Education Commons^™

The Leadership Challenge: Preparing And Developing Catholic School Principals, Michael J. Boyle, Alicia Haller, Erika Hunt

Michael Boyle

The increasing emphasis on the myriad of leadership preparation standards have caused university principal preparation programs to necessarily focus on the more secular aspect of leading schools. For the Catholic school principal, this has left little focus on the development of critical strategies to lead for Catholic Identity and faith formation. This article suggests using the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools as a framework for Catholic principal preparation programs to address this issues. Additional suggests for program development are also offered.

Keywords

Catholic schools, principal preparation

Les difficultés posées par le leadership : préparation et développement personnel …

Preparing Priests To Work With Catholic Schools: A Content Analysis Of Seminary Curricula, Michael J. Boyle, Anthony Dosen, Cm

Michael Boyle

This documentary study of academic programs at Catholic Seminaries and Theology Schools through the United States sought to answer the question: “What types of preparation does the seminary curriculum provide to new pastors about their role in the parish’s Catholic School?” Results of program syllabi review show a dearth of preparation given to this aspect of this parochial ministry. Recommendations for further investigation are offered. El presente estudio documental de programas académicos en seminarios católicos y facultades de teología en Estados Unidos busca contestar la pregunta: “¿Qué tipo de preparación ofrece a los nuevos sacerdotes el currículo del seminario en …

Introduction To The Focus Section: Preparing Leaders In Light Of The Standards, Michael J. Boyle

Michael Boyle

The role of the principal has been increasingly documented as an important variable in student achievement. As such, preparation of principals is coming under more scrutiny by legislators and policy makers. It should be argued that the same attention that is being given to public school principal preparation programs must also be undertaken for formation programs for Catholic school principals. This article serves as the introduction to a focus issue that explores this topic.

An Investigation Of The Attitudes Of Catholic School Principals Towards The Inclusion Of Students With Disabilities, Michael J. Boyle, Claudia M. Hernandez

Michael Boyle

Catholic school principals typically serve as the prime decision-makers in admission and enrollment issues. A key factor in this decision-making can be the principals’ perceptions and attitudes about servicing students with disabilities within a Catholic school context. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of Catholic school principals toward inclusion of students with disabilities in Catholic schools. Overall, a majority of surveyed principals reported a positive attitude toward including students with disabilities. Some significant relationships were found between principal’s pervious experiences with students with disabilities and the principals’ willingness to enroll students with disabilities. …

Spiritual And Religious Capabilities For Catholic Schools, Christine Mcgunnigle, Chris Hackett

Christine McGunnigle

The Australian Curriculum articulates the role of general capabilities across all learning areas in the schooling years. The function of these general capabilities is to ensure that students have the dispositions and skills that provide for deep learning and the ability to function successfully in the 21^st Century. Within Catholic schools, these same general capabilities apply. Catholic schools, in recognising the mission of the Church, are however, called to ensure that not only are students able to participate in the 21^st Century context, but that they are able to evangelise through the integration of faith, life and culture. …

Student Leadership In Catholic Schools: A Matter Of Service!, Gregory Hine, Shane D. Lavery

Gregory S.C. Hine

Schools are elementary breeding grounds for student leadership development. School principals, by virtue of their standing in their school, have a pivotal role in facilitating student leadership development initiative s. In essence, they are stewards of student leadership (Lavery & Hine, 2012). This paper examines the notion of student leadership from the standpoint of eight Catholic secondary school principals. It initially explores their perception of the ethos underpinning student leadership. On this point, all principals posited that servant leadership must be the overarching model informing student leadership. The paper then investigates those ways these principals perceived student leadership functioning in …

Spiritual And Religious Capabilities For Catholic Schools, Christine Mcgunnigle, Chris Hackett

Chris Hackett

The Australian Curriculum articulates the role of general capabilities across all learning areas in the schooling years. The function of these general capabilities is to ensure that students have the dispositions and skills that provide for deep learning and the ability to function successfully in the 21^st Century. Within Catholic schools, these same general capabilities apply. Catholic schools, in recognising the mission of the Church, are however, called to ensure that not only are students able to participate in the 21^st Century context, but that they are able to evangelise through the integration of faith, life and culture. …

Student Leadership In Catholic Schools: A Matter Of Service!, Gregory Hine, Shane D. Lavery

Shane D Lavery

Schools are elementary breeding grounds for student leadership development. School principals, by virtue of their standing in their school, have a pivotal role in facilitating student leadership development initiative s. In essence, they are stewards of student leadership (Lavery & Hine, 2012). This paper examines the notion of student leadership from the standpoint of eight Catholic secondary school principals. It initially explores their perception of the ethos underpinning student leadership. On this point, all principals posited that servant leadership must be the overarching model informing student leadership. The paper then investigates those ways these principals perceived student leadership functioning in …

Beginning The School Principalship In Rural And Remote Catholic Schools In Western Australia, Debra Sayce, Shane D. Lavery

Shane D Lavery

“The only opportunity for a future for kids in the remote community is an education … if it doesn’t happen for them at school … well, it limits their life outcome.”

The sense of vocation and determination expressed by this beginning principal of a remote Catholic school in north Western Australia highlights the importance and relevance of quality education and leadership. The desire to provide the best educational opportunities for young people is strong amongst school leaders. The complexities surrounding remote and rural schooling are great. However, such complexities are further compounded when one is new to the role of …

Religious Educators: Promoting Servant Leadership, Shane D. Lavery

Shane D Lavery

The purpose of this article is twofold. First, it proposes that servant leadership is a suitable model of leadership for religious educators. Second, it suggests reasons why religious educators should exercise servant leadership.

The paper briefly considers the history of leadership development, per se. The concept of servant leadership is then explored with particular reference to four Gospel texts: Mk 10:42-45, Mt 23:8-12, Lk 22:24-27; and Jn 13:12-17. Three reasons are then presented as to why religious educators should choose to exercise and model servant leadership for their students. These are: servant leadership is the way Jesus exercised leadership; servant …