Barwick new head of school at Archishop Hannan

Archbishop Hannan embarked on a nationwide search in the spring of 2019 after Dominican Father Charles Latour announced he would resign in January 2020. Nancy Baird served as interim head of school during the spring 2020 semester. 
 

Barwick’s appointment by Dr. RaeNell Houston, superintendent of Catholic schools for the archdiocese, was based on the wholehearted recommendation from the various groups interviewed by the educational consulting firm Partners in Mission.
    

“Over the year, I’ve gotten to know the reputation of Archbishop Hannan and the great work that (Father Latour) is doing,” Barwick said. “It was always just one of those things where I thought it would be great (if I could go there). In many conversations with (Father Latour), from last year to today, I came to know about what makes Hannan family and what makes it a wonderfully unique school on the northshore.
     

“It took a little bit of time for God’s plan to reveal itself. In the end, I’m glad I was patient and that God was patient with me because I feel this is an incredible opportunity for me and my family.”
     

Father Latour served for 10 years as head of school, and Baird had served as assistant principal for nine years until being appointed interim head of school. 
    

“I am elated with the selection of Chad Barwick as my successor at Archbishop Hannan,” Father Latour said. “He embodies all the qualities we were looking for in a new head of school – a student-centered, spiritual and educational leader committed to supporting our faculty and their ongoing professional growth, who understands and appreciates the perspectives of our parents and alumni, and is ready to continue building relationships within the northshore community. We all welcome Chad, his wife Chris and their children to the Hannan family.”
    

Barwick served for 20 years in Catholic schools in a variety of roles, including as principal at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in Montgomery, Alabama, and at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic School in South Bend, Indiana. He also was a teacher and coach at Mount de Sales Academy in Macon, Georgia.
    

The Alabama native holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Auburn University, a master of educational administration, and a master in education degree from the University of Notre Dame.
    

“Education has absolutely been a vocation and not a job for me,” Barwick said. “I need the Eucharist and the ability to be in prayer to do this job. … I’m incredibly lucky that my faith life is also my work life. I love to give back to the church by doing what I love with kids, teachers and families.”
    

At St. Pius X in Atlanta, Barwick oversaw the long-range planning and shepherding of the campus, cultivation of Catholic identity, benefaction, enrollment management and facilities management. St. Pius X has an operating budget of $18.4 million and more than 138 employees.
    

Archbishop Hannan has excelled in academics, extracurricular activities and athletics in recent years, producing four national merit semifinalists and two state champions during the 2018-19 school year. Archbishop Hannan currently enrolls 620 students, making it the largest coeducational secondary school in the archdiocese.
    

Barwick has ties to the Covington area and is looking forward to raising his family within the close-knit northshore community, as well as the little joys of life that Louisiana can provide.
    

“I have six kids, and when my wife was pregnant with the sixth, we came and visited Hannan, and every kid that I walked by said hello, every adult made time to make us feel welcomed,” Barwick said. “One of the first things my kids are looking forward to doing is throwing the football in the backyard, riding the bike down the street. We are just thrilled to be in this area and have all the benefits of having family close by provides.”