Principal Academy Reaches 20 Years of Preparing Catholic School Educators for Leadership Positions

Since its Inception, 65 Teachers Have Participated in Diocesan Program

For 20 years, class has been in session for Catholic school educators enrolled in the Diocese’s Principal Academy, an intensive summer program that gives teachers the necessary certification and graduate credits to serve in various school leadership roles.

The Diocesan Secretariat for Education developed and launched the Principal Academy two decades ago as a way of giving educators the coursework, professional development and support needed to pursue roles as Catholic school principals, presidents and assistant superintendents. Over the years, the Diocese partnered with Alvernia College, Marywood University and Immaculata University to provide visiting professors for two-week summer courses at the Diocesan Center in Harrisburg. Today, its partnership is with Immaculata, a Catholic university with a 40-year history of preparing educational leaders at the graduate level.

Since its inception, 65 educators have gone through or are currently enrolled in the program. Of those, 46 have gone on to serve in leadership roles in Catholic schools.

“It’s a great program for teachers who are interested in learning more about administrative roles, or for new principals,” said Melissa Preston, who taught at St. Joseph School in York for 13 years before becoming its principal last year.

“You learn many things that can be applied to your job immediately. You also meet and develop relationships with principals and teachers from around the Diocese,” she added. “That is one of biggest impacts on me. You connect with others who you can then reach out to, to discuss ideas or help each other through difficult times.”

This summer, Preston was one of eight educators in the Academy, with courses presented by Immaculata University. Dr. Thomas O’Brien, Director of Sponsored Research at Immaculata, and Sister Edward Quinn, IHM, Assistant Superintendent with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, offered classes on School Law and Curriculum & Instruction. Other courses in the 21-credit program include Administration, Supervision, School Community Relations, Special Education for School Leaders, and a Practicum in the fall semester.

Karen Henry, principal of St. John Neumann School in Lancaster, completed her second summer in the Principal Academy this year.

“I’ve always known I wanted to take this step in my career,” she said. “When the principal position opened up at St. John Neumann, it was all God’s plan and perfect timing, His timing, for me to step into the role.”

“Having Catholic professors with Catholic school experience and public school experience is so valuable,” she said of the program. “They can look at issues through a Catholic lens. Having our Diocesan Superintendent [Dan Breen] teach a class was also helpful in learning what our Diocese requires of their principals and what to expect in our role as principal. It also allowed us to develop a professional relationship with him. He got to know in a more intimate setting who his principals are and our personalities.”

Those enrolled in the program appreciate the ability to earn course credits with fellow Catholic educators here in the Diocese. Before launching the Academy 20 years ago, the Diocese’s leadership candidates were enrolled in a two-week, on-campus program at Immaculata. Now, teachers can receive their 21 graduate credits in a series of seven courses on the Diocesan Center campus. And, they can pursue a masters with the completion of five additional online courses.

The Principal Academy is an all-around success story for the Secretariat for Education and our Catholic schools, its educators and its students.

“The program is extremely valuable. We are able to share ideas and experiences with individuals who truly understand how our schools function,” Preston said. “The classes, particularly the School Law class, made me truly value the fact that I work in a Catholic school. We have specific values that guide our work and are able to create rules and policies that create schools that are strong in their Catholic Identity.”

“I enjoy being able to guide our school to be the best it can be,” she added. “Our students are wonderful and truly make this job worth doing every day. I get to work with a wonderful team of teachers and staff to create a school that is rooted in Catholic Identity and work to form souls that are prepared for Heaven!

Catholic school educators interested in the Principal Academy may apply to be considered for the annual program.

(Photos from respective schools.)

By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness