Written by Anthony G. Sahadi, principal, Saint Ann Catholic School, Diocese of Arlington, [email protected]
“The Heartbeat of the Catholic Church is Catholic Schools.” In the summer of 2003, I attended a Catholic school conference sponsored by the University of Notre Dame. This inspiring quote was shown to us on our first day. This August, as I begin my 17th year as a Catholic school principal, this meaningful quote continues to be true for me as a leader.
These words are best sensed and lived out by the heart, soul and inspiration of Catholic school principals and leaders. Through their consistent service—the inspiration, soul and heart of our Catholic schools can and will continue.
Khalil’s Gibran famously wrote, “He who denies his heritage, has no heritage.” In Catholic schools, we know and understand that Christ is our heritage. When we walk into our schools, we see Christ on the crucifix. In professional development, we teach, guide and coach our staff to follow Christ as the Master Teacher. Yet, going deeper, in a vivid way witnessed by our faculty, students and families, we stand side by side each school day with them—in their strengths, weaknesses and challenges. This is the heart of inspiring leadership.
For where there is a heart, there is a soul. But both cannot be hidden. Our Catholic schools are too great, and our heritage is too rich and diverse to sit quietly. Instead, we are inspired to be lived out, seen and heard. We cannot deny our heritage.
In Matthew 5:13-14, we are reminded that we are the salt and light of the world. Inspiring Catholic school leadership is guided by Christ’s principles and the teachings of our Catholic Church. We are called to maintain our hearts with Christ, be faithful to His teachings and remember our heritage.
Flowing from this, our inspiration comes from the souls and diversity of our schools and the beautiful people within them. Thus, as Catholic school principals and leaders, the foundation of inspiration is balancing Christ as our center—and our principles and teachings as a Church with the richness of our faculty, students and families.
In other words, inspiration is not having all faculty follow the same teaching style, expecting students to have the same strengths or thinking that all Catholic schools have the same culture. This is simply not true and not inspiring.
Instead, inspiration balances Christ as the Master Teacher, our Catholic Church’s firm teachings and our Catholic schools’ richness. St. Francis de Sales wisely said, “Be who you are and be that well.” In inspiring Catholic school leadership, principals listen deeply, draw out the best in everyone, ask curious questions and tap into others’ experiences so their best is witnessed and shared.
As we begin our 2024-2025 Catholic school year, we have opportunities to bring out the best of our faculty, students and families’ souls, gifts and talents through inspiring leadership. Inspiration is found in side-by-side collaboration and collegiality. A new school year invites us to share guidance with all those we are blessed to serve and lead. Some suggestions and ways to practice this are:
- Build an environment of Catholic school identity where the diverse faces of Christ are respected, and the example and teachings of Christ are shared and practiced.
- Ask good questions that evoke curiosity and inspiration. In other words, “How can you be who you are and be your best self?”
- Be in the midst of faculty, students and families. For example, practice leadership outdoors during carpool, in the school hallways and in the classrooms where our service and leadership are most relatable.
- Allowing teachers to showcase their gifts and talents, respecting students to be who they are and honoring parents as the primary educators, while balancing Catholic school excellence in personal etiquette and school decorum, proper Catholic school rigor and relationships indicated by duty and respect.
- Do not merely survive this upcoming school year. Instead, thrive through leadership that inspires a difference by bringing out the best in our faculty, students and families.
- Remember our Catholic school heritage is worth inspiring and continuing for our future Catholic school faculty, students and families.
In conclusion, the heartbeat of our Church is our schools. Within this, Christ is our center. But, for Christ to be fully present, the inspiration of the Catholic school principal must be sensed in the midst—in a sharing and collegial way. This interconnectedness identifies our hearts, souls and inspirations.
Inspiration calls students to dig deeper and not merely be in school but instead follow Christ, grow and be open. In addition, inspiration invites our families to fully be part of our Catholic school community as respected partners and the primary educators of their children. And, going deeper still, inspiration calls and invites our faculty not simply to be teachers but profoundly and proudly Catholic school teachers!
