Dr. Justin Shay serves as the Program Director for Catholic School Leadership at The Saint Paul Seminary. His work in continuing this program and developing it over his tenure has produced great results: one hundred Catholic School Leaders who feel well-formed by excellent instruction, connected with one another, and ready to bring their love for Christ into the schools and positions they serve in a new way. This program is open for enrollment to being next year. We sat down with Dr. Shay to hear about the program from his vantage point, both as someone who went through it himself, and as the Program Director.
Nell O’Leary Alt, Director of Marketing and Communications: Hello, Justin! Tell us about your favorite parts of the Catholic School Leadership Program.
Dr. Shay: My favorite aspects of the Catholic School Leadership Program are the two-week residency and the joyful Catholic culture that it builds among the students and their professors. It’s really a joy and a delight to watch. The folks come together from all across the country around the mission of Catholic education, their love for the Lord, and their schools.
Nell: What’s unique about our residency program?
Dr. Shay: What’s really unique about the residency program is that students share life together for two weeks, staying on campus at The Saint Paul Seminary. The coursework is rigorous and outstanding, but the magic happens at mealtimes, in the evenings, out on the patio, the friendships that take hold! This year, a small group of first- and second-year people got together and organized a trip to a Minnesota Twins baseball game. That was completely organic! These are Catholic school leaders who, because they share a love for the mission, come to really love one another and build an authentic community of Catholic educators. This bears fruit in their own work and ministry outside and after the program.
Nell: What does it look like for the leaders when they’re done?
Dr. Shay: They stay in touch! I’m still in touch with people from my cohort eight years ago! There is a lasting professional network that is built amongst the cohorts. When I was a principal and faced challenging situations, I would call upon principals from my cohort whom I knew would speak to the particular situation well because of what we had talked about in class. To have that deep bench as a new principal was wonderful.
Nell: When can people join? You’re piquing everyone’s interest now!
Dr. Shay: We have rolling admissions, so they can apply anytime throughout the year! We do launch them as cohorts in the summer. Find out more information at saintpaulseminary.org/icsl.