Conferences and Programs

Annual Convention and Exposition
Every year the NCEA Annual Convention & Exposition for all Catholic educators is held the week after Easter Sunday.  Information is available here about the Secondary School Department’s and the Association’s convention program.

2008-2009 Leadership Development Conferences

The Department supports Catholic schools to promote and live their Catholic Identity through professional development conferences.  The Department organizes conferences that strive to foster Catholic Identity and leadership development among members. 

Wisdom and Witness:
 for Religious Educators, Campus Ministers and Service Learning Coordinators
University of Notre Dame, June 29 to July 1, 2009 

Religious educators, campus ministers and service learning coordinators play a visible and powerful role in meeting adolescents’ developmental needs as they search for a meaningful and purposeful identity. This conference will address what the new religious curriculum means for high school religious education; introduce instructional models and learning strategies for campus ministry, faculty and student faith formation and service programs; and most importantly, provide a dynamic environment for sharing experience-based knowledge with colleagues to foster new networks of support.   

Conference goals:

  •         To address questions regarding the new religious curriculum and what it means for religious education departments’ practices and future plans  

•         To introduce transformative learning and instruction models for schools’ campus ministry, faculty and student faith formation, retreats, and service learning programs that assist students in seeing Catholicism as a way of life verses a body of knowledge  

•         To consider high school educators’ call to meet young peoples’ educational, developmental and faith formation needs through processes rooted in their realities  

•         To connect with colleagues from across the country and appreciate the collective knowledge represented in each other through discussion and celebration of our work  

Featured Speakers:  

•         Dr. Michael Horan will provide an overview of the Holy Father’s message and the challenge it presents to Catholic educators  

•         Bishop Richard Malone will address the new religious education framework and methods to integrate it across the curriculum  

•         Immaculee Ilibagiza will share her story about faith, reconciliation and the call to serve one another  

•         Sr. Helen Prejean will talk about the Dead Man Walking Theater project and addressing social issues through performance art  

•         Plus a host of presenters from across the country with experience and wisdom in the areas of religious education, campus ministry and service learning who will present during four sets of breakout sessions.  

Participant Outcomes:  

•         Gain learning methods and instructional tools to round out the new religious education curriculum in ways that respect adolescent development  

•         Understand how to annotate, incorporate and integrate Catholic Social Teaching into high school religious education curriculum and extracurricular activities  

•         Develop methods to address young adults searches for meaning—Who am I? Who do I want to become? How can I meaningfully contribute to society? How can I purposefully contribute to a believing and worshiping community?

•         Build knowledge and promising practices that leaders of all school types, sizes and locations can apply to improve and advance their schools’ program+

        Register On-Line                   Program and Schedule

Instructional Leadership Conference: Closing the Knowing/Doing Gap for Effective Teaching
November 20 to 22, 2009, Loyola University, Chicago, IL (CLOSED)

The best way to improve learning in schools is to improve teaching. Catholic schools have high expectations for students, and teachers who see teaching as a vocation and a ministry to help students reach their full potential. This conference invites instructional leaders from K-12 Catholic schools to consider together what they can do in their schools to move every teacher toward greater effectiveness. The featured presenters will share their breadth of experience and knowledge in innovative instruction through highly interactive sessions. Participants will bring back to their school communities diverse and specific applications to assist in school-wide improvement.

This Fourth Annual Instructional Leadership conference is co-sponsored by Center for Catholic School Effectiveness (CCSE) and NCEA for principals, assistant principals, department chairs, curriculum leaders, assistant superintendents, and teacher leaders.    

Special Needs in Catholic Schools Conference
January 18 to 20, 2009, Charleston, South Carolina (CLOSED)

The Elementary and Secondary Schools Department co-host this increasingly popular conference designed to assist those who work with special needs learners.  Breakout sessions feature experts in the field of special needs learners and Catholic education.  Last year, the conference attracted 160 elementary and secondary school educators and administrators.

Click Here for More Information and to Register  (CLOSED)

Agents of Positive Change: A Leadership Conference for Deans and Administrators Responsible for Student Affairs and School Culture
February 11 to 13, 2009, San Francisco, CA (CLOSED)

Deans and administrators of student affairs have the daunting task of shaping a school’s culture. While the challenges and rewards associated with this role are many, these administrators must respond to situations as they occur while thinking quickly and critically about decisions with lasting consequences.  This leadership conference will allow leaders in these administrative positions to develop innovative ways to address school culture, discipline, policies, technology, and much more at this interactive and resource-rich conference. Participants will learn about leadership techniques that will help his or her school meet the intellectual and social development needs of their students.

        Conference Outcomes

• Workable solutions to practical, everyday challenges 
• Innovative techniques to sustain community-centered schools
• Instruction on school-wide methods to work through campus problems
• Understanding of how to link policies directly to the values and mission of the school

For copies of the conference brochure, registration packet, agenda, and facilitators’ bios, click below:    (CLOSED)

 Registration Information    Agenda    Facilitator Bios   Conference Announcement

Developing an Effective Brand Strategy to Drive Enrollment
October 21-23, 2008, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chicago, IL

For presidents, principals, advancement personnel and administrators seeking to develop and strengthen school admissions and promote student enrollment. (CLOSED)

Shepherding the Shepherds
A retreat program designed to integrate the school administrators’ spirituality fully with their ministry. The program fosters this integration through a series of exchanges with peers in other Catholic elementary and/or secondary schools. They together explore the faith-building dimensions of Catholic school leadership in context of the privilege and challenge of leadership. Taking the 2 days for reflection, relaxation, conversation and prayer, they gain new insights and renewed energy for their leadership role. [More Information].   For individuals and schools interested in this program might consider purchasing Colleagues in Faith: Models of Shared Prayer and Collegial Support for Catholic Educational Leaders.  This book is the result of the Shepherding the Shepherds program and provides guided sessions on convening groups around a theme or season to pray, share, celebrate, relax and show their support for one another.  Colleagues in Faith reflects a highly collaborative effort of writing, reviewing and piloting by those who know best: Catholic school educators.  Purchasing information may be attained through the NCEA Publications Department at 202.337.6232.