Dr. Erika Wikstrom accepts the position of Secretary for Education/Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God (Psalm 98)
April 23, 2024
Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. As you are aware, in January 2024, Mr. Henry Fortier, Secretary for Education and Superintendent of Catholic Schools, announced his resignation effective at the end of this school year. We partnered with an executive search firm, Catholic Recruiter Associates, to conduct a national search for our new Superintendent of Catholic Schools. We had numerous qualified people from around the country apply who were screened and interviewed but, ultimately, we selected a candidate from within the Diocese of Orlando.
It is with pleasure that I announce that Dr. Erika Wikstrom has accepted the position of Secretary of Education and Superintendent of Education. Dr. Wikstrom holds numerous degrees: Bachelor of Arts from Rollins College with a major in Humanities; Master’s degree in Art History from University of York; Master degree in Business Administration from University of Glasgow; Education Specialist degree from National Louis University in Educational Leadership and Doctor of Education from National Louis University in Educational Leadership.
Regarding Dr. Wikstrom’s experience, she began as the Scholar Academy Director for Orange County Public Schools in 2006. She became a Literature and Composition Instruction for Rollins College Upward Bounds Program in 2012 while also serving as Program Director and Educator for the Montessori at Roseborough in Mount Dora. In 2013, she became the Advanced Placement and English Instructor at Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando where she worked for three years. Staying at Bishop Moore, Dr. Wikstrom became the Director of Instruction in 2016. In 2017, Dr. Wikstrom moved to become Principal at Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala serving there for three years. Her last and current experience is Principal of Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando beginning in 2020.
Community involvement is an important part of Dr. Wikstrom’s vitae. She is presently a Board member of the Catholic Foundation of Central Florida; Executive Board Member of the Diocese of Orlando Women’s Giving Circle; Board Member of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra; Board Member of Laps for Life; Co-Chair of the Diocesan Curriculum Task Force; a member of the State and Federal Programs Committee; a member of the Diocesan Eucharistic Revival Committee; a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD); a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP); Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation Review Team Member; a member of the Orlando Museum o0f Art Council 101 and a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association Board-Minority Relations (FHSAA)
Dr. Wikstrom experienced the pandemic at Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala and Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando. Due to a sudden resignation, Dr. Wikstrom was called upon to lead Bishop Moore Catholic High School which she has done so well. During her time at Bishop Moore, she has increased enrollment, strengthened academics significantly, began new programs such as Schools of Distinction, and strengthened the Catholic Identity throughout the campus.
Dr. Wikstrom will begin as Superintendent on July 1, 2024, and she will be working with Mr. Henry Fortier in the transition process.
I would like to thank the executive search committee who reviewed all candidates presented by the Catholic Recruiters Associates, interviewed the prospective candidates, and presented the finalists to Chancellor Theresa Simon and me for selection. This committee included the following members: Rev. John Belmonte, S.J., Ph.D., Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Venice; Mr. Kevin Casey, Chief Financial Officer, Diocese of Orlando; Mr. Fred Haddad, Chairperson; Sr. Barbara T. Gould, RSM, Ed.D.; Mrs. Regina-Marie Aldrin, Sr. Director of Human Resources/Secretariat; and Very Rev. Timothy LaBo, Chairman of the Diocesan School Board. We are grateful for their time and expertise in this process.
As we look to the future, I am confident that our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Orlando will continue to flourish and form our youth in the teachings of the Church and academic excellence. As the transition begins, there will be many opportunities for you to meet with Dr. Wikstrom personally. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Wikstrom in her new role.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend John Noonan
Bishop of Orlando