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Although many people view summer as “down time” for educators and a time to relax from the pressures of the academic year, many Catholic educators used this summer to sharpen their skills, explore up-to-date theories and be inspired by experts in education and catechesis. Many educators undertake individual studies close to home, but more than 400 people traveled to seminars sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) this summer.

“As the national voice for U.S. Catholic education, NCEA is focused on leadership, direction and service for our members, serving at all levels of Catholic education,” said Karen Ristau, NCEA president. “Our diverse programs respond to their educational needs but also address a desire for spiritual development.”

Here is a sampling of summer programs.

Neumann University in Philadelphia was the site for “The Soul of Youth Sport.” More that 60 attendees heard legal expert Sister Mary Angela Shaughnessy; Jesuit Father Patrick Kelly of the theology department of Seattle University; Dr. Edward Hastings, director of Neumann University’s Sport, Spirituality and Character Development Institute; coach and author Annette Angelotti Reiter and others explore how high school athletics mesh with the overall school mission to educate and form students in a Christian atmosphere

At the University of Notre Dame, the “Wisdom and Witness” program attracted 100 religion teachers, campus and service ministers and principals who heard, among others, Father William J. O’Malley on “Preparing the Way.”  Sixteen other speakers and panelists discussed the broad topics of assessing Catholic identity, creating a climate of vocation awareness, implementing the bishops’ Doctrinal Framework and social justice in the curriculum. The institute is sponsored jointly by NCEA, the Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame and Veritas Publications and is the only national conference for religion teachers, campus ministers, service directors and administrators in Catholic high schools.

Those interested in transforming America’s educational system through “disruptive innovation” were part of the “Trends in Educational Technology” workshop at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, aimed at preparing schools for the future. Michael Horn, co-founder of the Innosight Institute, shared his theories with 108 attendees on how disruptive innovation will change the way the world learns. Other speakers addressed topics such as designing a one-to-one program for laptops, iPads and mobile devices, keeping students safe on the Internet and Catholic schools case studies. 

“The Catholic School Leadership Institute” provides ongoing formation and support for new, experienced and aspiring principals. This year’s institute in Alexandria, Va., attracted 50 attendees who explored personal, spiritual and administrative leadership under the guidance of NCEA’s Maranist Brother William Campbell and Kevin Baxter, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Those seeking an in-depth look at the latest legal educational issues headed to Louisville for the “Educational Law Institute” cosponsored by NCEA and St. Catharine’s College. The 10th anniversary presentation of the institute drew 129 people from through the United States and as far away as Guam and Belize. Attendees heard 26 panelists discussion the ramifications of the law as it applies to Catholic education and ministry.

Another type of professional development took place in June in Alpharetta, Georgia, as 30 Catholic educators representing a variety of educational disciplines met to create templates to overlay Catholic values and morals on the curricula recommended by the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

Although Catholic schools are not obligated to adopt the Common Core standards, many have chosen to do so. The Common Core Catholic Identity Initiative (CCCII) will be a continuing program to offer resources for Catholic educators to layer moral values and the rich literary and historical traditions of the Catholic Church onto the standardized curriculum. The first resources are available now at http://catholicschoolstandards.org/common-core.

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 200,000 members include elementary schools, high schools, parish religious education programs and seminaries.