About Us
Our Mission
Listening. Empowering. Elevating.
Our mission at the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE) is to enhance excellence and increase enrollment in preschool-8th grade Catholic schools across Minnesota.
Our Story
A decade ago, Catholic schools in the Twin Cities were closing at an alarming rate. The conversation was about decline.
We believed it could be different.
In 2014, we visited every preschool–8th grade Catholic school in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. We listened. We learned. And we built a new model, one rooted in excellence, innovation and partnership.
With the vision and generosity of Dick Schulze and the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence was formed as an independent nonprofit led by lay leaders passionate about Catholic education. From the beginning, our commitment was clear: enhance excellence and increase enrollment.
Today, CSCOE supports all 151 Catholic preschool–8th grade schools across Minnesota.
How do we do it?
We seek out world-class partners and invest in proven strategies. We deliver professional development, academic initiatives, leadership formation and enrollment support — always tailored to the real needs of each school. Our model is 100 percent opt-in, and every Catholic preschool–8th grade school in Minnesota has chosen to join us. Each year, we visit schools across the state — listening to leaders, learning from teachers and responding with timely, practical support.
We continue our commitment to in-school visits, because proximity matters. Relationships matter. Listening matters.
The story of Catholic education in Minnesota is no longer one of decline. It is one of growth, strength and bold possibility.
And we’re just getting started!
Our Staff
Board of Directors
Steve Ryan
Executive Chair of the Board and Partner-in-Charge at Taft
Lisa M. Anderson
Former Director of the Healy Education Foundation
Kevin Bergman
President and COO of Olympus Ventures LLC
Michael Cole
Global Business Educator for
L’Oreal
Father Kevin Finnegan
Pastor at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
Michael Gallagher
Former COO of
Luther Automotive
Steve Hoeppner
President, CSCOE & Vice President,
RMSFF
Nes Rotstein
CSCOE Co-Founder & VP of Advancement at the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton
Robert Wollan
Former Global Managing Director for Accenture Strategy
Team Members
Gail Dorn
Founder of CSCOE
Steve Hoeppner
President, CSCOE & Vice President, RMSFF
Susan Steen
Chief Financial Officer
John Kenney
Chief Information Officer
Pete Stoddart
Vice President of Advancement
Kate Emmel
Associate Director of Donor Growth and Engagement
Lou Ann Sexton
Associate Director of Advancement
David Hottinger
Associate Director of Advancement
Audrey Kintzi
Senior Director of Advancement
Lisa Staudohar
School Ambassador
Connor Magee
Advancement Operations & Grants Manager
Phil Hoeppner
Communications and Advancement Consultant
Tracy Gilbert
Brand Director
Sara Schneider
Associate Director of Enrollment
Susana Villalobos
Latino Enrollment Manager
Hayley Disher
Operations Manager
Olivia Koalska
Brand Manager
Breanna Walrath
Associate Director of Brand
Helen Dahlman
Interim Vice President for Educational Excellence
Caroline Becker
Director of Excellence for Whole School/Whole Child Formation
Pam Richards
Director of Excellence for STEM Education
Mary Adrian
Interim Director of Excellence for Literacy Development
Diane Morri
Literacy Content Specialist
Kathleen McFadden
Literacy Content Specialist
Katie Worm
Associate Director of Preschool Excellence
Emily Byers
Manager of Preschool Excellence
Contact
Your interest and generosity fuel excellence in Catholic education across Minnesota. We welcome your questions, ideas and partnership, and look forward to connecting with you!
info@cscoe-mn.org
612-425-1105
6600 France Ave S
Ste 640
Minneapolis, MN 55435
