lifelong Educator
The move caps off a 33-year tenure that began as an eighth grade teacher in 1989 in Immaculate Conception School, Levittown. He later joined the faculty of Nazareth Academy High School in Northeast Philadelphia, where he spent 25 years and served as chairman of the world languages department and teacher of Spanish and biblical Greek. During that time, he also earned his master’s degree in educational leadership with secondary principal and curriculum supervisory certifications from St. Joseph University, Philadelphia.
He left the classroom for his current diocesan role in 2014, when he was named associate director for curriculum and instruction. That title evolved into his current assistant superintendent role in 2023.
A broader community
“I was eager to bring my classroom and administrative experience to a broader community,” he said, noting that the role has involved a wide range of responsibilities. “When you serve in a leadership position in Catholic education, you rarely just have one job. Leadership often involves wearing many different hats and taking on many different tasks and responsibilities.”
In reflecting on Daniel’s contributions to the Diocese, Bishop O’Connell emphasized the “great knowledge and organizational skill” that his brother brought to the role.
“His many years of experience as a teacher in Catholic schools have provided an excellent background for his work for the Diocese. He has offered much knowledge, wisdom, advice and availability to our principals who speak so gratefully of his service. He will be very missed in the Chancery where he is widely known for his great sense of humor. For me personally, I have felt richly blessed to have had him close every day.”
Looking Back, Aiming forward
Reflecting on his service to the Diocese, O’Connell said he always enjoyed the work he did – and reflected on his pride in a number of accomplishments. Those include updating report cards used in diocesan elementary schools; the development and introduction of the Lumen Gentium award to spotlight excellent schools, and the planning leading up to the Eucharistic Revival. He also noted the Cognia school accreditation process and the development of a consistent format for curricula to be among his more significant accomplishments.
O’Connell stressed the importance of teacher recruitment and a focus on faith as continuing priorities for schools in the future.
“In my view, the most important priority is to ensure that we have excellent teachers in the classrooms in all schools of the Diocese,” he said. “Our schools must always remember that Catholic schools exist first and foremost to help our students encounter the living God. School leaders must continuously prioritize evangelization and a curriculum that teaches values alongside solid academics.”
While he is retiring from his current role, he is considering part- time work in a Catholic school in the Diocese in the near future.
“I guess that you can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can’t take the classroom out of the teacher,” he said.