Certificate in Catholic School Leadership

What is Contemplative Leadership?

Contemplative leadership is a leadership model for the Catholic educational context that includes prayerful reflection (contemplation) and intentional decision making (action). The goal of contemplative leadership is to facilitate the creation of a Catholic faith-filled school community. A contemplative school leader understands the vocation of Catholic educator and the ministry of Catholic education.

Where are the theoretical roots of contemplative leadership?

What distinguishes contemplative leadership practice is the integration of three theoretical underpinnings (character, leadership, reflection) that necessitate a Catholic school leader to think about their own thinking within an integration of their professional knowledge and their character. The impact of virtues, special communities and life stories, on shaping beliefs, worldview, and decisions demonstrates the character of a Catholic school leader. Contemplative Catholic school leaders deliberate about the consequences of their decisions in relation to Gospel values, Catholic theology and Church tradition. Coherence between beliefs and behaviors is essential for contemplative leadership.

What does contemplative leadership look like in practice?

Within contemplative practice, leadership behaviors include implementing a transformational vision, creating supportive conditions for learning, participatory governance structures and community building activities.  In turn, the contemplative leader encourages teacher behaviors that include an emphasis on faith integration across the curriculum, discipline strategies that highlight personal responsibility and a Catholic worldview infused into daily classroom life. Contemplative leadership practice inspires a faith learning community for holistic student development.

Three examples of contemplative leadership.

Catholic Identity
Contemplative practice and Catholic identity are entwined. As a contemplative leader, when I (we school leaders) make decisions for my school community; my thinking is informed by my personal Catholic identity. I consider what my faith teaches about being a Catholic Christian in my role as a school leader. In addition, I consider how my decisions impact the formation of Catholic identity within my school community. For example, are devotions and liturgy given priority in our calendar/scheduling discussions?

Academic Excellence
The contemplative leader is an academic leader with an emphasis on excellence. A contemplative leader reminds the school community of their Catholic Intellectual Tradition that challenges each member to grow in their abilities to use their God-given talents. A contemplative leader encourages and models lifelong learning within their faculty. Teachers, in turn, inspire their students toward high performance in all areas of their curriculum. The contemplative leader’s message is that we all---in this school community---grow and learn to be the best persons we can be to serve God in this world and be with him in the next.

Executive Management
The contemplative leader carries out their executive management responsibilities while considering dilemmas posed by budgets.  These include financial aid distribution or balancing the costs of remedial and gifted programs.  These financial challenges are exposed to Gospel Values and our responsibility to the poorest and most vulnerable among the community.

The contemplative leader reflects on the rationale for their decisions, the messages sent by their decisions to the school community, and how individuals or groups will be impacted by that decision. Each decision is reflected upon through prayer, our Catholic theology and tradition and communicated through a collaborative process that acknowledges that there is seldom a flawless decision. Therefore, the consequences of the decision are evaluated and used to inform future decisions.

Catholic school leadership is a specialized ministry in the Church.

All baptized Christians are called to discipleship and to work toward the transformation of the world.  Some (though not all) Christians are called to exercise a specific ministry (or ministries) in the Church.  Although there are many different definitions for “ministry,” most have a number of elements in common.  Ministry consists of intentional action(s) done in a public context.  Ministry involves both serving and leading other disciples of Christ to further the mission of the Church and the Kingdom of God.  Ministry is done by those gifted with certain charisms (in other words, ministry is the work of God and of God’s grace in and through the one who does ministry).  Ministry is done on behalf of the Church and by those who have been appointed and/or validated through some form of ecclesial authorization.  When laity engage in ministry, they do so in close mutual collaboration with the pastoral ministry of the ordained.  If we think carefully about the daily lives and activities of Catholic school leaders vis-à-vis these descriptors of ministry, it becomes abundantly clear why their vocation can be described as a specialized ministry of the Church.

Ministry requires formation.

All forms of ministry require preparation and formation.  This preparation is not just the acquisition of knowledge or information; nor is it simply the mastering of certain skills.  Formation for ministry attends to the whole human person, focusing on the development of the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral attributes necessary for a person to be an authentic and credible witness of the faith.  A life of ministry requires that we seek to live virtuous and holy lives, recognizing in humility that we can only do so with the help of God’s grace.  Formation for ministry prepares us to become palpable signs and instruments of God’s love and compassion for the world; it should also keep us from ever being a contradiction of that love or an obstacle to others who are seeking to know the presence and love of God in their lives.  Ministerial formation does require a certain degree of academic preparation, but this must be carefully integrated and balanced with the other dimensions of formation.

The program goals of the Certificate in Catholic School Leadership are:

• Develop school leaders grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition, who are faithful disciples of Christ and credible witnesses of the faith
• Develop school leaders capable of nurturing and sustaining the Catholic ethos, identity, and character of a Catholic educational institution
• Develop school leaders with the practical skills necessary to manage complex, non-profit educational institutions effectively and successfully in the twenty-first century

The Certificate in Catholic School Leadership consists of a 14-month program of study that spans two consecutive summers and the intervening school year. Summer courses (two per summer) are delivered in a traditional format, utilizing in-person instruction within a classroom context over a two-week session in June. Courses during the academic year (one each in the fall and spring semesters) are delivered online, and accompanied by a supervised mentoring experience to develop and improve the leadership skills of current and future Catholic school leaders.

