This article was contributed by Pam Bernards, Ed.D., NCEA Director of Professional Development.
Summer is not only a time for rest and relaxation for students and teachers alike, it is also a time when many educators take advantage of the opportunity to participate in a myriad of professional development options available to them. Some dioceses are fortunate enough to have the resources to provide focused professional development for their school leaders and teachers. I was privileged to attend two such diocesan sponsored professional development offerings, both sharing a common theme: Growth Mindset.
Developed by Stanford University professor, Dr. Carol Dweck, Growth Mindset was first introduced in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology (2007). The premise of her work is centered on the power of belief and the impact beliefs can have on what people want and their ability to achieve their goals. Two different mindsets are identified in her book: fixed and growth. In her book she states, the fixed mindset is an outgrowth of “believing that your qualities are carved in stone.” Whereas, she states the growth mindset is “based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts.” It was exciting to be present and experience the application of this theory in several Catholic dioceses.
From June 12-14, the Diocese of Baton Rouge under the leadership of Dr. Melanie Verges, Superintendent, hosted the 5th Annual Summer Leadership Institute in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The principals and assistant principals were treated to a series of presentations by representatives of The Pacific Institute on Growth Mindset. Chris Scaffidi, Director of Market Development and Laural Manegre, Sr. Executive Advisor, Senior Consultant, led the attendees through a series of activities designed to not only provide them with background information, but also valuable time for reflection and to begin goal setting. Additionally, team building and collaborative exercises were conducted by the team from the Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Schools Office as participants dug deeply into the year’s theme of “Growing the Seeds of Mercy.” Diocesan level and local level advisory board members will participate in a two-day retreat with presentations on Growth Mindset, and school leaders will join board members on the second day of that event, which will be held on August 22 & 23 at Manresa Retreat House in Convent, Louisiana.
From July 19-21, the eight dioceses in Pennsylvania hosted the 18th Annual Statewide Title I Nonpublic Assessment Conference at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College, PA. Representatives from each diocese attended and included diocesan staff, building level leaders and teachers. The theme of the conference was “Motivating Mindsets: Teaching that Empowers Student Growth.” Sr. Edward Quinn, Assistant Superintendent, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Livia Reilley, Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Harrisburg and Roberta Bucci, Director of Government Programs, Diocese of Erie worked together to plan the event. Colleen Lenett, M.S. Ed. and Christina Foehl, Ed.D. from the Berks County Intermediate Unit provided interactive and engaging sessions that led attendees through a thoughtful sequence of sessions that ultimately linked growth mindset and assessment and demonstrated how assessment can be used to maximize student performance.
Chris Mominey, COO and Secretary for Education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia began exploring Growth Mindset several years ago. He began by providing professional development for the Office of Catholic Education staff followed by the building level leaders. The session at State College represents the first introduction to the teachers. In thinking about the potential impact of growth mindset, Chris reflects,
I am convinced that we have all of the skills necessary in Catholic education to execute on the hundreds of strategic plans that have been developed by schools, archdioceses, and dioceses across the United States for the past 30 years. What I have come to believe though is that the organizational mindset of growth, innovation, and option thinking has not been present at the levels necessary to lead transformational change in our organizations. We have mostly adopted a hospice mindset in Catholic education, assuming that we are giving our schools comfort care until they eventually die off. Our expectation in Philadelphia is that the organization comes to realize that the best days of Catholic education are head of us and not behind us. Because if we do not believe that, then all of our well intentioned strategic plans, accreditation processes, and business plans will fall flat on their face. Culture eats strategy for lunch every single day!
Being present for these two professional development opportunities was very inspiring! Witnessing first-hand and being part of gatherings where I experienced what I love about Catholic school education: the sense of spirituality, community, collaboration, and a genuine desire to serve the students entrusted to our care. I was left with a feeling of hope and excitement for the future Catholic schools. With such a bright future ahead – Just think of the possibilities!
References
Dweck, C. (2008). Mindset: The new psychology. New York: Ballantine Books Trade Paperback Edition.
