NCEA’s services to boards, councils, and commissions of Catholic education
This section of NCEA was originally named an “association,” growing out of the desire in the 1960s, following the Second Vatican Council, to involve parents and others in the community in supporting and governing the Catholic schools that educate the community’s children. Msgr. O’Neil D’Amour and other pioneers in this area encouraged and assisted institutions to explore how this might develop. The models needed in the Catholic system would certainly differ from the board structures that function in public schools. Almost immediately, the National Catholic Educational Association recognized the need for dialogue among those who were engaged in this enterprise, and felt that NCEA was in the best position to facilitate such a national dialogue. Since there were no experienced leaders to draw upon as the movement began, “association” was the title given to those who responded to NCEA’s invitation to enter into a dialogue through which members could grow by sharing their experiences, insights, successes, less-than-successful efforts, etc. with one another. In 1967, those who engaged in this dialogue through NCEA were named the National Association of Boards of Catholic Education, or NABE. Because there is a strong sense of community within the Catholic Church, one of our strengths is learning from one another. As the movement grew, a wealth of experiences and skills quickly accumulated. Models of effective structures developed from experience and reflection. Three words have come to be used in naming the governance groups that developed throughout the country: “board,” “council,” and “commission.” This prompted NCEA in 2001 to expand the name of the association from NABE to NABCCCE, the National Association of Boards, Commissions and Councils of Catholic Education, incorporating various words that are used to name governance groups, sometimes reflecting the preference of the region, superintendent, or administrator. If NCEA now sometimes uses only the word “board,” it is for the sake of brevity and always implies the words “council” and “commission” as well as any other words used in the names of governance groups. Recognizing the increasingly vital role played by boards and councils in the shared governance and support of Catholic education, and the growing number of services provided by this part of NCEA, it was designated a "department" by the NCEA Board of Directors effective April 11, 2007, and was renamed the Department of Boards and Councils of Catholic Education. From their vantage point in working with governance groups throughout the country, department staff have accumulated a wealth of skills and experience. One thing that is clear is that one size does not fit all. Much is now known about what models of governance are effective or ineffective in particular situations, and how each can be implemented and supported, and more is continually being learned through the department's growing body of research and experience. This is now being shared through publications, consultations, this Web site, and workshops throughout the country to strengthen and support local Catholic schools and religious education programs. A board might govern a single school, a group of schools, a school and a parish education program, or just an education program. It might be a diocesan or religious community board. It might have authority that is advisory, consultative, or limited jurisdictional (policy-making). The strengths and limitations of each in particular situations are becoming known through research and experience. Including members of the community in the governance of Catholic educational institutions and programs is still a relatively new experience. Many are seeking assistance in understanding their role. Others desire to learn from the experience and talent of more advanced boards. Some administrators still need to be assured that sharing their responsibilities with others will indeed be good for their institutions and students. The department is succeeding in addressing all of these needs. Schools reap rich benefits when the wealth of resources and talents within the community are invited to contribute to the education of children. Department staff at this time consist of an Executive Director and an Administrative Assistant, assisted by the rest of the NCEA support staff such as the receptionist, membership services, communications office, institutional advancement, publication sales, etc. The department has an Executive Committee which assists the staff to evaluate needs, set directions, and plan and deliver services. The National Catholic Educational Association is currently structured as a membership association. This means that those who receive services fund them through a membership fee that supports the department that provides the service. Therefore, boards that wish to receive certain services that the department offers must become a member of the department. The fee is modest, considering that when a board joins as a group, each individual board member becomes a member of NCEA and receives department benefits and publications. “The Department of Boards and Councils of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) exists to promote and facilitate the development and implementation of successful models of governance for Catholic schools and religious education programs. The department also strives to improve the quality of board member leadership. It fulfills these two purposes by providing unique resources, national leadership, support services, and a means of organized membership participation.” The pages in this section of the Web site will provide information and give you access to services. We welcome feedback and suggestions concerning additional services that would be helpful to you, at boards@ncea.org.
are provided by this department.
History