As an educational leader for thirty-four years, Nancy has left a positive mark on Catholic secondary education, particularly single-gender education, as a teacher, principal, president and Superintendent of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Department of Catholic Schools.

Like many brilliant leaders in education, her career began in the classroom.  In 1975, Nancy began teaching young women at St. Matthias High School in Huntington Park, California, an archdiocesan school formerly administered by the Sisters of Notre Dame.  In 1983, Nancy became the first lay principal of the school and led the school for 17 years during which she oversaw some challenging transitions such as the consolidation of St. Matthias High School and Pius X and its relocation to Pius X campus, meanwhile, keeping enrollment remained at full capacity. 

In 2000, Nancy was appointed the Superintendent of Secondary Schools for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles where she oversaw 54 archdiocesan and private Catholic secondary schools.  Among her accomplishments, she initiated the privatization of a high school that now stands as a national model for board governance.  She also initiated numerous professional development programs for teachers in the archdiocese, including a partnership with two local universities for teachers to pursue higher education degrees.  In addition, Nancy skillfully navigated the painful waters of school closures by securing tuition assistance for hundreds of displaced students. 

In 2008, Nancy became the first lay president of Notre Dame Academy and elementary school in Los Angeles as well as an Associate Members of the Sisters of Notre Dame, formalizing a long and meaningful relationship with the Sisters.  Nancy has always lived the four cornerstones of the Notre Dame philosophy, a colleague remarked, and her leadership at St. Matthias, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and now at the Notre Dame Academy and elementary school is infused by the Sisters of Notre Dame charism.

“There are leaders who really make a difference in schools and Nancy is surely one of those individuals,” one colleague described.  “She is one of the finest educators we have in our Catholic school system.”  Through Nancy’s dedicated efforts, teachers, administrators and students are better prepared to live the Gospel message and create hope for the future, and in her home state, we honor and bless Nancy’s exemplary contribution to Catholic education.

Jim Franz demonstrates with every fiber of his being his love for Catholic education and epitomizes the best qualities of a Catholic High School educator.  The Superintendent of Schools of the Diocese of Tyler, C. Charles LeBlanc, best illustrated Jim’s outstanding educational leadership: “When cooking food in Cajun country, the ‘roux’ is the foundation of success and flavor of the dish being prepared.  Jim Franz is the ‘roux’ to Bishop T.K. Gorman Catholic School.  He is the foundation and the base from which all things flow and in his efforts he certainly provides the school with a quality flavor and successful outcome.” 

For the past ten years, Jim has served as the middle and high school principal of Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Catholic School, an archdiocesan school serving a student body comprised f various economic, religious and ethnic backgrounds.  While Jim brings professional expertise and an outstanding intellect to his work, many would say his faith commitment and integrity are his greatest gifts.  “Jim’s professional demeanor, servant’s heart and Christian lifestyle are an inspiration to his faculty, staff, parents and students,” remarked a colleague.  

Jim provides a forum of communication for parents, students and faculty in appreciation of the critical partnership between the school and family communities.  He meets with each family and student new to the school to find out their expectations, concerns and hopes for their time at Bishop T.K. Gorman School.  In addition, he meets with all eighth grade students and their parents to discuss the transition process to high school as well as their goals over the next four years.  He never gives up on anyone—whether it is a student or faculty member—and is intent on listening and learning from others in order to understand what is really going on and how he can meaningfully contribute to the best outcome.

The Bishop of Tyler, Most Rev. Alvaro Corrada, S.J., noted that “Jim is one of the best educational leaders that I have ever worked with,” and recommended Jim to the Holy Father for the Ecclesia et Pontifice award, translated means “For Church and Pope.”  In 2006, Jim received the Benemerenti Medal, the highest medal awarded to the laity by the Pope, in recognition of exemplary service to the church, family and community.

Jim takes his leadership responsibilities seriously and has a perfect attendance record at NCEA regional meetings.  The Bishop T.K. Gorman community has developed in significant ways – including increasing enrollment every year—however, the ultimate benefits of Jim’s work remain to be realized in the lives of the young people he has touched for more than a decade.

How many people do you know who would travel from Cuba to South Florida via Mexico?  Brother Eladio Gonzalez, a Marist brother and our honoree today, had to make that journey not by choice, but by necessity. 

