Michael Zelenka has been named as the associate superintendent for secondary schools for the Office of Catholic Education (OCE) in the Diocese of Cleveland. Zelenka will provide direct leadership and support for the five high schools owned and operated by the Diocese of Cleveland and additional guidance and support to the 15 other private, Catholic high schools in the diocese.
The five diocesan owned high schools are Cleveland Central Catholic High School, Elyria
Catholic High School, Holy Name High School, Lake Catholic High School and Villa Angela–St. Joseph High School. Zelenka will also become a member of the Catholic school leadership team under Frank O’Linn, Ed.D., secretary for education and superintendent of schools, which leads the OCE in building the future of all Catholic schools in the diocese.
Zelenka comes to Diocese of Cleveland from the University of Notre Dame after serving as an assistant teaching professor since 2017. An academic professional with 20 years’ experience working in Catholic schools on various levels, Zelenka has also served as a Catholic school principal, assistant principal, English teacher, athletic director and coach.
“I am thrilled to have Michael join our team, bringing his impressive expertise and zeal for the transformative power of Catholic education to the leadership of our high schools,” said Dr. O’Linn. “He brings a proven ability to build up leaders for strong culture and continuous improvement, and he does so as a model of servant leadership, who strives daily to make God known, loved, and served through Catholic schools.”
"I am honored to be joining the Office of Catholic Education team under the direction of Dr. O’Linn,” said Zelenka. “Every endeavor within Catholic schools drips with the opportunity for God’s grace to impact the hearts and minds of students, teachers and other community members. Whether these moment occur in the classrooms, on the athletic fields or during liturgical celebrations, all aspects of the school must be informed by our Catholic faith and oriented toward the highest level of excellence.”
Zelenka is working toward a doctorate in education degree from Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. He earned a master of arts degree in education administration, a master of education degree in secondary education (English) and a bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. He has several academic honors and has given many academic presentations. A native of Northeast Ohio, he is a graduate of Benedictine High School.
His appointment at the diocese begins on Aug. 15, 2022.
Catholic schools of the Diocese of Cleveland partner with parents to provide high-quality, holistic formation, preparing young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to success in life, and the values necessary for life-everlasting in the kingdom to come. The Diocese of Cleveland is the 23rdlargest diocese in the United States and it maintains the sixth-largest Catholic school enrollment in the country. Current enrollment in Catholic schools in the diocese stands at 38,312.