HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior, Bishop of Harrisburg, and the Board of Directors for York Catholic Middle & High School are pleased to announce that Kathy Hand has been appointed to the position of school Principal. Hand has served as Interim Principal for the 2024-2025 school year with the promotion of Katie Doyle to school President.
“I have been inspired by Kathy’s unwavering commitment to York Catholic’s mission. Her experience, success and dedication to fostering an environment of faith, growth and excellence as an educator has prepared her well for this role. I have no doubt that Kathy will continue to inspire both students and staff as Principal,” said Bishop Senior.
Hand expressed her appreciation for the appointment, saying, “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the York Catholic community in this role. I have tremendous respect and appreciation for the tradition of excellence that YC offers to families in regard to academics, athletics, and faith formation, and look forward to continued growth and development as we move YC forward.”
Secretary for Education Daniel Breen lauded Hand for “her steady and faithful guidance at York Catholic, and her wonderful care for students and staff.”
Hand earned a B.A. degree in Secondary Education from the University of Vermont and an M.A. in School Administration from Rivier University in New Hampshire. Prior to being named the Interim Principal of York Catholic, Hand served for 11 years as the Director of Studies. Hand has also worked as a middle and high school teacher, and taught English as a second language to students in Brazil. In her role as Principal of York Catholic, Hand will continue to manage the day to day running of the school, oversee the academic program, and work closely with faculty, staff, and students.
York Catholic President Katie Doyle added, “I am excited to continue to partner with Kathy Hand as she formally adopts the title of Principal, a position she has been doing for the better part of this year. Her dedication to preparing York Catholic students for their future success beyond the walls of YC is unwavering. She will no doubt continue to ensure the student experience at YC is second to none.”
York Catholic serves students in grades 7 through 12 from across York County and northern Maryland. At York Catholic, engaging experiences across academics, the arts and athletics prepare students to be critical thinkers, curious learners, contributing collaborators and thoughtful community members. Students are empowered to set and achieve high goals through a focus on college preparation that helps them maximize their potential and create a path to grow their talents and interests into successful careers.
York Catholic Middle and High School and all Catholic schools in the Diocese of Harrisburg are accepting enrollments for the 2025-2026 school year. The Diocese has approximately 10,000 students enrolled at 33 schools. High School students in the Diocese typically have a graduation rate over 98%. Please visit www.GoCatholicSchools.org to learn more.
# # #
The Diocese of Harrisburg was established on March 3, 1868. It has 88 parishes, 6 missions, 2 communities, 33 Catholic schools, and is home to approximately 201,000 registered Catholics throughout its 15 counties. To learn more about the Diocese and its ministries, visit www.hbgdiocese.org.