Brother Eladio began his ministry in education in his native Cuba as an elementary and secondary school teacher.  He quickly realized that his students and their families needed his assistance beyond the confines of the school’s building and ministered to young people and their families working in the sugar cane mills and slums.  This practice of addressing the entire community’s needs has remained Brother Eladio’s trademark in being an effective and compassionate educator.  Brother Eladio was eventually forced to leave Cuba for political reasons.  He lived in México, Puerto Rico, and Texas before settling in Miami at Christopher Columbus High School, a Marist Brothers all-boys school, where he has served for 20 years as a guidance counselor among other responsibilities.

At Christopher Columbus High School, Brother Eladio’s service is not limited to the Guidance Office or his advisory roles of the school’s Key Club and the Squires.  Brother Eladio follow a distinct pedagogical approach to educating young men, particularly the most neglected, with a sense of presence and simplicity, always seeking to meet young people on their terms.  Brother Eladio has a unique way of sharing the Gospel message and creating opportunities for young people to live in service of others.  He continually collaborates with teachers and parents to assist students facing academic, moral and/or spiritual difficulties.  He is always seeking creative ways to develop students’ self-esteem and inner capacity to give direction to their lives.

Brother Eladio continues to work beyond the school’s walls and works closely with the nearby immigrant and migrant worker communities.  He also operates outreach programs that assist the poor in the Mother Theresa shelter, hurricane victims in the Caribbean, needy children of the inner-city parishes of Miami, and work at Jackson Memorial Hospital. 

Brother Eladio has received numerous recognitions for his work, including the “Outstanding Educator Award” from the Nova Southeastern University in Florida, Christopher Columbus High School’s Service Medal, and the Knights of Columbus and the Squires awards from dedication and service to young people.

Humility and graciousness are hallmarks of this apostle of evangelization.  It is so fitting that we honor him at the NCEA Convention and in the spirit of “Leadership, Direction, and Service” in Catholic education.

It is no wonder that Charles Lee, president of Blanchett Catholic High School in Salem, Oregon, is known across the state as a visionary leader and a savvy fundraiser who does not miss an opportunity to strengthen his school’s academic excellence: He secured $33,000 to bring his entire full-time faculty and administrative staff to this year’s NCEA Convention!  And this was before he even knew he was an awardee.

Arguably, Charles most significant contribution to Catholic education is epitomized in his efforts to keep one Catholic high school from closing and to help open the doors of another.  When Charles became principal of St. Mary’s of the Valley High School in Beaverton, Oregon, the school faced an uncertain future with a declining enrollment and limited financial support.  As principal, Charles oversaw the difficult transition from all-girls to co-ed and reopened as Valley Catholic, and helped increase enrollment from 166 to 400 students.  When he left Valley Catholic in 1997, the school was financially stable with waiting lists for all grade levels.

Today, Charles is president of the Blanchett Catholic High School community where be began shortly after it opened in 1995.  Under Charles leadership, Blanchet’s enrollment has more than tripled—from 115 to 390 students.  During his tenure, Charles has secured more than $16 million for the school, despite its location in a city where two Catholic high schools had previously closed their doors.  Blanchett Catholic High School operates on a 22-acre campus with a modern 100,000 square foot educational facility that the school owns—after Charles’ successful $6 million campaign to retired the school’s mortgage—and is a successful Catholic schools in Oregon with strong school traditions, academic excellence and financial stability despite its young age. 

Bill McGahan has been a fixture at the North Platte Catholic School system for 43 years.  When he arrived at North Platte St. Patrick’s school, he taught English and Music.  In 1968, Bill accepted the position as the elementary school principal becoming the first lay administrator in the diocese.  Two years later, he became a secondary school principal as well.  In 1974, Bill became superintendent and over that past 34 years, has done a stalwart job. 

The qualities that made him an outstanding classroom instructor and principal, namely his profound love of young people and a commitment to academic excellence, strengthened his impact as a superintendent.  Bill knows each student by name, as well as his or her parents, circumstances at home, the student’s likes and dislikes, and methods of reaching out to individual students so they achieve their best.  He has seen generations of families graduate from St. Pat’s North Platte High school, which strengthens his belief that Catholic School education is the foremost means of developing the whole student as well as the whole school community of parents, teachers, administrators, and staff.

Bill’s “hands on” approach allows him to communicate fluidly with students and faculty alike, and to know their needs, concerns, and hopes beyond school.  Given North Platte’s rural location, many parishioners and the school community believe without Bill and his leadership, North Platte Catholic Schools would not even exist.  Although Bill brushes the acknowledgement off, the McGahan family’s contributions over the past half-century were recognized in 2005 when the activities center was renamed the McGahan Activities Center. 

