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Full-Text Articles in Education

The Potential Of Catholic Schools: Public Virtues Through Private Voucher, Joseph Prud'homme Jun 2022

The Potential Of Catholic Schools: Public Virtues Through Private Voucher, Joseph Prud'homme

Journal of Catholic Education

Recent US Supreme Court cases signal a likely increase in calls for K-12 school choice programs that include the option of enrolling in religious schools. In turn, criticism of religious school-inclusive school choice programming is likely to shift to policy and values-based critiques. This article addresses two allegations of Catholic primary and secondary school deficiencies in achieving objectives important to a pluralist society, allegations that would invalidate indirect state support of Catholic schools. By analyzing the aesthetics of Hans Georg Gadamer and Aristotelian moral theory in light of American Catholic schools’ potential, this paper rejects claims that Catholic education is …


A Phenomenology Of The Job-Related Experiences Of Early Career Catholic Elementary School Principals, Sarah K. Kerins, Lucinda Spaulding Jun 2022

A Phenomenology Of The Job-Related Experiences Of Early Career Catholic Elementary School Principals, Sarah K. Kerins, Lucinda Spaulding

Journal of Catholic Education

This qualitative phenomenology investigated the job-related experiences of early career Catholic elementary school principals (N = 13) in the Mideastern region of the United States. Data were collected from an introductory survey, semi-structured interviews, two focus groups, and a participant designed plan for professional development. The findings indicated that Catholic elementary principals in their early career are motivated by a calling to a vocation in Catholic school leadership as well as the ability to develop and implement a vision for their school. Principals reported being challenged by limited resources, balancing the demands of the position, and navigating relationships. Finally, principals …


Preparing Priests To Lead Parish Schools: Concerns And Recommendations, Thomas A. Simonds S.J., Timothy Cook, Max Engel, Ronald D. Fussell, Jean Hearn, Jerry Meyer Jul 2021

Preparing Priests To Lead Parish Schools: Concerns And Recommendations, Thomas A. Simonds S.J., Timothy Cook, Max Engel, Ronald D. Fussell, Jean Hearn, Jerry Meyer

Journal of Catholic Education

Canon law recognizes the pastor as the chief educational officer (CEO) of the parish school. However, recent studies demonstrate that seminaries do not prepare seminarians for work in or leadership of Catholic schools, and recent scholarship also demonstrates that an increasing number of seminarians lack the desire to lead a parish school. Our research study examined the post-seminary preparation of priests for leadership of parish schools. We also explored alternative governance models for Catholic schools. We conducted structured interviews with 10 national leaders to explore these two areas of interest. Our findings demonstrate that preparation of newly ordained …


A Qualitative Follow Up Of The Maguire Fellows Program, A. William Place, Kevin Clapano, Robert H. Palestini Jun 2021

A Qualitative Follow Up Of The Maguire Fellows Program, A. William Place, Kevin Clapano, Robert H. Palestini

Journal of Catholic Education

This qualitative follow up sought the impressions of students after a two year program. The analysis of this data involved grounded theory qualitative methods. The primary means of data collection for the qualitative portion of this study was through digitally-recording and transcribing of participants’ voices in response to individual interview prompts. Seven themes emerged from the first interviews which included 1). Perceptions of leadership, 2). Changing perceptions the Jesuit ideas Magis/cura personalis, 3). Changing perceptions of social justice, 4). Perceptions of Motivation or desire to lead, 5). Catholic identification, 6). Theory to practice, and 7). Suggested changes to the program. …


Navigating The Uncharted Pandemic Waters: An Examination Of The Role Of The Catholic School Superintendency In Response To Covid-19, Andrew Miller, Melodie Wyttenbach, Ronald James Nuzzi Sep 2020

Navigating The Uncharted Pandemic Waters: An Examination Of The Role Of The Catholic School Superintendency In Response To Covid-19, Andrew Miller, Melodie Wyttenbach, Ronald James Nuzzi

Journal of Catholic Education

The management of multiple dilemmas became a norm overnight for Catholic school superintendents navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as they quickly moved to making decisions that would have long-term effects on the system of schools they led. This paper attempts to make sense of the new educational dilemmas that have confronted Catholic school superintendents during these past several months. Utilizing the 2019 framework for navigating and managing professional dilemmas in educational leadership (Spillane & Lowenhaupt), we explore educational dilemmas Catholic school superintendents face during this pandemic. We show in this paper that Catholic school superintendents have drawn on their professional expertise …


