A Fairfield graduate and educator who has spent her career serving the Fairfield City School District is now the district’s superintendent.

Cathy Milligan replaced Robert B. Farrell upon his retirement in 2007.

“Cathy has a proven dedication to Fairfield,” said Dr. Mark Morris, then the president of the Fairfield Board of Education. “She has a passion for this district and a commitment to what’s best for children. The staff trusts her. She ‘understands’ Fairfield.”

Milligan has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Baldwin Wallace College and received her master’s of education degree from Miami University. She also holds a master of arts in education degree from the College of Mount St. Joseph.

Milligan began her career at Fairfield as a fourth-grade teacher in 1973 at South Elementary. In 1980 she transferred to West Elementary, where she taught gifted students.

In 1985 Milligan moved into her first administrative position, dividing her time as both South Elementary assistant principal and curriculum supervisor for both South and West elementaries. In 1988 she became principal of South Elementary.

In 1992 Milligan was named district administrative assistant for certificated personnel, and in 1996 she was named assistant superintendent, a position she held until her 2002 retirement. She returned to the district in the fall of 2006, serving as human resources supervisor.


The superintendent writes a bi-weekly column during the school year for the Fairfield Echo, an area newspaper. To see the past columns, click here.