Bill’s unique vision to school leadership is reflected in the three recent major building projects and two major renovations of the school facilities.  The schools also boast up to date technology facilities and equipment, and effective communication of the schools mission both past and present.  Bill, in addition to the many hours spent before and after school, still finds time to be involved in all sorts of community projects and activities.  His knowledge of legislative issues concerning Nebraska and national education issues has been a great assistance when advocating for catholic education at the state level.

The Diocese of Grand Island salutes Bill on his dedication, commitment and love of students, and his drive to achieve the best of a Good God centered Catholic education.

In the words of her school’s principal, Linda Messina “creates a teaching environment in which she emphasizes the moral obligation of science and technology to the individual and society and includes contemporary social problems and possible solutions.”
 
Linda is a dedicated Biology and Environmental Science teacher at St. Joseph Academy for 13 years who in 2001 helped begin the nationally recognized Coastal Roots Program.  This collaborative endeavor with Louisiana State University provides students with an active learning environment to explore strategies for sustaining coastal ecosystems and practice ecological stewardship.  Last year alone, over 750 students from 24 different schools have planted more than 3,000 plants on various restoration planting trips.  The program now receives over $500,000 annually from corporate sponsors

Linda’s emphasis on hands-on learning activities is one reason why for the past 10 years, students from St. Joseph’s Academy have dominated state science fairs, such as the Louisiana Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.  Several of Linda’s students have finished in the top five at the International Science and Engineering Fair too.  Linda seeks opportunities to make principles of science come alive for students of all ages, and coordinates Forensics Science Camps for students as well as heads the Ocean Commotion, a program that teaches students about aquatic plants and animals. 

This past fall, Linda received the prestigious American Stars of Teaching award from the U.S. Department of Education that acknowledges exemplary teachers who use innovative strategies to improve student achievement.  Over 5,000 teachers were nominated for the award and Linda was one of five teachers from non-public schools recognized.

She has served as an assistant instructor for the Howard Hughes Microbiology Workshop and the Molecular Biology Workshop at LSU.  Selected to participate in the Biotechnology Education for Students and Teachers program, she worked along side one of her students in the BioMed Division of LSU Vet School on a project to construct a herpes virus that attacks breast cancer cells in vitro.

Linda is a master teacher who shares her gifts with students and community members well beyond the walls of her school. As a Catholic educator, as a science teacher, Linda exemplifies the best in educational excellence.

In 1964, Tom Otten graduated from Elder High School, an all-boys school in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  Four years later, he began his teaching career there andfor the past 45 years, has since served the community as a coach, math teacher, business manager, assistant principal, and since 1997, as principal.  As his nomination form stated, “The words Tom Otten and Elder High School are synonymous.”  He demonstrates his dedication to the school and its neighborhood, Price Hill Community, even in his wardrobe choices as he often dons purple socks in tune to the school’s colors of purple and white!

Tom exemplifies the servant-leader who cares for the students, faculty, staff, and families of Elder.  For example, Tom started the monthly Principals’ Pancake Breakfast which provides students with a low-cost ($1.00) breakfast prepared and served by Tom and the faculty.  The activity is just one way Tom models values of service and respect for each other. Through two capital campaigns, the school raised $20 million dollars to improve the school’s physical plant and financial aid program and enhance its technology services.  After becoming principal, Tom instituted a 403(b) Matching Retirement Plan in addition to the Archdiocesan retirement plan.  The retirement plan is funded through the school’s endowment and gives Elder High School a competitive advantage in attracting the best staff while keeping the cost of the school’s budget.

Elder High School’s motto, Altiora, means “to strive for the higher things,” applies to Tom and his career as a Catholic educator.  Over the past 15 years, as the demographics and economic situation of the neighborhood surrounding Elder has changed, Tom has worked tirelessly to better understand new challenges they face and to assist Elder’s neighbors in improving their situation.  The lesson of loving and serving one’s neighbor is mirrored in the school’s core values and academic mission.

 Tom realizes that education doers not occur in a vacuum and his role as school leader has led him to become a community leader as well.  He is the past President and a current member of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati High School Principals’ Association.  He also volunteers his time and professional expertise to the External Validation Team, which assists other high schools going through the accreditation process with the Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association.

In a 2007 article in The Catholic Telegraph, Tom wrote about the role of the Catholic teacher.  “Lessons include love, ethics, morals, right-wrong, good-bad, values, taking care of others, responsibility, civic duty, taking care of our planet, standing up for beliefs, duty to country and so much more.  Catholic teachers believe they can help youngsters develop God’s gifts in order to build not just a better world, but the Kingdom.”   At Elder High School, they have modeled their lessons on those they have learned from Tom Otten.