Written by Dr. Jennifer Buss, President of CHESCS, [email protected]
We are Catholic Higher Education Institutions Supporting P-12 Catholic Schools.
Our group, Catholic Higher Education Institutions Supporting P-12 Catholic Schools, or CHESCS, is a service membership arm of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). CHESCS works with NCEA to create links and relationships between Catholic higher education and Catholic P-12 education. The relationships developed by CHESCS and NCEA with P-12 Catholic schools align with the United States Bishops Conference’s request for developing positive and helpful working relationships at all levels of Catholic education (Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium, 2005).
CHESCS is a national collective group of Catholic institutions of higher education making a difference with our Catholic P-12 school partners. CHESCS meets collectively twice a year to conduct organizational business, network, and develop collaborative projects, and we also have other meetings as a group throughout the academic year on various topics. Our group brings different types of expertise to P-12 Catholic schools. Whether it is training new teachers and administrators for our P-12 schools, providing professional development, researching current trends and ideas alongside NCEA, or consulting on various school topics that are important to our Catholic school partners, we work to support and assist P-12 Catholic schools and educators.
I am a faculty member at Lewis University, and I have been a part of CHESCS for the past five years and on the executive team of CHESCS for the past three years. I originally joined CHESCS to learn more and contribute to work done with Special Education programming options for our P-12 partners. I have enjoyed seeing all our institutions’ work and continue to do to serve the P-12 community.
CHESCS Mission Statement
Catholic Higher Education Supporting Catholic Schools (CHESCS) is a national network of Catholic Colleges and Universities with professional education departments, schools, divisions, and centers directly affiliated with the NCEA to enhance P-12 Catholic schools for the good of society and the good of the Catholic Church.
CHESCS Vision Statement
We will increase collaboration between members, NCEA leadership, and departments of Catholic schools to advance the mission of Catholic education (research, teaching/leadership programs, professional development, and advocacy).
You can learn more about CHESCS on the NCEA webpage.
If you have additional questions, please get in touch with me at [email protected]. I am Dr. Jennifer Buss, the current President of CHESCS.
