Catholic Schools Diocese of Corpus Christi Presented by: Dr. Rosemary J. Henry
REFLECTION: “ Catholic schools are national treasures and they must be preserved .” Margaret Spellings Former United States Secretary of Education
REFLECTION: Catholic schools are instrumental in producing: Ø Beacons of Hope Ø Architects of Peace Ø Ambassadors for Christ --- rjh
“ Children are our future.” Source: Sonia Sotomayer, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
“By reason of its educational activity, Catholic schools participate directly, and in a privileged way, in the evangelizing mission of the Church.” Source: The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium
“Catholic schools should become intentional environments for learning who Jesus is for deepening the faith lives of parents, teachers and students in new and unapologetic way.” Source: The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops
Ø To form students in the faith Ø To help them to grow in knowledge Ø To show their love of God through service to others Ø Educators grow in own encounters with God Ø Faith grows as well as witnessing to students; leading them to the light of the Gospel –So they SHINE! Faith Formation + Quality Information = Transformation
Our Catholic schools are called to form all God’s children: Ø Spiritually Ø Intellectually Ø Morally Ø Socially Ø Physically Ultimately, the job of Catholic schools is to form Saints and Missionary Disciples who serve and love the Lord. #ONE OF PASTORAL PLAN’S PRIORITIES
Catholic schools are rooted in Catholic tradition, mission and purpose, with Jesus Christ as the “headmaster.”
v Currently Catholic schools educate and form over 1.8 million children/youth (approximately 3% decrease) v Currently 6,289 Catholic schools v Over 150,000 school educators shape future disciples v Note: Between 1965 and early 1990 more than 1/3 of Catholic schools closed; enrollment fell by more than half.
LET THEM SHINE! } Christ-centered schools with strong academic programs with 21 st Century Learning Environs } 16 schools } 2 schools in Alice (Pre K-3 to Grade 8; Pre K-3 to grade 6) } 1 school in Rockport (Pre K-3 to Grade 5) } 1 school in Robstown (Pre K-3 to Grade 8)
} Approximately 3,000 students Pre K-2 to 12 th } Approximately 450 teachers and administrators } 2 diocesan schools } 3 private independent schools } 1 Learning Center } 11 Parish Schools
} 80% LATINO STUDENT POPULATION } 70% CATHOLIC } THIS SCHOOL YEAR NINE (9) SCHOOLS WITH INCREASED ENROLLMENT WHEN COMPARED TO THE YEAR BEFORE (FIRST TIME SINCE 2011) } MIGRATION: STUDENTS TRAVEL ACROSS REGIONS TO ATTEND CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
} Safe, Secure and Nurturing Environments } Academic Rigor } Faith Formation } Co-curricular and Enrichment Opportunities
v Guided by a clearly communicated mission that embraces a Catholic identity rooted in Gospel values v Centered on the Eucharist v Committed to: Faith Formation, Academic Excellence and Service
} Students benefit from a rigorous academic program for religious studies and catechesis in the Catholic faith within a curriculum that integrates faith, culture and life. } Teachers use the lenses of Scripture and the Catholic intellectual tradition in all subjects to help students think critically and ethically about the world. } The theory and PRACTICE of the Church’s social teachings are essential elements of the curriculum.
Students benefit from opportunities including: } student faith formation participating in liturgical and communal prayer, and action in service of social justice. } School leadership provide opportunities for parents/guardians to grow in the knowledge and practice of the faith; high level engagement } Provide a nurturing, loving and caring learning community; supports the development of student and family life
Ø Strong mission driven leaders, faculty/staff invested in Catholic education Ø Governance and leadership structures recognize the important of relationships marked by mutual trust, close cooperation, continuing dialogue and respect. Ø The system of Catholic Schools and Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department provide policy and direction supporting school operations to ensure fidelity to mission, Catholic Identity, Academic Excellence and Operational Vitality (sustainability).
