Reflection by Dr. Steven F. Cheeseman, NCEA President/CEO
Rooted in a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Cleveland educate children to foster community, embrace service, and proclaim the gospel. As the sixth-largest Catholic school system in the United States, the Diocese of Cleveland educates the hearts and minds of more than 40,000 students each day across 108 schools. Partnering with parents to serve children from preschool through high school, these schools support the growth and formation of each student. During Catholic Schools Week, the Bright Lights tour offered a firsthand look at this thriving system in action.
My visit to the Diocese of Cleveland revealed a community where tradition meets bold innovation. From the moment I arrived, I was enveloped in the legendary hospitality of Northeast Ohio. My visit began not in a boardroom, but in the heart of the domestic church: a parishioner’s home. Sharing a home-cooked meal with a local family, their pastor, and Superintendent Frank O’Linn was a beautiful reminder that our schools are extensions of the families they serve.
The next morning began at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Brunswick with a Community Leaders Breakfast. It was an honor to deliver the keynote address to a room full of dedicated stakeholders. This was not just parish and school—it was community. Town leaders, including the mayor, civic leaders, police, and emergency responders all joined together in celebration of Catholic Schools Week. In my address, I celebrated their community and shared national trends and data that confirm what the St. Ambrose community already knows: Catholic schools don’t just provide an education; they provide a foundation for life.
St. Ambrose Catholic School is a powerhouse elementary school, a fact recognized by numerous NCEA awards. Under the leadership of Pastor Fr. Bob Stec and Principal Lisa Cinadr, the school has become the diocese’s only P21 Exemplar School. This means they are nationally recognized for integrating 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity into every lesson. As a Leader in Me school, they empower students to take ownership of their learning. Their theme for the year, “Come & See the mighty works of the Lord,” was brought to life through interactions in every hallway and classroom. The synergy between the parish and school is a model for the nation, proving that when we work together in mission, the mighty works are endless.
Our next stop took us to Akron to visit St. Anthony of Padua School, a Notre Dame ACE Academy. Since 1954, St. Anthony has been a beacon for immigrants. While it originally served Italian families, today it is home to one of the nation’s largest populations of refugees from Myanmar (Burma).
Walking through the doors, you see a beautiful mosaic of humanity. The school embraces families speaking 11 different languages, viewing each child as a unique piece in God’s grand design. Through their partnership with the Akron Zoo, students in grades 4–6 participate in unique STEM programming, ensuring these children have access to the same high-level enrichment as their suburban counterparts. What moved me most was how the school continues the charism of its founding order, the Religious Teachers Filippini. They have seamlessly extended their historical commitment to Italian immigrants to today’s refugee community. At St. Anthony, “welcoming the stranger” isn’t just a scripture verse on the wall; it is the daily goal of their educational mission.
We then visited the Akron campus of the Julie Billiart Schools Network. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame, this network is a national leader in serving students with moderate special learning needs, such as autism, ADD/ADHD, and dyslexia. The environment here is intentionally designed: strategically lit classrooms, state-of-the-art assistive technology, and onsite therapies are woven into the school day.
The “JB Way” recognizes that every child learns differently. With a maximum 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio, every child receives daily direct intervention. I saw licensed art and music therapists helping students express themselves, and occupational therapists pushing into classrooms to provide support in real time. Students even participate in Lunch Bunch, where speech-language pathologists join them to practice social conversation skills in a real-world setting. Perhaps most impressive is their partnership with the diocese: JB consultants work throughout the entire diocesan system to support special education. It is a profound witness to our calling to ensure that a Catholic education is accessible to all children.
Our final stop brought us to Lakewood and the campus of St. Edward High School. This all-boys IB World School, founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, is a place where “hearts and minds are formed to better the world.” The Holy Cross charism is palpable—you see it in the images of St. André Bessette, and you feel it in the brotherhood among the young men.
St. Edward is a leader in inclusive excellence. Their St. André Scholars program, now in its tenth year, provides a modified high school experience for students with developmental disabilities. These young men are fully part of “Edsman” life: they attend theology and elective classes with their peers, join clubs, and even run their own business projects. For example, the Scholars recently designed and sold handcrafted tabletop games, learning everything from order fulfillment to customer service. This program has transformed the entire culture of the school. In a Holy Cross school, everyone is welcome, and seeing these young men lead with servant hearts was a powerful testament to that and a fulfilling conclusion to my day.
As I traveled with Superintendent Frank O’Linn and Associate Superintendent Tracey Arnone, I was struck by the diversity of Cleveland’s “Bright Lights”. Whether it was the cutting-edge leadership at St. Ambrose, the global hospitality at St. Anthony, the specialized care at Julie Billiart, or the inclusive brotherhood at St. Edward, one thing remained constant: a fierce commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Diocese of Cleveland, for showing me how you “Come & See” the works of the Lord every single day. You are truly a light to the world!
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.
