Bright Lights of Catholic Education
Reflection by Dr. Steven F. Cheeseman, NCEA President/CEO
The Diocese of Orlando Catholic Schools continue a proud tradition of Catholic education that has shaped generations in Florida and across the United States. Serving 38 schools—including elementary, high school, early childhood, and special education programs—these schools provide a Christ-centered education that emphasizes faith, academic excellence, and leadership. Under the guidance of Bishop John Noonan and Superintendent Dr. Erika Wikstrom, students benefit from innovative programs such as STREAM, dual-language immersion, finance labs, and hands-on STEM learning, ensuring they are prepared to thrive academically, spiritually, and socially.
The Constellation of Hope: A Pre-Convention Visit to Orlando
Just before our annual NCEA Convention, I had the privilege of visiting the Diocese of Orlando, where the sun shines as brightly as the faith and innovation in their schools. What struck me most was not just the excellence within each institution, but the powerful spirit of collaboration and radical inclusion that binds them together. The three schools I visited not only share the same vibrant educational campus, they also share the same commitment to educating all students!
The true heart of this community beats within Morning Star Catholic School. This K-8 school, dedicated to students with special needs, truly embodies the Gospel call to cherish every child. The school’s mission is to prepare students for meaningful, independent lives, which is why their instruction includes a robust focus on functional life skills. Students are challenged academically while at the same time being supported with a full array of services including speech, occupational, behavioral, dance and music therapy. I was impressed by their on-campus life-skills lab, which includes a kitchen, bedroom, and utility area, providing a real-world setting for practical learning.
This feeling of belonging is extended through its deep connection to its campus partners. This school is the center of an inspiring inclusion model. The Best Buddies and Peers as Partners programs bring St. Charles and Bishop Moore students onto the campus, fostering one-on-one friendships and mutual respect. Furthermore, the Unified Sports Program with Bishop Moore High School ensures students with varying abilities compete and train together in track, basketball, and bowling, celebrating teamwork and belonging across all levels of the community. This collaboration is a beautiful reflection of the Gospel call to welcome all, preparing typical students for a compassionate life and special needs students for a life of confidence and community integration.
The foundational faith that unites this campus begins early at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School (PreK-8). I was incredibly moved to see the students start every single day grounded in purpose with a school-wide prayer in the courtyard. This simple, consistent act immediately sets a tone of spiritual focus and community that carries through their curriculum. But St. Charles is far from traditional in its approach to learning. The eighth graders are already preparing for the skies with a specialized Embry-Riddle drone program. This cutting-edge course introduces the fundamentals of flight, federal regulations, and practical drone operation, giving students a serious pathway into the burgeoning fields of aerospace and other STEM related careers. This hands-on, high-tech preparation, paired with the success of their state-championship robotics team, ensures that students are not only faith-filled but future-ready.
This focused preparation seamlessly leads students to Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Bishop Moore is a true beacon of forward-thinking Catholic education. They offer a comprehensive suite of Programs of Distinction in areas like Biomedical Sciences (partnered with Advent Health), Aeronautics, and Engineering and Computer Science, They also have programs in finance, designed to build foundational skills in financial operations, markets, and investments, with a distinct focus on entrepreneurship. This pathway actively prepares students for business accounting classes and future professional success.
The school is forming the whole person, mind, body, and spirit, through daily prayer, opportunities for Mass, Reconciliation, and a deeply committed Campus Ministry team. The spiritual highlight for many students are the life-changing Kairos Retreats. The commitment to Service, one of the school’s three core charisms, takes on a global dimension through the school’s active Mission Trips. Students have the opportunity to serve their sister diocese in the Dominican Republic each year, a truly transformative experience that helps them encounter the face of Christ and opens their hearts to the needs of others.
Finally, the school’s vibrant culture is evident in its nationally recognized arts program. The BMC band has not only traveled across the country to Savannah, GA but has performed internationally in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day. Looking ahead, the planned Center of the Arts project promises to further expand these opportunities, nurturing every student’s creative gifts.
Bishop Moore, St. Charles Borromeo, and Morning Star are more than just three separate schools. They are a powerful, coordinated effort by the Diocese of Orlando to demonstrate what Catholic education can be: a place where specialized inclusion meets global innovation, and where every child is educated and formed to lead a life of purpose, competence, and faith. They are, truly, a unified force for good.
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.
