ERIC Number: ED637580
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 122
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3801-3892-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Your School's Catholic Identity: Creating a School Culture Based on Leadership, Faith Formation, Evangelization, and Community
Eleanor V. Gilchrist
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Marymount University
A Catholic school is distinguished from a public school through its Catholic identity based on its mission statement which clearly outlines what it means to be Catholic through a theological, evangelical, and ecclesial foundation (Engle et al., 2020). The purpose of this study was to discover the reason for a diminished Catholic identity at St. Augustine School in Northern California and to provide recommendations based on data analysis towards developing strategies for nurturing a sustainable Catholic school community. A qualitative case study approach was used for this research since the focus of analysis was through a group of individuals from the same school site (Cresswell & Poth, 2018). A conceptual framework model was created to address the variables and factors that are in alignment with the literature and data collected. The sample selection was from a small number of homogeneous participants selected from the different facets of stakeholders including; an administrator, the Pastor, who represents the parish and School Board, a veteran teacher of five plus years, a novice teacher of less than three years, and a parent. The study used semi-structured interview questions, school-wide survey results administered by the administration and School Board, faculty discussions, Western Catholic Educational Association accreditation feedback, and observations to collect data. Thematic coding was used to find patterns and analyze the data. A four pillar framework will be recommended for consideration grounded in research on leadership, faith formation, evangelization, and community. Based on the findings, it was concluded that St. Augustine School leadership must build a relationship of support, guidance, and communication with all stakeholders and that faith formation is essential for all stakeholders. Evangelization is part of the mission of the Catholic Church and should be an integral part of Catholic education. The community of stakeholders must work together for a common cause which is the building of the Church of God. Moving forward, it is up to the leaders of the school and all stakeholders to work together through effective communication and relationship building in order to develop and nurture their schools Catholic identity. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Catholic Schools, Institutional Characteristics, Institutional Mission, Clergy, Administrator Attitudes, Experienced Teachers, Catholic Educators, Teacher Attitudes, Sense of Community, School Administration, Boards of Education, Beginning Teachers, Parent Attitudes, Instructional Leadership, Religious Education, Spiritual Development, Churches
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A