The following post was contributed by Ryan Lombardozzi, NCEA Social Media Coordinator.
Pam Bernards, Ed.D.
New Directions – Assessment of Learning, as Learning and for Learning: A Comprehensive Assessment Framework
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Room: 263
Topic: Assessment
Sub-topic: Data Driven Instruction
Track: Teaching and Learning
National Standard and Benchmark: Academic Excellence
Co-Presenters: Edward Quinn, IHM and Thomas O’Brien, PhD, EdD.
This presentation will provide attendees with a rationale for implementing a comprehensive assessment program by exploring the evolution of assessment practices and identifying various types of assessment that make-up a comprehensive assessment program. A framework will be presented that outlines a systematic approach to developing a comprehensive assessment program for informing instructional practice and monitoring student progress. Practical examples will be shared. This is an interactive session and attendees are asked to bring a personal device to use during the session.
Learner Outcomes: Understand the need to implement comprehensive assessment programs and potential challenges to doing so; Identity the elements of a comprehensive assessment framework.
National Research Study on Serving Exceptional Learners in Catholic Schools
9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Room: 233
Topic: Exceptional Learners
Sub-topic: Inclusion
Track: Inclusive Communities
National Standard and Benchmark: Academic Excellence
Co-Presenter: Michael Boyle, Ph.D.
This session will review the results of a national research study regarding the provision of educational services for Students with Disabilities in Catholic
schools. Data from the diocesan and school level will be shared regarding the current enrollment of students with disabilities and inclusionary practices in Catholic
schools. Perspectives of diocesan and school level leaders regarding the challenges and potential areas of growth will be identified in addition to the sharing
of overarching trends and best practices for serving students with disabilities.
Learner Outcomes: Develop a national perspective of how Catholic schools are serving students with disabilities; Understand national trends and best practices for inclusive education in Catholic schools.
Andrea Chavez-Kopp
Missionary Discipleship in the Digital Age
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Room: 200
Topic: Technology Integration
Sub-topic: Digital Citizenship
Track: Innovation
National Standard and Benchmark: Mission and Catholic Identity
Co-Presenter: Caroline Cerveny, D. Min.
As educators, we understand the power of technology for instruction, but how well do we help young people translate those skills to their personal and spiritual lives? If we don’t bridge the gap between technology as a tool for work and technology as an opportunity for living out their faith, students will keep those areas of their lives separate. Move beyond teaching digital citizenship to inspire a transformation of culture through the call to missionary discipleship. Best practices will be shared to model and teach digital content creation and curation for the new evangelization.
Learner Outcomes: Identify the importance of authentic integration of digital skills in evangelization; Articulate the relationship between The Joy of the Gospel and digital discipleship.
Adolescent Catechesis: The Call to Missionary Discipleship
9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Room: 261
Topic: Campus Ministry
Sub-topic: Special Topics/Current Events
Track: Missionary Discipleship
National Standard and Benchmark: Mission and Catholic Identity
Co-Presenter: Bob McCarty, D.Min.
The territory has changed and we need a new map! Perhaps the most challenging aspect of our ministry is fostering a missionary discipleship in young people. This session will explore the current challenges and the preferred reality of adolescent catechesis, while examining the comprehensive vision provided in The Joy of Adolescent Catechesis. The session will propose practical approaches and critical dimensions of a new catechetical map as it relates to Catholic education.
Learner Outcomes: Identify common challenges from a national perspective in adolescent catechesis; Define methodology to accompany adolescents in their faith journey.
Annette Jones, Ed.S.
Developing Teacher Leaders Within Our Catholic Schools
3:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Room: 264
Topic: Leadership
Sub-topic: Catholic Culture and Climate
Track: Administrator’s Toolbox
National Standard and Benchmark: Governance and Leadership
Co-Presenter: Phyllis Cavallone-Jurek
When it comes to increasing school productivity, leadership and management make a difference. The principal alone simply cannot manage all aspects of a school. Focusing on leadership styles and interpersonal approaches, which is the heart of a Catholic school, administrators can not only increase productivity and efficiency, they can build impactful collaborative teams. Both aspiring teacher leaders and current administrators are welcome.
Learner Outcomes: Define distributed leadership and explain contributions of teacher leaders; Distributed perspective into practice for both the teacher and administrator.
Missionary Discipleship and Death in a Catholic Community
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Room: 200
Topic: Leadership
Sub-topic: Catholic Culture and Climate
Track: Missionary Discipleship
National Standard and Benchmark: Governance and Leadership
This session discusses school tragedies involving death in the school community. In light of missionary discipleship, learn from leadership experiences and focus on the areas of preparation, communication, counselors, school community, and community connections.
