Professional Development for Catholic School Educators

Transcription

1 Professional Development for Catholic School Educators

2 St. Remy Initiative: Inspiring hope for Catholic education What if every Catholic school possessed the untapped potential the spirit to ignite passion and hope for the mission of Catholic education? And what if someone found a simple, yet powerful, way to capture that positive energy to create visionary leadership for Catholic schools? Year-end celebration and prayer service In Dayton, Ohio, Catholic education leaders have discovered the key to awakening that spirit and realizing its power. For the past five years, dozens of Catholic school teachers and principals from this northern region of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati have been meeting as a learning community to strengthen their spirituality, advance their instructional skills and develop their leadership potential. They have come together through a unique professional development program known as the St. Remy Initiative. What they experience is far richer than conventional professional development: Ask them, and they say they draw strength from each other. They feel validated, renewed, supported and hopeful. They are empowered to lead and carry out their ministry as Catholic educators even in these times of uncertainty about the future of Catholic education. What s in the name? Professionally it has fostered my call to leadership. I ve been supported and encouraged even to the extent of going back to school for my master s degree, said one teacher now in her sixth year of the program. Personally it has strengthened me in my relationship with Christ and the knowledge that I m not on this journey alone. In the highly competitive arena of Catholic school enrollment, it s not unusual for teachers from different parishes to think of each other as rivals. Such notions are dispelled through St. Remy. I used to think of teachers from other schools as competitors or enemies because we always seem to be competing for tuition dollars, a four-year participant said. I now see them as colleagues, cohorts and friends. When Remyans come together, positive energy flows. Why St. Remy? This professional development initiative for Catholic school educators is named for the town of St. Remy de Provence in France, where the first Marianist Normal School for the Professional Development of Christian Teachers was established in 1824 by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. Father Chaminade, founder of the Society of Mary, believed that too much emphasis is placed on acquiring teaching skills and not enough time is spent on forming the heart of the Catholic school teacher. His vision for normal schools was that they would serve the spiritual formation of Catholic school teachers. 2

3 St. Remy has served as a refuge in my journey as a Catholic school teacher, said a two-year participant. I come to St. Remy class days and am fed both spiritually and professionally. I leave feeling energized and renewed, ready to head back to school. Why St. Remy? Why now? St. Remy is a collaborative effort between the University of Dayton Center for Catholic Education and the Catholic School Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. It responds to the emerging need for lay administrators and teachers to carry out their ministry as educators who provide religious instruction and faith formation in Catholic schools The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (2005) issued a call to action when they declared that all Catholics must join together in efforts to ensure that Catholic schools have administrators and teachers who are prepared to provide exceptional educational experience for young people one that is both truly Catholic and of the highest academic quality. Brother Tom Oldenski, S.M., a member of the leadership team that conceptualized the St. Remy Initiative, believes the program addresses fundamental concerns of Catholic school educators. There are always questions about how do we keep Pilgrimage to St. Meinrad Archabbey, Indiana our Catholicness going? and how do we keep religiosity in our schools when there are no longer any religious in them? Brother Oldenski observed. St. Remy gives educators the tools and sense of mission. That s what excites them and keeps them coming back. Laying the groundwork The St. Remy Initiative began in 2006, when the Archdiocese of Cincinnati was contacted by a local foundation interested in funding a professional development program for Catholic teachers. The timing was perfect. The assistant superintendent of archdiocesan schools at the time, Dr. Toni Moore, had been developing such a program for teachers one that blended pedagogical training with meaningful spiritual growth and it was to be piloted in the Dayton area. Having been a Catholic school principal for 14 years, she had herself experienced a void in faith formation opportunities for Catholic educators. Creating a school history project via ipad My idea was to create a blended, holistic approach to professional development something that would help Catholic school educators grow professionally and spiritually, she said. We wanted to design a program that spoke both to the hearts and the heads of Catholic school administrators and teachers. And so through the generosity of the foundation, the St. Remy Initiative was made possible and is able to continue its important work. 3

