Bishop names new superintendent for diocese schools
GREENSBURG – Trent D. Bocan has been named superintendent of the Office for Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Greensburg, Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt announced Aug. 14. Bocan begins work in his diocesan post Monday.
Bocan, who was raised in McKeesport and also lived in Delmont, returns to his native southwestern Pennsylvania to direct 16 elementary, one middle and two high schools in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.
Bocan, a graduate of McKeesport Area High School, has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, he has a principal’s certification from Temple University, Philadelphia, and superintendent’s certification from Marywood University, Dunmore. He has worked as a superintendent, principal, assistant principal and counselor since 1993.
“Trent Bocan has outstanding professional credentials and a commitment to continue his educational leadership career in a Catholic school system,” Bishop Brandt says. “We are pleased to announce he is our new superintendent for the Office for Catholic Schools.”
Bocan has served as superintendent of the Lehighton Area School District in northeastern Pennsylvania for the past two years. Prior to that, he served as superintendent of the Line Mountain School District in central Pennsylvania, principal of Mansfield Junior/Senior High School, assistant principal of Troy Area Senior High School in northern Pennsylvania and a counselor at Dallastown Area Middle School in south central Pennsylvania.
“I am most enthusiastic about being a leader in the Diocese of Greensburg’s Catholic school system,” says Bocan, 40, who entered the Catholic Church seven years ago. “I am also looking forward to moving my family closer to my parents and extended family.”
Bocan describes himself as “an educational leader who is committed to community involvement, positive leadership and uncompromising integrity.”
In addition to his school leadership positions, Bocan has taught at the University of Scranton, Wilkes University, Susquehanna University and Keystone College. He has also served as a parish-based religious education instructor.
Bocan and his wife, Pam, a native of Charleroi, have four children: Dakota, 12; Tucker, 10; Riley, 8; and Rory, 7. They are parishioners of Immaculate Conception Parish in Jim Thorpe.