To Teach as Jesus Did:
Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Date goes here
Leading With Hope
Leadership Vision: 2020-21
Our vision for 2020-2021 as Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is, as always, based on the characteristics that define the essence of our identity as Catholic schools. These Defining Characteristics, as derived from The Catholic Schools Standards Project, https://catholicschoolstandards.org/, call us this year in a particular way to meet the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and to be stronger than ever in our commitment to provide excellence in all aspects of Catholic school life.
Defining Characteristics of Catholic Schools
in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee:
Who Do We Say That We Are?
Evangelizing with the Church
As Catholic school leaders, teachers, and staff members in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, we will be mindful of our essential role in furthering the teaching mission of the Church and our inter-relatedness with one another in that work.
We will make specific efforts this year to support our parishes in various aspects of the Catholic Comeback initiative and to ensure that our schools are faithful partners in advancing the Church’s mission of evangelization.
Distinguished by Excellence
As Catholic school educators, we will be tireless in striving for the ideal in every aspect of our ministry. “Good enough—for us—will never be ‘good enough.’”
Whether “learning from school” or “learning from home,” our students will continue to experience the highest quality instruction, attention, encouragement, and opportunities for growth.
Educating the Whole Child
Remembering our privileged responsibility to care for the growth of the whole human person—spiritual, intellectual, social, moral, and aesthetic—we will value and seek resources to develop all aspects of the curriculum in our schools.
The social-emotional health of students, teachers, and staff will be a primary focus for all school leaders, while we remain disciplined in commitment to our own self-care.
Accessible to All Students
Every school in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will be available, accessible, and welcoming to all who wish to attend.
In spite of challenges and uncertainties, all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese will be places of safety and security—physically, socially, and emotionally—that all students and families can call “home.”
Steeped in a Catholic Worldview
Grounded in Gospel values and Church teachings, we will prepare our students, at every level, to become skilled, engaged, and ethical citizens in a global community.
Especially during the upcoming election season, students, teachers, and staff will be challenged to engage in respectful dialogue about local, national, and global issues in ways that recognize and reflect Catholic Social Teachings.
Sustained by Gospel Witness
As Catholic school leaders, teachers, and staff members, we will teach by our lives even more than by our words. Our decisions, habits, and responses will be manifestations of what we believe.
We will continue to “sustain our mission” by daily personal prayer and reflection, mindful that we can only give to others what we first hold and value ourselves.
Shaped by Communion and Community
Each school in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will be known as a community of faith, a community of learning, and a community of care.
Whether virtual or in person, our every interaction with students, teachers, staff, and families could cause others to ask, in the words of St. Pope John XXIII, “If this the servant, how must the Master be?”
Centered in Jesus Christ
During 2020 – 2021, all Catholic school educators, students, and community members will make specific efforts daily to grow in their relationship to Jesus Christ.
Every Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will exemplify the fact that the Gospel is the primary lesson taught and lived in its midst.
May you be blessed with a safe and successful school year!
Kathleen A. Cepelka, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Catholic Schools