Bright Lights of Catholic Education
Meet the President/CEO of the National Catholic Educational Association
It is with great enthusiasm and passion for Catholic education that I reflect on my journey as President/CEO of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), a role I have been privileged to hold since August 2024. My name is Dr. Steven F. Cheeseman, and I am honored to serve this incredible community of educators, students, and families who share a commitment to the transformative power of Catholic education.
Soon after beginning this role, I embarked on an exciting initiative called the “Bright Lights of Catholic Education Tour.” This nationwide campaign celebrates, learns from and shines a spotlight on the remarkable work happening in Catholic schools across the country. Since launching this initiative, I have had the privilege of visiting numerous dioceses across the country, witnessing firsthand the incredible mission and values of Catholic education in action. Now, through a dedicated social media campaign and this website, we are privileged to share these inspiring stories, innovations, and contributions with the wider community. At the heart of this campaign is a simple yet profound goal: to showcase the “Bright Lights” of Catholic education and inspire our community to continue being the light in a world that so desperately needs it.
Goals of the Bright Lights Campaign
Catholic schools have long been beacons of hope, service and academic excellence. For generations, they have nurtured young minds, built strong communities and instilled the values of faith, integrity and service. Yet, in today’s complex and rapidly changing world, it is more important than ever to tell the story of Catholic education in a way that honors our legacy and envisions our future.
The “Bright Lights of Catholic Education Tour” is about more than celebrating accomplishments—it’s about understanding the unique challenges and opportunities each school faces. From urban schools providing access to underserved communities to rural schools keeping the flame of Catholic education alive in small towns, every Catholic school has a story worth sharing.
This tour is also a way to listen and learn. What are schools doing to foster faith formation in an increasingly secular world? How are they addressing the challenges of affordability and accessibility while maintaining their commitment to academic excellence? By visiting schools, meeting educators and engaging with students and families, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse needs within our community and bring those insights back to the NCEA to help shape our future initiatives.
The Power of “Bright Lights”
The theme of this year’s NCEA convention is “Be the Light,” and it perfectly captures the spirit of this tour. Catholic education has always been about illuminating the path to Christ, to knowledge and to service. In a time when negativity often dominates the narrative, our Catholic schools remind us of what is possible when faith and action come together.
Through the “Bright Lights of Catholic Education Tour,” we will highlight schools that are living this mission in inspiring ways. From innovative STREAM programs grounded in Catholic values to schools embracing a classical curriculum rooted in the Catholic liberal tradition, to schools that have found creative ways to offer inclusive education and provide multi-tiered support systems for students, these stories will remind us of the incredible impact Catholic education has on individuals and society as a whole.
A Community-Wide Celebration
The culmination of the “Bright Lights of Catholic Education Tour” will be a video montage presented at the annual NCEA convention. This montage will weave together the voices, faces and stories from my visits, creating a tapestry of the hope and light our schools bring to the world. It will serve as both a celebration of what has been achieved and a call to action for what lies ahead.
But this isn’t just my journey—it’s ours. I invite you to follow along, engage with the stories we share and be inspired by the incredible work happening in Catholic schools across the country. Whether you are an educator, a student, a parent or an alumnus, you are part of this legacy and your light adds to the collective brightness of our community.
Looking Ahead
There is so much to celebrate in Catholic education and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to shine a spotlight on it through the “Bright Lights of Catholic Education Tour.” Together, we can honor the past, celebrate the present and envision a future where Catholic schools continue to thrive as places of faith, learning and community.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Let’s be the light that guides our students, our schools and our world into a greater relationship with Christ.
Stay tuned for updates, stories and reflections from the road. Together, let’s celebrate the “Bright Lights” of Catholic education!
FACTS is dedicated to making educational dreams possible for families and students while enhancing the financial stability and affordability of education. Serving over 12,000 schools worldwide and more than three million students and families, FACTS provides a comprehensive suite of services designed to support administrators and learners alike in delivering exceptional educational experiences. FACTS works with many Catholic schools and dioceses across the United States and is proud to power the NCEA “Bright Lights of Catholic Education” tour, continuing its commitment to Catholic education for years to come.