Disintegrating Worldviews And The Future Of Catholic Education: Addressing The Deep Roots Of Catholic Disaffiliation, Patrick R. Manning Jun 2018

Disintegrating Worldviews And The Future Of Catholic Education: Addressing The Deep Roots Of Catholic Disaffiliation, Patrick R. Manning

Journal of Catholic Education

Catholic schools in this country continue to struggle with declining enrollment just as the wider American Church continues to struggle with rampant disaffiliation. While some Catholic educators have generated creative solutions to keep their schools afloat, the long-term viability of U.S. Catholic education will require understanding the deep roots of current disaffiliation trends in the gradual fading of the Christian worldview from Westerners’ imaginations. This article addresses this issue by interpreting sociological data about the faith lives of Catholics and Americans in general through the lens of contemporary research on secularization. Working from these interpretive insights, the author suggests concrete …


Book Review: Reclaiming The Piazza: Catholic Education As A Cultural Project, Anthony Sabatino Mar 2017

Book Review: Reclaiming The Piazza: Catholic Education As A Cultural Project, Anthony Sabatino

Journal of Catholic Education

Review of Reclaiming the Piazza: Catholic Education as a Cultural Project (2014) by Ronnie Covery, Leonardo Franchi, and Raymond McCluskey


Served Through Service: Undergraduate Students’ Experiences In Community Engaged Learning At A Catholic And Marianist University, Elizabeth M. Fogle, Savio D. Franco, Ph.D., Edel M. Jesse, Brent Kondritz, Lindsay Maxam, Heidi Much-Mcgrew, Cody Mcmillen, Carolyn S. Ridenour, Ph.D., Daniel J. Trunk Mar 2017

Served Through Service: Undergraduate Students’ Experiences In Community Engaged Learning At A Catholic And Marianist University, Elizabeth M. Fogle, Savio D. Franco, Ph.D., Edel M. Jesse, Brent Kondritz, Lindsay Maxam, Heidi Much-Mcgrew, Cody Mcmillen, Carolyn S. Ridenour, Ph.D., Daniel J. Trunk

Journal of Catholic Education

Students participating in sustained community service at an urban Catholic and Marianist university were volunteer informants in this qualitative exploration of the meaning they make of their service experiences. A PhD student research team (nine members) interviewed fourteen undergraduate students (eleven of whom were seniors). Findings were organized as themes constructed within three domains: background, experience, and meaning. Within “background,” students who had prior work in faith-based service before college deepened their meaning of service. Within “experience,” there were social and cultural dynamics of navigating on and off campus life, including the roles students played as well as the challenge …


Introduction To The Focus Section: School Leaders And Contemplative Practice, Merylann "Mimi" J. Schuttloffel Phd Oct 2016

Introduction To The Focus Section: School Leaders And Contemplative Practice, Merylann "Mimi" J. Schuttloffel Phd

Journal of Catholic Education

Introduction to the Focus Section


A Standards-Based Approach To Catholic Principal Preparation: A Case Study, Sandria D. Morten Ed.D., Geralyn A. Lawler May 2016

A Standards-Based Approach To Catholic Principal Preparation: A Case Study, Sandria D. Morten Ed.D., Geralyn A. Lawler

Journal of Catholic Education

Illinois’ recent redesign of the principal certification program requires the integration of the Interstate School Leaders Licensure (ISLLC) standards as well as the Southern Regional Education Board Critical Success Factors standards into the coursework and internship, establishing a focus on preparation for instructional leadership. The alignment to secular standards poses a challenge for Catholic institutes of higher education who seek to prepare aspiring Catholic school principals to be instructional, managerial, and faith leaders (Ciriello, 1994). During their own redesign, Loyola University Chicago utilized the National Standards and Benchmarks of Effective Catholic Schools to create Catholic School Principal Competencies, a list …


Australian Catholic Schools Today: School Identity And Leadership Formation, Helga Neidhart Phd, Janeen T. Lamb Phd May 2016

Australian Catholic Schools Today: School Identity And Leadership Formation, Helga Neidhart Phd, Janeen T. Lamb Phd

Journal of Catholic Education

This article focuses on the challenge of faith leadership in Catholic schools. In particular, it reviews Australian research that aims to understand how principals conceptualize and enact their role as faith leaders. Consistent with American research, Australian research finds that principals see themselves as playing a leadership role in the evangelizing mission of the church by strengthening Catholic school identity and culture. At the same time, they are mindful of their limits in respect to their faith leadership capabilities. Moreover, the principals worried that the next generation of school leaders may lack the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to engage faith …


