Back|
NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION 1005 N. Glebe Rd, NW, Suite 525, Arlington, VA 22201 |
||
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, March 17, 2011 |
Contact Information Barbara Keebler Brian Gray Phone: (202) 337-6232 Fax: (202) 333-6706 E-mail: communications@ncea.org |
|
Arlington, Va.—Approximately 80 superintendents, bishops, chief financial officers and other educational leaders from the nation's dioceses enrolling the largest numbers of students gathered in Chicago March 10 and 11 for a Financial Summit on Catholic Schools. The summit held at Loyola University was sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) to seek new ideas for financing Catholic education.
"Our goal with this summit was to encourage those who lead Catholic schools to think differently about ways to strengthen schools for the benefit of present and future students," said Dr. Karen M. Ristau, NCEA president. "We plan to continue this conversation across the country for Catholic educators to explore creative and innovative ways to sustain the schools."
Following an introductory session led by futurist Joel Barker, attendees heard from panels discussing finances and new ideas. Break-out groups then discussed local applications of the two topics. In two panel presentations, Catholic educators shared their success stories. A "Finance" panel included Scott Jensen, senior strategist at the American Federation for Children, who discussed expanding access to Catholic schools through school choice; John R. Eriksen, Diocese of Paterson, N.J., schools superintendent, who talked about benefits and challenges of centralized financing in Catholic schools; and Dr. Michael J. Fedewa, Diocese of Raleigh, N.C., schools superintendent, who gave a presentation on "From Cost-Based to Parochial: One Size Does Not Fit All." -end-
A "New Ideas" panel featured Dr. Kevin Baxter, Archdiocese of Los Angeles elementary schools superintendent, who looked at innovation and growth; Anne P. Battes, president of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, Catholic Education Collaborative, who talked about how the collaborative unites communities for excellence; and Jeffrey L. Hausman, founder and executive director of the Jesuit Virtual Learning Academy, who discussed the role of technology as a renewal tool for Catholic schools.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Catholic Education and Loyola University Chicago collaborated with NCEA on the conference. "We're also grateful to the Archdiocese of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George and Catholic Schools Superintendent Sister Mary Paul McCaughey, OP, for their great support," said Ristau.
Other event sponsors are Catapult Learning of Camden, N.J.; TADS of Minneapolis, Minn.; FACTS Management Co. of Lincoln, Neb.; and William H. Sadlier Inc. of New York, N.Y.
NCEA, founded in 1904, is a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing and teaching mission of the church. NCEA's members include elementary schools, high schools, parish religious education programs and seminaries.