WCEA Secondary Page

Secondary
School
Commissioners

Dorothy Pittelkau
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Robert Mizia
Archdiocese of Portland
Sr. Marianne Viani, SNJM
Archdiocese of San Francisco
Dan Makley
Diocese of Boise
Harry Plummer
Diocese of Great Falls/ Billings
Patrick Haggarty
Diocese of Helena
Carmen Himenes
Diocese of Honolulu
Br. Patrick Dunne,CFC
Diocese of Monterey
Kathleen Radecke
Diocese of Oakland
Sally Todd
Diocese of Orange
MaryBeth Mueller
Diocese of Phoenix
Gail Sherman
Diocese of Sacramento
Sr. Catherine Kamphaus,CSC
Diocese of Salt Lake City
Patricia Vesely
Diocese of San Bernardino
Steve Laaperi
Diocese of San Diego
Jennifer Martin
Diocese of San Jose
John Collins
Diocese of Santa Rosa
Sr. Marian Clare
Valenteen, RSM
Diocese of Stockton
Sr. Rosa Maria Ruiz, CFM
Diocese of Tucson

The Catholic High Schools developed along the concepts of both the parish school and the private school generally conducted by or sponsored by Religious Orders. Since one of the essential goals of the high schools was the preparation for post high school education, school accreditation became a must.

Early in its development WCEA joined with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (the Regional accreditation association) when it came into existence. Essentially the purpose of any Catholic high school was to teach the faith and permeate its curriculum with the values taught by the Roman Catholic Church. Eventually the Catholic high schools developed their curriculum around the colleges and universities basic requirements for entrance so that a graduating senior’s diploma would be recognized by these institutions as proof of an academic education that prepared the student for higher education.

WCEA and WASC accredit all Catholic high schools in California and Hawaii. Seven other western states have included WCEA in their accreditation processes for the Catholic high schools on various levels to date.