Learner Outcomes: Understand the importance of developing strong community connections in preparation for a tragedy; Discover how missionary discipleship and various levels of leadership are utilized to successfully navigate the needs and expectations of the school community.
Matt Russell
Mission Driven Advancement
9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Room: 200
Topic: Fiscal Responsibility
Sub-topic: Alternative Funding Models
Track: Strategic Leadership
National Standard and Benchmark: Operational Vitality
The directors of development, admissions, enrollment management, fundraising, alumni relations and/or special events all play a critical role in contributing to the viability and sustainability of your Catholic school. This session will show you effective means to finance your Catholic school’s mission through the collaborative efforts of a comprehensive advancement team approach.
Learner Outcomes: Understand the relationship between finances and mission success; Learn key ways to finance the mission of Catholic schools.
Heather Gossart
Teaching and Leading in Turbulent Times: How to Navigate Discussions about Racism, Politics and Current Events in Your Catholic School and Diocese
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Room: Junior Ballroom B
Topic: Leadership
Sub-topic: Special Topics/Current Events
National Standard and Benchmark: Leadership and Governance
Co-Presenters: Gerald Kicanas, D.D., Ph.D., Henry Fortier, Tabari Coleman, Barbara Gutierrez, SNDdeN and Andrea Chavez-Kopp
A panel of nationally recognized Catholic leaders, practitioners and theologians will discuss how to embrace and create constructive dialogue in regard to race relations, the bigotry of low expectations, secular politics and maintaining a moral compass that will guide and inspire the communities of faith that we are called to serve. The panel, led by the Most Reverend George W. Murray, Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio, will identify practical strategies for responding to major political, and global issues in a trustful way while clearly articulating the relationship between Catholic social teaching and the secular world. Participants will have a chance to interact with the panelists and to take away practical strategies for educating the minds and hearts of their students, faculty, parents and larger local community.
Learner Outcomes: Identifying practical and effective teaching strategies when responding to major political, or global events that are counter to the Catholic Social Teaching; Understanding overt and covert Racism, and how it impacts the culture of a Catholic community and creating authentically Catholic environments of respect and inclusiveness.
Mickie Abatemarco
Signs, Symbols, Senses: Bringing the Sacraments alive by living the Gospel
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Room: 237
Topic: Religious Instruction/Sub-topic: PK-8 Classroom Strategies
Track: Missionary Discipleship
National Standard and Benchmark: Mission and Catholic Identity
In Pope Francis’ encyclical, The Joy of the Gospel, he states, “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them . . . no one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord. (no. 3)” In this session, the attendees will learn the connection of the Sacraments to living this invitation and how to share the invitation with their students. By recognizing the signs, symbols and senses that are shared in the Sacraments and how they relate to everyday life they will be able to help their students recognize the sacred in the ordinary.
Learner Outcomes: Relate the Sacraments as ongoing expressions of the Church’s call to live the Gospel; Find concrete connections to the Sacraments and our call to Missionary Discipleship.
Thomas Burnford, D,Min.
The State of Catholic Education
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Room: 232
Topic: National and State Perspective
Sub-topic: Research in Best Practices
Track: Strategic Leadership
National Standard and Benchmark: OperationalVitality
Co-Presenters: Gerald Kicanas, D.D., Ph.D., and Fr. Youssef Chedid, OAM and Dale McDonald, PBVM, Ph.D.
Join the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) along with leaders from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to discuss the state of Catholic school education. This session will include highlights from the NCEA’s Annual Statistical Report on Schools, Enrollment and Staffing: United States Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools 2017-18.
Learner Outcomes: Understand the current state of Catholic education in America; Learn about enrollment trends nationwide.
Matthew Valleskey
Perceptions of Catholic Schools: National Market Research Findings
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Room: 233
Topic: National and State Perspective
Sub-topic: Special Topics/Current Events
Track: Strategic Leadership
National Standard and Benchmark: Operational Vitality
Co-Presenters: Jennifer Robbins and Alicia Simon
This session will provide the data and key research findings from the recent national market research study conducted on Catholic education in the US. This study focused on parents’ perceptions on Catholic schools in the U.S. and priorities and key determinants when choosing a school for their student. The data and findings will be presented by MayHill Strategies, the firm that conducted the student along with NCEA and FADICA leadership.
Learner Outcomes: Understand why and how the study was conducted; Discover the key findings of the study.
Barbara McGraw Edmondson, Ed.D.