} Rigorous current Curriculum with relevant state and national standards, 21 st Century skills and Gospel values } 99 % our seniors are college bound Ø School use school wide assessment methods and practices to document student learning, to inform instruction and continuous review of curriculum. Ø Our students performance exceed national standards on standardized tests.
v OTHER STRENGTHS IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION?
Our schools SHINE with Chromebook Technology. v Teaching and learning tool v Prepares our students with skills for college and the workforce v Transforms learning promoting creativity/problem solving
Our schools SHINE with Robotics and Coding. v Engages students in fun interactive technology/engineering v Prepares students for a job market demand for coders in industry v Engages students to understand technology shaping our world
Our schools SHINE with STREAM (STEM). v Students improve creative problem solving and critical thinking skills v Students engage in project based learning through discovery and exploration v Students examine team dynamics and communication
Our schools SHINE with a new five (5) year Strategic Pl Plan: Visioning for our Future. v Provides strategic direction and scope for future viability, SWOT, Mission/Vision/Values v Benchmarks, Goals, Strategies and Action Steps, Time Bound, Ever Changing
Our schools SHINE with Emergency Management Response Plans and Protocol. Safety and security for all students, staff and v parents/visitors are priority. Provides direction and scope to align with v modern best practices in school safety Comprehensive multi-hazard planning and v training prepares our schools to prevent, respond and recover from emergencies
Our schools SHINE with high quality professional development opportunities and educational research best practices. v National and International Presenters v Experiential Models of Engagement v Ongoing Support and State-of-the-Art Instructional Resources v Assessment Best Practices v Accountability Platform
Our schools SHINE with an Intensive Marketing Campaign. v LET THEM SHINE BRANDING AND BANNERS v VIBRANT DIOCESAN AND SCHOOL WEBSITES v SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE v DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS-- SCHOOL LEADERS/COUNCILS v DOOR WRAPS AT THE MALL/BUS WRAPS v BUS BENCHES v RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS/MEDIA v VIDEOS FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS v BILLBOARDS v MARKETING SENSITIVITY TO MULTIPLE GENERATIONS
OTHER AREAS OF PRIDE?
FINAN ANCIAL AL: } Escalating need for tuition assistance } Need for funds exceed available funds } Cost to educate each child is increasing } Instructional resources and utilities escalate } Pastors concerned-growing subsidies to schools while not compromising parish ministries
PE PERSO SONNEL: Ø Teacher Compensation Packages Ø Recruiting and retaining high quality teachers Ø Administration and faculty wear many hats; serve in a variety of roles in an effort to practice effective stewardship
PLAN ANTS AN AND FAC ACILITIES: Ø Schools are 75-85% of total capacity Ø Aging school buildings Ø Require new infrastructures Ø Stiff competition with new and “shiny” public school facilities, free charter schools and open enrollment
EX EXTER ERNAL FACTORS: } Number of families declining in willingness to sacrifice for Catholic education } Demographic shifts } Population Growth } Bus transportation and distance Ø Decline in population identifying as Catholic
STUDENT SERVIC ICES : Ø Meeting the needs of exceptional children with special educational needs Ø Co-curricular programs are not generally supported by stipends Ø Meeting the Social and Emotional needs of students – many schools without counselors Ø Health services not provided by school nurses on site at most campuses
OTHER CHALLENGES AND THREATS?
FINANCIAL: q Create new school configurations (regional schools) with shared ownership and co- responsibility (economy of scale) q Create a new funding model for Catholic education q Create an Educational Foundation dedicated to generating funds directed to Catholic school and parish education programs q Continue Advocacy for tax credits/Title Funds
FINANCIAL: TRENDS IN OTHER DIOCESES: Parishes, with out schools, are assessed a tax to help fund Catholic education. Parishes with schools awarded a financial break in tax assessment. Student Financial Assistance expanded Clustering of parishes for the financial support of one or two schools Create endowments for tuition assistance, teacher wages and capital improvements Capital Campaign for endowed scholarship fund for low income families
PERSONNEL: } Create a diocesan pay scale for teachers with an ultimate goal of reaching 75-80% of local public schools. } Recognize years of service in compensation package. } Create a succession model for Principals and Administrators.
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