Seven required courses, totaling 19 credit hours, are offered sequentially in a cohort model:

• DVDT 510: Fundamentals of the Catholic Faith for Catholic School Leaders (3 credits)
  • This course presents the essential elements of the Catholic tradition. Through an examination of both primary and secondary texts, students will investigate the Church’s understanding of the human person, natural and divine revelation, reason and faith, the role of education in the Church, sacred tradition, Church doctrine, prayer, the sacraments, and Catholic social teaching’s engagement with the broader culture.
• DVPT 575: Leading for Catholic Mission I (3 credits)
  • Centered on the core principles of mission and ministry of Catholic education, this course introduces students to leadership practices required to shape and direct Catholic schools with the mind of the Church. Focus areas include: contemplative leadership; mission focused strategic planning; communication strategies; the development of school culture; ongoing faith education for faculty, staff, and parents; leading within diversity and diverse learners; and continuous improvement.
• DVPT 670: Applied Catholic School Leadership (2 credits)
  • In this course, each student is paired with an experienced Catholic school leader who provides on-site mentorship to the student at a Catholic school throughout the academic year. This course allows students to apply the theoretical principles and strategies of Catholic school leadership presented in their coursework to real situations in the Catholic school in order to increase the effectiveness of their practice as a Catholic school leader. Students gain valuable experience in the Catholic school and immediate support for this demanding role. Periodic online class meetings provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their experiences, challenges, and goals in light of the mentorship experience.
• DVHS 620: The History, Philosophy, and Mission of the Catholic School (3 credits)
  • This course introduces students to the origins and philosophical principles that have defined the mission and purpose of Western and Catholic education, both in approach and content, over the course of history from Classical Greece to present day United States. Reading the key texts that have shaped the course of educational history, students will investigate when and why Catholic education has diverged from modern philosophies of education. Additionally, the course examines the historic and current role of the Catholic school in society and within the Church through a careful reading and discussion of Church documents on education.
• DVPT 609: Catholic Schools and School Law (3 credits)
  • This course equips students with the necessary practical tools for Catholic school leaders to navigate the complexities of the law as it applies to both private and Catholic schools. From the Code of Canon Law to local, state, and federal statutes and regulations, this course includes instruction on all levels of the law while maintaining a core focus on employment law and school-related law for the distinct mission and ministry of Catholic education. Beginning with a broad understanding of law as articulated by St. Thomas Aquinas, and then moving on to practical implications of underlying principles and practices, the course applies legal reasoning and Catholic moral teaching as it examines student-handbooks, hiring practices, employeehandbooks, and legal issues in light of specific cases that typically arise in Catholic schools.
• DVPT 607: Non-Profit Leadership for Catholic School Leaders (2 credits)
  • This course prepares Catholic school leaders to manage their non-profit, Catholic organizations, while introducing future leaders to core business principles and Catholic moral requirements, precisely as an exercise in ecclesial ministry. With a focus on efficient and organizationally sound managerial practices in an educational environment, students learn the theoretical insights and techniques appropriate in the mission focused, ministry-minded “small business environment” of a local Catholic school. Areas of emphasis include: planning; mission leadership; staff development; budget and finances; communications; marketing; relationship management; and problem solving within school, parish, and Archdiocesan communities.
• DVPT 675: Leading for Catholic Mission II (3 credits)
  • Continuing a focus on the core principles of mission and ministry of Catholic education, this course prepares students with the leadership practices required to shape and direct Catholic schools with the mind of the Church. Focus areas include: the core competencies of Catholic school leadership; Catholic school culture; contemplative leadership; the development, supervision, and evaluation of academic excellence; and organizational leadership including hiring practices, stakeholder relationships, conflict management, and time management.

Full Catholic School Leadership Course Descriptions (PDF)

Program Goals

• To develop school leaders grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition, who are faithful disciples of Christ and credible witnesses of the faith
• To develop school leaders capable of nurturing and sustaining the Catholic ethos, identity, and character of a Catholic educational institution
• To develop school leaders with the practical skills necessary to manage complex, non-profit educational institutions effectively and successfully in the twenty-first century

As a specialized ministry of the Church, leadership of Catholic schools is entrusted to those who have been adequately and thoroughly formed in the faith.  Formation for ministry attends to the whole human person, focusing on the development of the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral attributes necessary for effective ministry that gives authentic witness to the transformative power and love of Christ.

The Certificate in Catholic School Leadership is much more than an academic program.  Co-curricular components provide opportunities for personal and spiritual growth, and the development of the practical skills needed to realize the vision and mission of Catholic education.  An opening retreat, times for private and communal prayer, the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and daily Mass, along with opportunities for spiritual direction and theological reflection are essential elements of an integrated and holistic formation program that prepares participants to become the catechetical and spiritual leaders of their local schools.  Striving to respond faithfully to the universal call to holiness, Catholic school leaders endeavor to conform their hearts and minds to the will of God, so that they might be more credible witnesses of the faith as they manifest and model the love of Christ for their students, faculty colleagues, and the families and communities they serve.

Participants in the certificate program form a community of disciples in which they learn from and support one another, both during their time of study and throughout the subsequent years of their professional lives. In-person formation at The Saint Paul Seminary nurtures the bonds of community through shared meals, communal worship, time for socializing and recreation, and ample occasions to collaborate with colleagues on course assignments and projects. The program’s cohort model forges and strengthens the personal relationships and professional networks that school leaders often rely on to weather the challenges and difficulties of their careers.

A student who completes the Catholic School Leadership graduate certificate is already halfway toward earning a Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership graduate degree from The Saint Paul Seminary. To learn how to apply certificate credits toward the MAPL degree, please contact Recruitment and Student Services Coordinator Rosalinda Romportl at rosalinda.romportl@stthomas.edu.