Michael Deegan was born in the Bronx to Julia (nee Noonan) and Thomas Deegan and traces his Irish roots to County Kilkenny through his grandfather and County Cork and Mayo on his mother’s side. Michael is a graduate of St. Philip Neri School in the Bronx and Rice High School in Harlem. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Iona College, a Master of Science in Education from the College of New Rochelle, and completed his post-graduate studies at Manhattan College and Fordham University. Michael has served the Church in Catholic education for almost forty years. He has taught at every level from elementary school through college and was a Catholic school principal for twenty years. In 2004, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, appointed Mr. Deegan Director of Inner-City Schools to work with the (122) elementary and secondary inner-city schools of the Archdiocese. He was appointed Superintendent of Schools in September 2019, after having served as Interim Superintendent, and Deputy Superintendent of Schools. Michael is the recipient of numerous awards including the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Compassionate Educator Award, the John J. Bruno Catholic Service Award, and is the Brother Edmund Rice-Christian Brothers of North America Centenary Partner Honoree.

He is married to Angela and has a stepdaughter, Krista, and a grandson, Anthony, and they are parishioners of the Holy Name of Jesus in Valhalla.