4 Critical partnerships Dr. Moore forged a partnership with the University of Dayton, a Marianist institution and Ohio s largest Catholic university, to support the program s development. She also sought out Dr. Barry Heermann, a nationally known, California-based author and consultant in adult experiential learning and team building. She had participated in training sessions based on his book and curriculum, Noble Purpose, and felt his approach would provide the spiritual dimension she had envisioned for the Catholic educators program. At the same time, Dr. Heermann was seeking a career transition. After training Fortune 500 corporate teams for many years, he wanted to reframe his work in order to help individuals discover the power of their inner resources. Coincidentally, he was relocating to his native Ohio. I had never done work with the Church, and then Toni called, he said. It was like a dream come true. There was incredible synchronicity. More than anything, St. Remy has allowed me to share my faith and grow with other Catholic educators. They understand my struggles and they listen. I consider this faith formation and teacher formation the best I have ever received. No college course work and no workshop has ever given me what I have received from St. Remy. I am learning what it means to be a Catholic educator and principal. This is priceless! -- St. Remy participant Dr. Heermann adapted his Noble Purpose curriculum for Catholic educators and supplemented it with Thomas Merton s guidance on spirituality as presented in the series, Bridges to Contemplative Living. Development by principals and Catholic education experts To define the program further, Dr. Moore convened a focus group of local Catholic school principals. They confirmed her experience, drawing the clear distinction between the university-based preparation for licensure that all teachers possessed and the formation of spiritual leadership that most of them lacked. Remyans at work during a class day The focus group gave direction on the three dimensions of leadership that are crucial to Catholic schools sustainability: spiritual, educational and organizational. These focus areas, interwoven with the thread of personal spiritual growth, would form the foundation of the professional development initiative. Keys to success A leadership team of university and archdiocesan experts in Catholic education was formed to plan the program, and they agreed on these key premises: Each school is invited to send a team of three: the principal, an aspiring principal and a teacher leader. 4

5 For the program to provide the continuity in which personal relationships can flourish, it is organized around the professional learning community model. The program is voluntary, but with admittance, the participant commits to attending all functions and engaging in all projects for at least one year. CEUs and University of Dayton graduate credits are offered as incentives to join. School teams develop proposals for projects to strengthen Catholic identity in the home schools. If the project is approved, the program provides a $500 implementation grant. The program pays the cost of substitutes when St. Remy sessions take teachers away from classrooms. When funds are available, teachers receive a modest stipend. Remyans at prayer Year I launch With the programming planned and three years of grant funding secured, the St. Remy Initiative was launched in 2007 with Dr. Moore as director. A powerful motivator, Dr. Heermann became the leader of St. Remy s spiritual development component, offering participants opportunities to blend Catholic faith formation with self-discovery and school-improvement goals. St. Remy began with nine schools and 27 educators. For many, its immediate success was a pleasant surprise. When you re on the job as a Catholic school educator, you don t get excited about another program, said Brother Oldenski. But we had envisioned it and decided to swim with it. It took off far faster than any of us had anticipated. St. Remy framework The St. Remy Initiative took shape around a number of principles and features that have defined the program: St. Remy focus areas Although faith formation is St. Remy s main focus, each year professional development topics rotate among these additional themes: Spiritual leadership Educational leadership Organizational leadership Purpose The St. Remy Initiative provides Catholic school principals and teachers the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and skills in the spiritual, educational and organizational dimensions of their ministry. Teachers are encouraged to find their voice and trained to provide leadership as active contributors and decision makers in their home schools. Learner statement The program focuses on the adult learner, demonstrating respect for current knowledge, experience and time constraints. Thus, the learning occurs in nontraditional formats. 5

6 Programming Each year one of the three dimensions of Catholic school leadership spiritual, educational and organizational is emphasized. Even so, faith-formation activities remain the main focus year after year. School grants Each school team is required to create a school-wide project to strengthen the Catholic identity within each participating school. They receive a modest implementation grant for approved projects and report their results to the entire cohort. Events and activities Orientation and introduction In early summer, a halfday session is held to introduce new Remyans to the program, allow veterans to reconnect with one another and plan details of the late-summer pilgrimage and community-service activity. Pilgrimage and retreat In late summer, participants travel to nearby destinations that represent the rich St. Remy serving the community cultural heritage of the area s Catholic schools. In addition, they spend time engaged in community service as well as in a retreat setting with guided reflection and spiritual renewal. A mid-year retreat is held in the winter, as well. Class days The program includes four full days of professional development with expert speakers as well as opportunities for contemplative prayer. School team meetings Once or twice monthly, St. Remy participants meet with their respective school team members to plan the project for their home school. Assessment The program provides many opportunities for participant input, including focus groups and a survey taken at the end of every year. In this way, organizers can determine St. Remy s influence on attitudes and gain insights on programming improvements. Credits Participants may earn graduate credits from the University of Dayton or certificate/license renewal credits. St. Remy has inspired me to take a closer look at my role as religious leader in our school. In doing so, I have increased my efforts to evangelize and catechize both students and parents. -- St. Remy participant Leadership team A leadership team, consisting of Dr. Moore, Dr. Heermann and three additional Catholic education experts, has been responsible for planning, implementing, evaluating and refining the initiative. 6

