Let us thank all those who teach in Catholic schools. Educating is an act of love; it is like giving life. – Pope Francis
At the heart of Catholic schools are great teachers. Last week during Teacher Appreciation Week, we honored the more than 150,000 Catholic schoolteachers across the country who work hard every single day to serve our 2 million Catholic school students. From the opening prayer to the closing prayer every school day, Catholic schoolteachers impart Catholic identity and guide students to love and serve others just as Jesus did.
Teachers in Catholic schools model the Gospel in all they do. The relationships they build inspire their students throughout their lives. Catholic schoolteachers share their faith, knowledge and time to prepare students for this life, but also for the next life in heaven. As a parent and a leader in Catholic education, I am grateful for their service.
My good friend David Tenney teaches religion at St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland. He shared with me that he loves his job because he has the chance to teach and form students at a time in their lives when they are asking questions about faith and dealing with difficult issues. His passion for teaching the faith and also for forming the students in his classroom (and on the sports field) is palpable and a real sign of what makes Catholic schoolteachers so special.
Last week we also heard from Catholic school educators on social media why they love teaching in Catholic schools.
John Hughes, who will begin his teaching career in August at St. Catherine-St. Mary’s School in Remsen, Iowa, said, “We are stewards of God’s creation. Our time, talent and treasure help parents’ greatest treasures grow more.”
Teachers from St. Elizabeth School in Rockville, Maryland, proclaimed #WhyITeach:
- To help shape little minds and cultivate their dreams
- To widen horizons for present and future generations
- To witness Aha! moments
Phyllis Cavallone, a principal at St. Therese Chinese Catholic School in Chicago, Illinois, tweeted “St. Therese Chicago celebrates its amazing teaching staff! Education is an act of love! #CathEdTeacher”
As a national voice for Catholic school education, NCEA supports Catholic schoolteachers, guided by our mission to lead, learn, and proclaim. This includes offering timely and relevant resources, professional development opportunities and events to help you in your teaching career. Some things to put on your radar for the summer include:
- Professional Development Events. Join us for the upcoming STREAM 2.0 Symposium and Institute of Catholic School Leaders and Education Law Symposium this summer.
- Webinars. Register for upcoming webinars covering trending and need-to-know topics relevant to your career in Catholic education.
- Resources. Find new resources and publications for Catholic educators on our website at www.ncea.org.
- Engagement. Connect with fellow Catholic school educators across the country online via social media @NCEATalk on Twitter and NCEAorg on Facebook to learn from one another and share success stories.
As you prepare for the end of the school year, I encourage you to reflect on what you have learned and to plan for the year ahead. Let us know how we can better serve you to meet your needs. I gratefully thank all of you for the work that you do to provide and support a great Catholic education for our 2 million students nationwide.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Thomas Burnford, D.Min.
Interim President
National Catholic Educational Association
