ACE Consultants Host Superintendents and Principals

Catholic school principals and diocesan school superintendents from around the country came to Notre Dame's campus in late June to probe strategies and leadership techniques for strengthening their respective schools.

Approximately 65 participants in the annual Principals Academy (June 25-59) and nearly 30 participants in the annual Superintendents Conference (June 24-27) engaged with speakers and participated in discussions, hosted by ACE Consulting, a unit of the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). Attendees represented arch/dioceses as widely dispersed as Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Palm Beach.

"We gathered to study, pray, and learn together," said Stephen Perla, senior director of ACE Consulting. Principal Academy presentations focused on serving students more effectively by building a "culture of continuous improvement" based on explicit root beliefs, an animating principle and a shared purpose. The superintendents' agenda spanned topics from the religious mission of Catholic schools and "creating a culture of hope" to enrollment growth, financial strategies, and parental school choice national trends.

One panel presentation to the superintendents featured educational leaders from the Archdiocese of Chicago who are pursuing a plan to promote hope and energy surrounding Catholic schools.

"We have to rewrite the script that the press wants to go back to," said Superintendent of Schools, Sister Mary Paul McCaughey, OP. "I think you rewrite it by saying, here is a place where you are loved and safe and taught and nourished and cared for." The Church must respond to legitimate public concerns by saying, "Here are practical things we are doing that show our young people a church of love that recognizes them as an integral part of our future."

Sister McCaughey said the archdiocesan goal is summed up in the phrase, "more kids in more great Catholic schools." The goal is being pursued by a team that includes McCaughey, marketing director Ryan Blackburn, and Juana Sanchez—a field consultant based in Chicago for ACE Consulting in partnership with Notre Dame's Catholic School Advantage campaign. The campaign aims to dramatically increase Latino enrollments in Catholic schools during this decade.

Samuel Casey Carter, an education management expert and president of Carter Research, addressed both the principals and superintendents about the importance of a "school culture" that shows teachers and students what is valued and what is expected.

"If you teach children to be good, and if you teach them they are good, they can learn to be great," said Carter, who is the author of On Purpose: How Great School Cultures Form Strong Character. He cautioned that merely pursuing "character education" as it is commonly understood is too general and can instead be focused around distinctive vision and values, with standards of excellence and pathways to achieve them.

"The shared passion to serve children through vibrant, innovative Catholic schools led the superintendents and principals into many fruitful conversations, and ACE Consulting was privileged to facilitate their accomplishments," said Perla about the events of the week at Notre Dame.

ACE Consulting is a leading provider of consultative guidance and innovative thinking with regard to the unique leadership needs of arch/diocesan education offices and schools.