MERRILLVILLE – The opportunity to grow Catholic education drew Colleen J. Brewer, the Diocese of Gary’s new school superintendent, across the border from Illinois to continue her dedicated service to children.
“One of the exciting things about the Diocese of Gary is that the evolution of Indiana Choice Scholarships grows opportunities for Catholic schools – the growing enrollment is impressive to me,” said Brewer, who arrived July 1 after the retirement of Dr. Joseph Majchrowicz.
“I see Northwest Indiana growing, population-wise and economically, and as I was looking for a superintendent’s position, I saw the diocese as a place full of hope with leadership that advocates for education,” Brewer added.
The Glenwood, Ill. native said she’s had her eye on the diocese since the assistant superintendent post became available two years ago, but she chose to stay in Chicago, taking the principal’s job at Resurrection College Prep High School while working on her doctorate in the Superintendent Preparation Program at nearby Loyola University, which she anticipates completing next May.
“A recruiter called me after seeing my resume in the file; I have allowed the Holy Spirit to lead me down the path (in my career) – I try not to overthink things – and I have been lucky and blessed,” Brewer said.
After attending public grade school, she embarked on a journey through Catholic schools that began with graduation from Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Ill. in 1992 and a bachelor of science in Secondary Education in Math with a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Dayton in 1997.
“I added the minor after enjoying campus ministry in college, and being modeled by my parents, Chuck and Carol Blasgen, for a life of service,” Brewer noted. “My dad has been highly involved in the Civitan Club for decades; they moved to Dyer several years ago and attend St. Joseph church.” Brewer also has two brothers, John Blasgen, of Homewood, Ill., and Chuck Blasgen, of Wrigleyville.
After college, Brewer spent a year at Amate House in Chicago, teaching at an inner-city school and living in community with 14 others, then stayed at Children of Peace School as a junior high math teacher for two more years before moving on to St. Scholastica Academy, an all-girls school in Rogers Park where she headed the Math and Science Department for nine years, served as vice principal for two years and principal for a final year before the Benedictine order closed the facility in 2012.
After two years as director of student life and dean of students at another all-girls school, Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette, Il., Brewer returned to Chicago as principal of St. Viator Elementary School for four years.
In 2018, she was tapped as regional director for turnaround schools with the Office of Catholic School for the Archdiocese of Chicago, supervising 10 elementary schools on the west side of the city.
For the past two years, she served as principal at Resurrection College Prep High School on the northwest side of the city. “I found that I loved working in girls’ schools, teaching and coaching volleyball and softball, which I played in high school and college,” Brewer said. “In the math classroom and on the athletic fields, boys tend to dominate (at co-ed schools), so it was nice to work with girls and see them thrive and shine in a more supportive atmosphere.”
While Brewer has moved around professionally, she and her husband Chris Brewer, a Wilmette native, have lived in a Gold Coast high-rise since they married 21 years ago at Notre Dame de Chicago parish in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood, where she has been RCIA coordinator and an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
“When you work in education, you are never bored,” Brewer said. “When I was regional director for the archdiocese, I enjoyed working with principals, so I’m excited about getting back to that, putting systems in place and doing whatever they need, and I’ve worked with Big Shoulders Fund, finding resources and scholarships for students, so I’m familiar with their work.”
Hosting a meeting for Diocese of Gary principals prior to the opening of the new school year, Brewer chose the Samaritan Woman at the Well as her theme. “We grounded our work in prayer, nourishing ourselves in the water from the well and creating a collaborative space and working together … on diocesan-wide roles and individual goals.
“My impression is that our principals really enjoy what they do, and I have great hope for the school year. We want the kids to feel loved by God and to learn – I have a passion for that,” she added.
“I hope to leave a positive footprint wherever I go … building a culture of collaboration and helping people feel supported,” the superintendent said.
Brewer said her short time in Northwest Indiana has shown her that the people “definitely have a great pride in being from the Diocese of Gary and have a lot of connections to different schools and parishes. There is a lot of diversity, and people are happy to tell you where their roots are.”
Her advice to school staffers is to “Lead with love and engage the students in learning, and great things will happen,” while she hopes the students, “Take advantage of all the opportunities to learn about others and yourself and your faith. Expand your horizon and try things that you may not have a chance to try later.”
Sounds like the diocese’s new superintendent has already taken her own advice.