Professional Development

The NCEA Professional Development team continually works to increase access to opportunities for the spiritual and professional growth of our members by ongoing collaboration, curation of resources and digital and on-site training.

Call for Proposals Now Open for NCEA 2018

The Call for Proposals for the 2018 National Catholic Educational Association Convention & Expo is open now through June 2nd. Whether you have presented before or have been inspired by a session you attended during NCEA 2017, we invite you to submit a proposal to present in Cincinnati at NCEA 2018. If you have any questions about your submission, contact Andrea Kopp.

Read More
Exceptional Learners White Paper: One Spirit, One Body

This white paper provides a rationale for serving students with disabilities in Catholic schools by exploring the Church’s call for inclusion during the last 50 years. Additionally, a framework is presented that outlines a systematic approach to developing a comprehensive system of support for inclusion practices in Catholic schools.

Read More
Registration Now Open: Exceptional Learners Conference June 19-21, 2017

ELC 2017 will provide top-level education to teachers and administrators who either work with or are exploring the possibility of working with students with exceptionalities in a Catholic school setting. This program is designed to offer practical skills, quality professional development and networking opportunities for special educators in Catholic schools, early interventionist, and other Catholic educators instructing and supporting children and youth with exceptionalities.

Read More

Videos: NCEA New Directions Exceptional Learners Conference

In the video at left, the Archdiocese of Chicago's Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Jim Rigg, Ph.D., invites Catholic educators all over the country to join us for the 2017 NCEA New Directions Exceptional Learners Conference, taking place June 19-21, 2017 in Evanston, IL. Below, there are links to four additional videos that will give you perspective on the importance of attending the conference.

Katy Lichon Video	Raul Escarpio Video
Sue Gerenstein Video	Christie Bonfiglio Video

Upcoming Events

NCEA 2017 New Directions Exceptional Learners Conference

Catholic schools strive to be inclusive of all learners, and teachers and administrators are seeking strategies, best practices and resources to help serve the needs of exceptional learners in the classroom. Ergo, it is with great pleasure that we announce the NCEA 2017 New Directions Exceptional Learners Conference (NCEA 2017 ELC), which will take place June 19-21, 2017 in Evanston, IL (Chicago area).

NCEA 2017 Wisdom & Witness Conference

Focused around the Six Tasks of Catechesis, this unique conference brings together religion teachers, campus ministers, administrators and service coordinators to discuss the latest information and best practices in religious education and social justice. Utilizing a variety of best practices in adult learning such as small group dialogue and analysis of real-life questions, participants will engage in discussion and activities with one another and experts in the areas of adolescent development and discipleship. The conference will take place June 23-25 at the University of Dayton.

Webinars

Please check back soon for upcoming webinars, or visit the NCEA Webinar Archive for previously aired webinars.

Additional Resources

Who Are Exceptional Learners in Catholic Schools?

Catholic education is rooted in the conviction that Jesus Christ provides the most comprehensive and compelling example of the realization of full human potential. From this emanates the belief that all students are exceptional in that they are made in the image and likeness of Christ and should have access to a Catholic school education.

Called to Inclusion Infographic

As Catholic educators we are called to inclusion. This timeline outlines inclusion efforts promoted by the Church over the past six decades and outlines for us a call to action.

No Children of a Lesser God

This book is a practical guide for any religious educator with a student facing challenges in school and in life. It also is for the student experiencing the everyday frustrations and fears of being identified as and feeling "different."

Pray and Practice with Purpose

A Playbook for the Spiritual Development of Athletes. This book equips athletes, coaches and teams with the resources to achieve success in spiritual formation. Through prayer and practice with purpose, sports and spirituality can become a valuable component of a team's culture and routine.