7 Benefits to Catholic educators, students and schools How have educators and their students benefitted from St. Remy? Each school has the opportunity to achieve a stronger Catholic identity through a school-wide project designed and implemented by Remyans. Opportunities for spiritual growth and reflection are plentiful. Future Catholic school leaders are being nurtured and developed. Teachers are expected to model leadership behaviors and actively contribute to the advancement of their schools. Remyans learn from one another how to be Christ to their students. A network of dedicated Catholic educators exists to provide support, problem solving and a sense of purpose around Catholic education. The sharing of values, commitments, concerns and vision by Catholic school educators allows them to shed feelings of isolation. Students are better served by teachers who are better prepared. Teacher professional development leads to improved instruction and higher academic achievement. Teachers especially from urban Catholic schools gain hope for the future. What s next for St. Remy? Like any vital organization, St. Remy continues to evolve and grow. The participants are committed and have taken increasing responsibility to make the program their own. For example, they now plan the mid-year retreat and the pilgrimage, schedule speakers and lead the spiritual sharing on class days. Also, a succession plan has been set in motion. It will see educators assuming key leadership roles in the future, replacing Dr. Moore and Dr. Heermann in their positions. St. Remy: Its time has come The St. Remy Initiative is now in its sixth year, and participation has grown from 27 Catholic educators representing nine schools, to 66 participants from 19 schools, including five high schools. Remyans continue to share in shaping the program St. Remy has given me hope! Often times I have found my career very lonely. Being champion for Catholic education can be draining. Joining St. Remy with other Catholic teachers and principals who believe in teaching and living the faith has reaffirmed me, one educator said. Another remarked, The chance to do some reflection in the area of spirituality and the chance to talk about faith, religious growth and formation with peers were the highlights. St. Remy allows one to grow in the area of Catholic Identity. 7

8 The St. Remy Initiative has empowered Catholic school educators in Dayton, Ohio. In each other, teachers and principals are finding inspiration, validation and renewed commitment to their unique vocation. They are also learning the principles of leadership. Through St. Remy, educators develop the confidence and spiritual strength they need to lead," said Dr. Moore. We believe it is by sharing our faith and working together that we can best tackle the challenges in Catholic education. An invitation In summer 2013, St. Remy s founders will share the professional development model with dioceses seeking to support their principals and teachers in spiritual, educational and organizational leadership. Training in the development and implementation of a St. Remy program will be provided to those interested in such a program for their dioceses. Please contact Dr. Toni Moore at lmoore2@udayton.edu to learn more about how to participate. Inquiries from superintendents, diocesan staff, and principals are welcomed. More information about St. Remy is also available at the University of Dayton School of Education and Health Sciences web site (udayton.edu/education/cce/stremy/). 8

9 St. Remy at a glance Purpose developing and sustaining leadership for Catholic schools Who...teams of Catholic schools principals and teachers What a collaborative effort between the University of Dayton Center for Catholic Education and the Catholic School Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Where in your diocese or region When...ongoing and designed around times convenient for teachers and principals Why to respond to the emerging need for lay administrators and teachers to carry out their ministry as educators who provide religious instruction and faith formation in Catholic schools How...the St. Remy Initiative provides Catholic school teachers and principals the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and skills in the spiritual, educational and organizational dimensions of their ministry and to work as teams to find their voice as active professionals in Catholic schools Please contact Dr. Toni Moore by at lmoore2@udayton.edu to learn more about how this program could work in your community. St. Remy pilgrims at the Church of St. Remy in Ohio 9

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