Jim Rigg, who announced in March he was resigning as superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago, has been named superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Miami.
Following a search committee review of “highly qualified applicants,” Archbishop Thomas Wenski appointed Rigg to replace Kim Pryzbylski, who has held the post for 10 years and will retire June 30, according to a Monday announcement from the Archdiocese of Miami. Rigg and his family will move to South Florida early this summer and he will take over July 6, according to the announcement.
“I thank Dr. Kim Pryzbylski for her dedication, and welcome Dr. Rigg to Miami,” Wenski said in a news release. “I am confident his expertise, leadership and commitment will enable Dr. Rigg to build on Dr. Pryzbylski’s accomplishments, dedication and mission in providing excellent Catholic education and financial aid benefits to students in South Florida.”
The Miami announcement cites Rigg’s professional experience and lists his skills in “church governance and funding models, community outreach to build a unified vision for Catholic education, legislative advocacy with a focus on parental choice programs, and most importantly, an unwavering enthusiasm and passion for the role Catholic schools can play in the renewal of our Church today.”
Rigg, who the archdiocese previously said would transition out of his current role by June, became superintendent of Chicago’s Catholic schools in October 2015. He held a similar role in Cincinnati and has taught and been a school administrator in other archdioceses. His replacement has not yet been publicly named.
In Miami, Rigg will oversee 57 Catholic schools, including a virtual school, in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. His official title will cabinet secretary of education and superintendent of schools.
In a statement, Rigg said he is “sincerely honored and thrilled” about the appointment.
“During my brief experiences in the archdiocese, I have been deeply impressed by the quality and vibrancy of the Catholic schools, and the commitment of school families, employees, and supporters. The archdiocese is a great place for Catholic education,” Rigg said.
In an announcement emailed to Chicago Archdiocese parents in March, Rigg said it felt like the right time to step away and “let another superintendent come forward.”
“I am profoundly impressed by the quality and vitality of our Catholic schools, staffed by men and women of exceptional talent and commitment,” Rigg said in the March email. “I leave my role knowing that God will continue to work through our teachers, principals, and benefactors to ensure the continuation of this critical educational ministry.”
Catholic schools in the Chicago Archdiocese, which includes Cook and Lake counties, reopened for in-person classes before Chicago Public Schools. Despite differing demographics, city officials cited low COVID-19 transmission in Catholic schools in arguments for reopening public schools.
Riggs said resuming in-person instruction enabled students to keep learning “in spite of the enormous complexity represented by COVID-19.”
However, low enrollment and increasing debt have led some Chicago Archdiocese schools to close in recent years, including four closures in addition to parish mergers announced in January.