Catholic Leaders to Focus on Future of Catholic Schools at NCEA Financial Summit
Event Scheduled March 10–11 at Loyola University in Chicago
ARLINGTON, Va., Match 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cardinal Francis George of Chicago; President Karen Ristau of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA); Dominican Sister Mary Paul McCaughey, Chicago Catholic Schools Superintendent; bishops from dioceses across the country and other top leaders in Catholic education will explore innovative solutions to the financial challenges facing Catholic schools at the Financial Summit on Catholic Schools March 10 and 11 at Lewis Tower on Loyola University's Watertower campus.
"Catholic elementary and secondary schools across the nation are confronting a financial crisis. By bringing leaders together for the first conference of this type, we hope we can help dioceses identify creative and innovative ways to address this challenge," said Daniel F. Curtin, executive director of NCEA's Chief Administrators of Catholic Education Department.
The summit at Loyola University Chicago will draw bishops, chief financial officers and school superintendents from the 26 dioceses and archdioceses that enroll 20,000 or more students. Members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Catholic Education will also be participating.
"Our goal with this summit is to encourage those who lead Catholic schools to think differently about ways to strengthen schools for the benefit of present and future students," said Dr. Karen M. Ristau, NCEA president. "We plan to continue this conversation across the country for Catholic educators to explore creative and innovative ways to sustain the schools."
The Chicago summit will feature Joel Barker as the keynote speaker, "who will help us to think imaginatively about shaping a brighter financial future for Catholic schools," said Ristau.
A futurist who made the term "paradigm shift" popular, Barker has worked with organizations around the world to help them create stronger futures. His recent focus has been on what he terms "innovation on the verge," which he will discuss in his presentation on "A New Approach to Innovation: Thinking Inside the Verge Box."
In two panel presentations, Catholic educators will share their success stories. A "Finance" panel and a "New Ideas" panel will allow for interaction between panelists and participants.
NCEA, founded in 1904, is a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing and teaching mission of the church. NCEA's members include elementary schools, high schools, parish religious education programs and seminaries.
SOURCE National Catholic Educational Association
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