Detroit — Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron has appointed Kevin Kijewski, J.D., as superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Detroit, the archdiocese announced Nov. 9.

Kijewski (pronounced “kiev-ski”) will succeed Brian Dougherty, Ph.D., who resigned as superintendent in August after five years at the helm of Catholic schools for the archdiocese. He will begin his new post Dec. 4.

Melissa Lipsmeier, regional superintendent of the archdiocese’s Northeast Region, has served as interim superintendent since August.

“It is with joy that we welcome Kevin Kijewski to serve as our new superintendent for Catholic schools,” Archbishop Vigneron said in a statement. “In meeting him, he impressed me as a man of great capability, and I am delighted that we in the archdiocese have this new coworker in the vineyard, as our schools continue to be places where joyful missionary disciples are formed.”

Kijewski, 35, currently serves as the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Denver, where he has served since 2015. Before then, he served as associate superintendent for secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

“Catholic schools are the premier teaching center for the Church,” said Kijewski, who lived in Grosse Pointe before serving in Philadelphia. “I want to work with our stakeholders in Detroit to create a model that’s going to make our Catholic schools sustainable, affordable, academically excellent, and help kids get to heaven.”

There are 89 Catholic schools in the six-county Archdiocese of Detroit, including 25 high schools and 64 grade schools educating more than 29,000 students.

A native of Metro Detroit, Kijewski holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Detroit Mercy, a master’s in economics from Walsh College, a master’s in education from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from Michigan State University.

Kijewski said he’s looking forward to helping his hometown Catholic schools continue to form “joyful, missionary disciples.”

As superintendent, Kijewski said he’ll focus on “growth, innovation and leadership” — three pillars of a quality education — along with a strong Catholic identity for the archdiocese’s schools.

Kijewski will report to Fr. Stephen Pullis, director of the archdiocesan Department of Evangelization, Catechesis and Schools.

“I am very excited that Kevin Kijewski has accepted the position as superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit,” Fr. Pullis said. “I am confident that with his leadership, our Office of Catholic Schools will be able to take up the work of leading and assisting our schools in implementing the archbishop’s pastoral letter, Unleash the Gospel.

“This is a great opportunity for us all to renew our prayers and support for the teachers, administrators, and archdiocesan leaders who are committed to making our Catholic schools excellent at educating the whole person and, most importantly, making disciples of Jesus Christ,” Fr. Pullis added.

Prior to positions in educational administration and law practice, Kijewski taught social science at Bishop Machebeuf High School in Denver, where he was a University of Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education Teaching Fellow from 2005-07. During his time there, his redesign of the school’s social science program led to the school becoming a top 20 national school for social science education and two years on the Catholic High School Honor Roll.