The Journey From Welcoming To Belonging: Stories Of A New Principal In A Latino Community, Corena Marasco Jan 2016

The Journey From Welcoming To Belonging: Stories Of A New Principal In A Latino Community, Corena Marasco

Journal of Catholic Education

From Catholic education’s inception in the United States, Catholic schools were established for the immigrant population and the leadership was successful at building enrollment with the high European immigrant populations. At this point in United States history, Catholic education is in need of innovative change, especially in regard to attracting the Latino community, the largest Catholic group, to Catholic schools. In this study, I detailed my own journey as a new, first time, first year, Catholic school principal in a 100% Latino environment, where I was welcomed by a Latino community, eventually leading me to a deep sense of belonging. …


¿Es Su Escuela Nuestra Escuela? Latino Access To Catholic Schools, Father Joseph V. Corpora, Luis R. Fraga Jan 2016

¿Es Su Escuela Nuestra Escuela? Latino Access To Catholic Schools, Father Joseph V. Corpora, Luis R. Fraga

Journal of Catholic Education

In this essay we use the framework of ideas, interests, and institutions to analyze the opportunities and challenges that confront Latino families and Catholic schools as they work to increase Latino enrollment. There are many ideas as to what to do to increase Latino enrollment. It is also apparent that it is in the interests of both Latino families and Catholic schools to have greater Latino enrollment. Despite the challenges of putting these ideas and interests into practice through institutional transformation, there is clear evidence that successful efforts continue to be made to increase Latino enrollment. Nonetheless, this progress seems …


Love, Charity, & Pope Leo Xiii: A Leadership Paradigm For Catholic Education, Henry J. Davis Sep 2015

Love, Charity, & Pope Leo Xiii: A Leadership Paradigm For Catholic Education, Henry J. Davis

Journal of Catholic Education

The treatment of workers is an ongoing social issue affecting society. No organization is immune to questionable employee practices, including Catholic educational institutions. For Catholic leadership to fully embody its intended justice-based role, it must first be aware of the social teachings put forth by the Roman Catholic Church. In this study, the researcher suggests Pope Leo XIII’s social writings as a guiding presence for beginning this formation, starting with the concepts of love and charity within labor. The analysis of Leo’s work shows love and charity as interchangeable virtues that enhance our God-given dignity by acknowledging other people’s inherent …


Clarifying The Public-Private Line: Legal And Policy Guidance For Catholic-Affiliated Charter Schools, Kari A. Carr, Janet Decker Mar 2015

Clarifying The Public-Private Line: Legal And Policy Guidance For Catholic-Affiliated Charter Schools, Kari A. Carr, Janet Decker

Journal of Catholic Education

In the past fifty years, the share of students enrolled in U.S. Catholic schools has declined from approximately 12% to 3%. In reaction, many urban Catholic schools have closed and subsequently reopened as public charter schools in order to receive governmental funding and to increase enrollment. As public schools, these Catholic-affiliated charter schools now face a complex set of legal and practical challenges. This article presents empirical research on Catholic-affiliated charter schools, and the legal issues facing them as well as the wider category of religiously-affiliated charter schools. The authors conclude by answering a number of questions that Catholic school …


National Catholic School Standards: Focus On Governance And Leadership, Lorraine Ozar, Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill Sep 2013

National Catholic School Standards: Focus On Governance And Leadership, Lorraine Ozar, Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill

Journal of Catholic Education

The recently published National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS) (Ozar & Weitzel-O’Neill, 2012) provides Catholic school educators and stakeholders with research-based criteria for operating a mission-driven, program-effective, well-managed, responsibly governed Catholic school. The standards serve as the framework within which discussion of Catholic school governance and leadership must now take place.


Contemplative Leadership Practice: The Influences Of Character On Catholic School Leadership, Merylann "Mimi" J. Schuttloffel Sep 2013

Contemplative Leadership Practice: The Influences Of Character On Catholic School Leadership, Merylann "Mimi" J. Schuttloffel

Journal of Catholic Education

There is a clear understanding that leaders of faith-based educational institutions shape the school community’s culture in ways that assist in faith formation. This implicit and explicit focus on faith formation and an alignment with the broader mission of the Catholic Church is foundational to contemplative leadership (Schuttloffel, 1999, 2008). Contemplative leadership practice presumes that a leader’s character, shaped by her/his communities, life stories, and virtues, is a necessary quality for making decisions that contribute to a school’s Catholic identity. Using qualitative research methods, this study explores leadership practice within Catholic schools in Australia, England, and the Netherlands, in order …