Standards for Effective Elementary and Secondary Catholic Schools: A New Responsibility for Higher Education
Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill
Executive Director of the Roche Center, Boston College
Date:听September 25, 2012
Abstract
The recent release of the听National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic听Elementary and Secondary Schools has brought a new focus on accountability to the discussion of Catholic school reform. Though the document听proposes a set of standards for K-12 schools, the听Catholic universities and schools of education that听train and empower future Catholic educators are听crucial components in its success. In this presentation, the executive director of 51茶馆's Roche Center for Catholic Education discusses the origins and aims of this seminal document and its importance for educators today.听听
Speaker Bio
Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill听is executive director of听the Roche Center for Catholic Education at Boston College, and former听superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. At the Roche Center she leads a number of programs in professional development (for Catholic school principals and pastors, as well as administrators at Catholic colleges and universities), advocacy, and applied research in conjunction with the听Lynch School of Education and the听local and national听Catholic school community.听Weitzel-O鈥橬eill is co-director of the new听Innovation Institute, a project of the National Catholic Education Association that听sponsors research, development听and adoption of innovative programs to enhance academic excellence in Catholic schools.听As superintendent of schools in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., she was responsible for 29,000听students in 96 early learning, elementary and secondary schools. During her eight-year tenure, she was听credited with strengthening the schools' academic programs, introducing a standards-based curriculum and听enhancing professional development standards.听Prior to serving as superintendent, Weitzel-O'Neill served Trinity Washington University as vice听president of academic affairs, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and associate professor of听sociology. She is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University, and holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from听St. Louis University.
Event Photos
Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill, Executive Director of the Roche Center at the Boisi Center on September 25, 2012.
Photos by Boston College MTS Photography
Event Recap
Patricia Weitzel-O鈥橬eill, Executive Director of the Roche Center for Catholic Education at Boston College, visited the Boisi Center on September 25 to discuss Catholic school reform. Weitzel-O鈥橬eill has been instrumental in drafting and disseminating the new National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools, a project co-sponsored by the Roche Center, the Center for Catholic School Effectiveness at Loyola University Chicago, and the National Catholic Educational Association.
The document addresses a variety of issues facing U.S. Catholic schools today, emphasizing questions of Catholic mission and identity, governance and leadership, academic excellence, and operational vitality. Weitzel-O鈥橬eill noted that many schools operated by religious orders, such as the Jesuits or the Cristo Rey network, already have standards in these areas. Yet for a variety of reasons, Catholic schools on the parish level have struggled to implement similar principles in their institutions. Weitzel-O鈥橬eill argued that these standards will help to clarify the Catholic school 鈥渂rand,鈥� provide a framework for improvement and guidance, offer a basis for accreditation and increase donor confidence in the sustainability of Catholic schools.
This attempt to reform Catholic education is essential given the important role Catholic schools play in our society. The opportunities and values these schools provide to Catholics and non-Catholics alike are crucial, especially for underprivileged inner-city communities. Catholic schools teach their students about interior life, prayer, conflict resolution, and mindfulness among other values that can contribute to societal flourishing and constructive citizenship. In this manner, the goal of Catholic schools is to not only educate but also to 鈥渘urture the soul of the nation.鈥�
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Further Reading
National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Education. Center for Catholic School Effectiveness, School of Education, Loyola University Chicago in partnership with Roche Center for Catholic Education, School of Education, Boston College (2012).
Benedict XVI听听(Washington, D.C., 2008)
Bornman, A., Spencer, C., O'Block, B., Weitzel-O'Neill, P & Melley, K., Duffy, S., Serio, J., & Verges, M. "Adopting National Standards and Benchmarks on the Local Level".听Momentum, Vol. 43 (No. 1). 2012.
Catholic News Service.听听CNS News Briefs. March 8, 2012.
Congregation for Catholic Education.听听(Rome, 1997).
Feinberg, Walter.听听(Routledge, 2006).
A discussion of the role religious schools play in the formation of a democratic citizenry.
Goodwin, H.听.听The Colorado Catholic Herald.听September 7, 2012.
Hayward, Ed.听.听The Boston College Chronicle. March 14, 2012.
Johnson, Carolyn Y.听.听The Boston Globe. March 12, 2012.
Morrell, M.听.听The Monitor.听August 20, 2012.
Schmitt, W.听听University of Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education. July 31, 2012.
Sexton, R.听.听The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno.听May 26, 2012.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.听听(Washington, D.C., 2005).
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.听"Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium".听(Washington, D.C., 2005).
Zimmerman, C.听.听St. Lewis Review/Catholic News Services. August 10, 2012.
OTHER RESOURCES
The Center for Catholic School Effectiveness, School of Education, Loyola University of Chicago..
The Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education听
EduTalk Radio interviews Dr. Lorraine Ozar on听. March 13, 2012.