Conversations in Leadership
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Room: Buckeye – Hyatt Regency Hotel
Topic: Leadership
Sub-topic: Special Topic/Current Events
Track: Strategic Leadership
National Standard and Benchmark: Leadership and Governance
Following the morning Diocesan/System/Network Leader Breakfast, the conversation will continue in a session will introduce participants to new NCEA initiatives and goals and provide an opportunity for school and system leaders to engage in a collaborative discussion and feedback process. Session will follow the “Diocesan/System Leaders” Breakfast and will be by invitation only.
Learner Outcomes: Share diocesan initiatives and challenges in a roundtable discussion; Engage a dialogue regarding NCEA’s resources and support of regional and national priorities.
Leadership: The Heart of the Matter
9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Room: Grand Ballroom A
Topic: Leadership
Sub-topic: Growth MIndset
Track: Administrator’s Toolbox
National Standard and Benchmark: Governance and Leadership
Current organizational and leadership development theory points to vision and the heart of the leader as key determinants of successful organizations and high functioning teams. Participants will explore contemporary leadership models with an “incarnational” view, understanding that great leadership imitates Jesus.
Learner Outcomes: Embrace the baptismal call of the faithful to act as missionary disciples; Understand that the heart of leadership is creating a culture of accompaniment and growth.
Gabrielle Gallagher
Marketing Your School During Catholic Schools Week and Year-Round
3:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Room: 232
Topic: Marketing
Sub-topic: Communication Plans
Track: Strategic Leadership
National Standard and Benchmark: Operational Vitality
Co-Presenter: Jennifer Trefelner, APR, CPRC
Did you know that NCEA provides schools with free infographics, snapshots, articles, tools and templates for your marketing plans? Learn how to use these resources during Catholic Schools Week and year-round. Through strategic events, communication tools, and marketing materials, schools can promote the value of a Catholic education in a myriad of ways. Learn how to find these resources online, in the marketing handbook, and on social media, and elsewhere.
Learner Outcomes: Learn how to find resources to help them market their schools during Catholic Schools Week and year-round; Understand how to promote their schools and increase the national reach of our common mission.
Admissions SWOT for Catholic Schools
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Room: 262
Topic: Enrollment
Sub-topic: Admissions
Track: Strategic Leadership
National Standard and Benchmark: Operational Vitality
The term “SWOT” analysis may not be new to you, but the way you utilize this analysis may benefit from an upgrade. By analyzing your Catholic school’s admission strategy’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, you can get a firm grasp on where you currently stand in your work. This session will cover the basics shared in NCEA’s publication Gather Us In on the SWOT process. Participants will begin determining their specific admissions needs and design strategies to implement in the school’s overall admissions plan.
Learner Outcomes: Understand the greater strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that Catholic schools face today; Build a custom SWOT plan to help enhance individual Catholic school’s admissions strategies and build enrollment
Dale McDonald, PBVM, Ph.D.
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Benefits Available to Catholic School Students, Teachers and Education Pesonnel
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Room: 232
Topic: National and State Perspective
Sub-topic: Federal Programs
Track: Administrator’s Toolbox
National Standard and Benchmark: Governance and Leadership
This session covers the benefits available and how to access them successfully under the new legislation as well as consultation requirements.
Learner Outcomes: Engage in effective consultation with LEAs to secure benefits for their students and teachers; Prepare needs assessments/plans to meet eligibility requirements for effective participation in ESSA programs.
The Role of the State Ombudsman in Ensuring Equitable Services Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Room: 232
Topic: National and State Perspective
Sub-topic: Federal Programs
National Standard and Benchmark: Leadership and Governance
Co-Presenter: Jenay Morrisey
U.S. Department of Education and NCEA officials will facilitate a panel discussion with a State ombudsman and a diocesan counterpart on the topic of equitable services under the ESEA as amended by the ESSA. They will provide an overview of the role and responsibilities of the ombudsman and engage participants in a discussion of best practices around consultation and implementation of equitable services. Participants will gain an understanding of the obligations of State and local educational agencies (SEAs/LEAs) in implementing ESEA programs for private school students and teachers and explore strategies for engaging with SEAs, LEAs and ombudsmen to ensure eligible students and teachers receive equitable services
Learner Outcomes: Identify and understand the role of their State ombudsman in the implementation of ESSA programs; Effectively engage in consultation with State and local education agencies regarding ESSA equitable services.
Timothy Uhl, Ph.D.
Podcasting Start to Finish
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Room: 206
Topic: Technology Integration
Sub-topic: Connected Classrooms
Track: Innovation
National Standard and Benchmark: Academic Excellence
Watch the creation and taping of an episode of the Catholic School Matters podcast. The host will share technology and processes, will interview a mystery guest, and then will show how an episode is produced and uploaded.
Learner Outcomes: Gain the know-how on producing a podcast; Discover knowledge imparted by the mystery guest.
