The Cristo Rey Network, the nation’s largest network of Catholic high schools exclusively enrolling students with limited economic resources, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah C. Gallagher, M.Ed., MBA, as the organization's new Chief Academic Officer (CAO). With over 15 years of leadership in Catholic and public K-12 education, Sarah brings a proven track record of driving academic excellence, expanding educational access, and fostering innovation in schools serving economically underserved communities.

As CAO, Sarah will lead the Cristo Rey Network’s Leading and Learning team, advancing a unified academic vision across 41 schools in 25 states, serving 12,600 students. She will oversee the development of college-ready curriculum standards, evidence-based instructional practices, professional development for academic leaders, and comprehensive assessments to ensure measurable student growth and achievement. Additionally, Sarah will collaborate closely with school leaders to foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

“We are excited to welcome Sarah Gallagher as our next Chief Academic Officer. Sarah’s deep commitment to Catholic education and her expertise in driving student outcomes make her an exceptional leader to further our mission of helping students pursue their aspirations for a lifetime of success.” - Kelby Woodard, Cristo Rey Network President and CEO

Sarah’s leadership experience reflects a strong record of results. As Chief Executive Officer of Lighthouse Academies, she led a multi-state network of charter schools, driving academic gains, achieving a 93%+ graduation rate, and securing national recognition for educational excellence. During her tenure as CEO, schools within the network she led were named semifinalists for the prestigious Yass Foundation STOP Award, and schools earned accolades from the Arkansas Office of Education Policy for outperforming expectations in high-poverty communities.

Previously, as Chief Academic Officer of Lighthouse Academies, Sarah led network-wide academic improvements. In Indiana, where she also served as district superintendent, schools under her leadership achieved proficiency scores at least 10% higher than peer institutions.  As Principal of Amandla Charter School in Chicago, she delivered 1.5 years of academic growth annually while reducing exclusionary discipline practices by 45%. Her early career included coaching novice teachers through Teach For America, where her protégés received national recognition for instructional excellence.

“Joining the Cristo Rey Network is an incredible opportunity to serve a mission I deeply believe in. Every child, regardless of circumstance, deserves access to an education that empowers them to achieve their God-given potential. I look forward to working with Cristo Rey’s outstanding school leaders and educators to drive transformational academic outcomes.” - Sarah Gallagher

Sarah holds an Executive MBA from the University of Notre Dame, where she graduated magna cum laude and received the Frank Reilly Academic Achievement Award. She also earned a Master of Science in Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master of Education in Secondary Education from Providence College. A cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame’s Honors Program, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology