Written by Josh Packard, NCEA Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations, josh@ncea.org In Catholic schools, everyone from teachers to administrative staff plays a role in the faith development of young people. This isn’t just about formal religious education; it’s about fostering a supportive community that guides students in their spiritual journey.  The key to effective faith formation is listening. Active listening builds trust with students, showing that their thoughts and beliefs are valued. It’s about understanding where they’re coming from and what matters to them. This d ..read more

Written by Tessie O’Dea, Relationship Development Manager, Cross Catholic Outreach, todea@crosscatholic.org In the United States, the average child goes to bed on Christmas Eve eagerly awaiting the arrival of a morning filled with excitement and colorful gifts. Their minds are not preoccupied with worries about the roof over their heads or if there will be food on the table. Instead, they dream of a day filled with joy and celebration. Sadly, in developing countries, worries about food, housing and water are all too common. Children in countries such as Haiti, Guatemala and Malawi have ra ..read more

Written by Father Tom Simonds, S.J., NCEA Director of Secondary Engagement, FrTom@ncea.org In this series of three blog posts, Fr. Tom Simonds, S.J. discusses the dual purpose of Catholic schools. He also shares a new strategy to strengthen student faith formation in Catholic schools by engaging parents and parishes. Is your Catholic school achieving the mission you proclaim on your website? Before you answer, consider that Catholic schools have a dual mission: to be excellent schools and excellent places of faith formation. Unfortunately, not everyone working in Catholic schools would agree w ..read more

Written by Bill Jenkins, Catholic Scouting volunteer at NCEA 2024 info@catholicscouting.com Catholic Scouting volunteers were honored to meet so many Catholic school educators at NCEA 2024! Talking with teachers and principals reinforced what we already know: Many Catholic schools around the country already utilize Catholic Scouting, including Religious Activities and Religious Emblems. But we also found out many Catholic school educators didn’t know about all the Catholic Scouting resources available to them from Catholic Scouting. So we want to share the word! Here’s what two Catholic school ..read more

Written by Katy Lichon, Sarah Butch and Kenna Arana As schools work to bolster their fidelity to the science of reading and as the reading wars are rehashed, a different battle has been brewing: Tension around the science of reading accounting for the needs of multilingual learners (MLLs). Given the national push to adopt the science of reading strands (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension) and the growing number of MLLs, the question of how to bridge this research and the literacy development of emergent bilingual learners is timely. MLLs are the fastest-growing ..read more

Written by Jodee Blanco, anti-bullying expert and New York Times bestselling author It’s that wonderful time of year again when we all come together to celebrate our commitment to Catholic education. I can’t believe that this will be my twentieth year as a presenter at the NCEA convention. It is both an honor and a privilege to serve our NCEA family and I’m SO excited to see everyone in April 2024. Children are like sponges. They absorb and learn from the behavior of the adults at school just like they do at home. As an anti-bullying and communications expert who works with large cohorts of sc ..read more

Written by Megan Bissell, NCEA Vice President of Research and Data, megan@ncea.org As Catholic schools continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by changing demographics, economic realities and educational needs, this report is crucial in guiding strategic decisions, fostering community engagement and enhancing educational offerings to meet the needs of all students. The insights from the 2023-2024 academic year set a foundation for future growth, innovation and continued commitment to the mission of Catholic education. The 2023-2024 Annual Statistical Report on Schools ..read more

by Josh Packard, Ph.D., NCEA Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations josh@ncea.org In 1995, if you looked at movie rentals and ticket sales at theaters, you’d have a pretty good sense of how much people were interested in movies. But if you looked at those same two metrics today, you’d come to the conclusion that in the past 25 years people had really started to hate watching movies and that maybe movie watching was just a fad that eventually ran its course before going the way of the dodo bird. But that would be the wrong conclusion, of course. The reality is that today people con ..read more

We believe that listening to young people is a sacred act. Listening to their concerns, struggles, joys, triumphs, fears, doubts and questions are an encounter with the divine, because we are all made in God’s image. We also know from contemporary research that listening is a fundamental aspect of faith formation in young people, and its importance cannot be overstated. Listening plays a pivotal role in shaping the religious beliefs, affiliations and practices among emerging generations in ways that was not true for previous generations. This excerpt from NCEA Rise’s Sacred Listening Tools ..read more

by Dr. Melanie B. Palmisano, retired superintendent – Diocese of Baton Rouge, Inspir-ED Consulting Leadership Coach & School Improvement Consultant Leadership Challenges All organizations have challenges, but some experience a culture of anxiety that inhibits growth and improvement. It can be extremely difficult for a leader to determine how to calm anxious waters that are swirling all around. Being able to think clearly about the real threats we encounter while leading with resolve and confidence best serves the leader and the organization. The question is how to do that. It is generally ..read more