Next week is the NCEA 2017 Convention & Expo at the America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri!
The future of Catholic schools is the responsibility of all of us – educators, leaders, parents, and indeed, all Catholics. We need to celebrate our strengths, acknowledge and address challenges, do the hard work, and embrace the wonderful opportunities before us with hope. The over 8,000 attendees at NCEA 2017 show a commitment to their own professional growth and to the growth of Catholic school education as a whole. Please follow along with us on social media using #NCEA17.
During convention week, Catholic educators will grow in mind, body and spirit. This growth will take place not just in professional development sessions but through discovery of what’s new and essential to Catholic school education at the Expo Hall, in the ample opportunities to worship and share in faith, and in the encounters made with new and old colleagues in the hallways. Your work is part of the ministry of Catholic school education that unites us all in forming young people in faith and knowledge. We encourage all attendees to discover what is happening around you and across the country and bring what you learn back to your schools so you may enrich and grow even more with your students.
For those unable to join us at NCEA 2017, please be sure to read our digital version of Momentum, which serves as a companion issue to Convention. There, you will find best practices, Good News stories and resources valuable to all aspects of Catholic school education.
Finally, we are pleased to celebrate here in St. Louis the contributions from our President’s Awardees and Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award honorees. A full list can be found on our website. This year’s honorees demonstrate to each of us what can be accomplished – let us go and do likewise.
On behalf of NCEA Board Chair Bishop George V. Murry, S.J., the NCEA Board of Directors and staff, along with Archbishop of St. Louis Robert J. Carlson and Kurt Nelson, Superintendent of Catholic Education, I welcome all to St. Louis as we gather to experience this unique professional development opportunity to grow in faith and knowledge and to celebrate Catholic school education. For those who are not with us, check out our summer professional development offerings and save the date: we are headed to Cincinnati April 3 – 5, 2018 for NCEA 2018!
