Middle leaders play an essential role in schools but for many their position is characterised by tensions caused by 'being caught in between or sandwiched between senior management to whom they were accountable … and subordinates for whom they had some functional and often moral responsibility'. Moreover, Catholic school middle leaders face…

The discussion about the meaning and intended results of education is a conversation that must be undertaken frequently by all stakeholders in the educational process. One of these conversation partners is the Catholic school system. As in the public school sector, the question of school mission is taking place among leaders in the parochial…

This paper discusses the challenge of retaining teachers in hard-to-staff schools by examining how it is addressed in three context specific teacher education programs, which prepare teachers to teach in urban public, urban Catholic, and Jewish Day Schools in U.S.A. The findings of this study suggest that counter to teaching force trends teachers…

In the summer of 2008, the author had become president of St. Norbert, a nationally ranked and respected liberal-arts college founded in 1898 by the Norbertine order of Catholic priests. It is the only Norbertine institution of higher learning in the world, and the order's three core values--(1) "communio" or a deeply felt sense of…

Academic staff (n = 305) and administrative staff (n = 595) at a large urban, Catholic, and religious order teaching university completed on-line school sense of community, social desirability, and mission-identity plus mission-driven activity measures. Partial correlates (controlling for social desirability) indicated that for both faculty and…

Defines socialization and its three stages. Looks closely at the process of organizational socialization, focusing on the reciprocal nature of socialization, the process of cultural learning, factors influencing institutional identification, and research needs. Considers ways in which organizational socialization can benefit Catholic educators.…

Asks whether Machiavelli or St. Benedict of Nursia provides the better model for school administration and student discipline. Finds Benedict's teachings, which stress love, prudence, and the avoidance of extremes, better suited to the traditions and spirituality of Catholic education. (DMM)

On the surface, Michael Moher's major challenges as a superintendent do not seem so foreign from any other leader who is responsible for the education of 28,000 students. He has been grappling in recent years with budget shortfalls, school closings, a couple of dissident board members and even a week-long teacher's strike. Moher runs a Catholic…

To explore the informal socialization of beginning elementary school principals, questionnaires were sent to a population of 107 Catholic school principals in their first, second, or third year of elementary school principalship in Ohio. Usable responses from 81 (76 percent) identified the significant others and the stages of 25 selected…

Reviews the steps Catholic colleges and universities will have to implement, and the related legal difficulties, if Catholic bishops adopt the draft norms of "Ex Corde Ecclesiae," the Papal constitution on higher education. The unwillingness of Catholic institutions, as corporate entities, to do so is seen as a potential barrier to…

Describes Holy Names College's Children's Theatre program for children in underprivileged areas. The program consists of a "What-to-Look-for-in-a-Play" demonstration, the production itself, and creative dramatics sessions arising from the demonstration and production. (DMM)

The e-mail system at Monte Cassino School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is more than just e-mail. It is the cornerstone of an evolving, collaborative online community the preK-8 Catholic school relies on to involve parents in their children's education. When the system was hit six years ago by a major virus attack, the school turned to a Cupertino,…

Looks at three models for the development and functioning of groups. Identifies causes of staff tension and signs of serious internal problems. Considers the option of bringing in an outside facilitator to assist in team development. Discusses the faith dimension of team building. (DMM)

A program that provides a cash alternative to actual commodity food items to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Child Nutrition Program has greatly reduced processing charges and virtually eliminated warehousing expenses. By only purchasing the food wanted, and in the form preferred, the children are provided with the full commodity benefits to…

Two hypothetical Catholic colleges, one embracing cultural and ethnic diversity and the other rejecting efforts to introduce multiculturalism as politicizing and trivializing the academic program, are used to illustrate the issues surrounding achievement of racial diversity in Catholic colleges. (MSE)